August 30, 2008 I keep a list of places I want to visit taped to my wall above my computer monitor, sort of a “light at the end of the tunnel” kind of list for when summer comes, and Mt Audubon has been on that list for three years. Something always conspired to keep me from going down there, but finally, as summer was fading to fall, we made plans to get it done. We arrived at the Brainard Lake Recreation Area a bit later than we had wanted to, and on such a pristine late-summer morning there were no parking spots at the trailhead, so we were herded into an area along the road about ¼ mile away to park. No problem. Mike, Christine, Andra and I, plus running Makenzie, got our boots and packs on, and headed up the road. The day was sunny, clear and a little breezy. The first part of the trail led us through the woods, with old spruce and fir trees on either side. We soon passed into the Indian Peaks Wilderness, and climbed steadily for a mile or more before the terrain opened up onto the tundra above treeline. From our unobstructed vantage point, we could see southeast to Brainard Lake and the Flatirons, although the plains beyond were obscured by haze from distant wildfires. To the southwest, the trail to and summit of Mt Audubon were clearly visible, and we headed in that direction. Makenzie pulled and strained at her leash, and it got to be so annoying, Andra let her off to run a little. We encountered lots of people with dogs, most off leash. One couple warned us about a wilderness patrol man looking for off-leash dogs near the summit, so we leashed Makenzie as we approached to avoid a ticket. Of all the things the Forest Service could pay for, it seems to me that paying someone to ticket for off leash dogs is about the dumbest of their options. So glad my entrance fee goes towards that. The trail was a pretty steady climb up, not very tough. The wind was pretty brisk, and chilly, requiring a winter hat to keep my ears warm. Still, I was comfortable in shorts. The wind had the effect of dampening conversation, however, since it required near-shouting to communicate to the person nearest on the trail. Thus, conversation was kept to a minimum while we hiked. We noted rain clouds building to the south, but to the west of us it was still very clear. We stopped halfway up for lunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and enjoyed the fall colors in the grasses and forbs on the mountain. Green crickets that seemed much too large for this elevation crawled amongst the rocks, looking like Mormon crickets common to the Great Basin except in color. Near the summit, Longs Peak and Mt Meeker came into view, and we could pick out Sandbeach Lake where Christine and I had hiked in June. The trail left the tundra and snaked up through the boulderfield to the top. Increasingly dramatic views of the craggy Indian Peaks opened up as we gained elevation. It’s pretty spectacular. Mt Audubon’s summit is wide and flat, covered with boulders that are painted with various shades of lichen. We walked to the south end of the long summit and down a little to an overlook of Blue Lake below, then sat in the sun and rested. Andra fell asleep for a few minutes on the warm rocks. Makenzie ran from person to person hoping someone would throw something for her to fetch. Apparently hiking up a 13,000-foot peak is not exercise enough to wear her out. For all the cars in the parking lot, we encountered surprisingly few people on the trail and at the summit, and thus we were largely alone for the duration of the hike. I got a headache towards the end of the hike, which I attribute to not eating enough, but otherwise everyone seemed to feel great. Arriving back at the parking lot, we found it was still full, which was puzzling until I considered that the parking lot also serves the Blue Lake trail, which I took with Andra, Dave, Malia and her sister a year ago in a pouring rain. Apparently that trail gets more use than Audubon. After arriving home, we noted Makenzie was limping around, favoring her back right leg, and we have since pinpointed that hike as the point where she tore her cranial cruciate ligament, attributed primarily to her constant straining on the leash. She was out of action for weeks afterward, and though the vet recommended a $3000 surgery, we’ve managed to keep her happy and walking without too much pain by not hiking her on leash (so she puts less stress on her knees), not hiking her up 14ers, and daily doses of Rimadyl. We may not be able to keep her happy without surgery forever, but as long as she’s happy, we’re not going to have her leg cut open.
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