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#1
06-10-2021, 08:38 PM
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Great Sand Dunes National Park - Mosca Pass Trail
This popular trail leaves the visitor center at Great Sand Dunes National Park in south central Colorado and heads east, up the Mosca Creek drainage to Mosca Pass, a 3.25 mile adventure heading away from the dunes. There is also access from the east to the Mosca Pass trailhead. It's about half an hour in from US 69 south of Westcliffe, CO. That's where we started on Tuesday morning.
One of the reasons this is one of my favorite CO trails is the different ecosystems one gets to experience in a relatively short distance. The trail starts off in grassy flatlands often seen in mountain passes.  Then, into a canyon through rock formations  The trail flattens out as it follows the creek through forests of aspen  The Mosca Pass trail ends at the GSDNP visitor center. From there, footpaths head toward Medano Creek.  Medano Creek runs only during the spring runoff. Located at the base of the sand dunes, it offers a rare opportunity in Colorado to enjoy a day at the beach. 
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Goodall, Martin, Wingert Last edited by Mr. Paul; 06-10-2021 at 08:46 PM. 
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#2
06-10-2021, 09:03 PM
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So lovely and inviting. A very different environ than my Southwest Washington and Willapa Bay. Your pictures make me want to visit and take in the Aspen trees and the Dunes. Thanks for sharing.
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#3
06-10-2021, 10:03 PM
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Love that area. The sand dunes should be a "bucket list" visit for folks! It's especially inviting when Medano Creek is running. Interesting that you'd "reverse" the elevation and start at the top and go downhill. How was the hike back up at the end of the day?
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#4
06-11-2021, 05:23 AM
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Nice photos, Paul, thanks. Haven't been to the Dunes for a while; it's like being on a different planet.
Did you take that handsome pup of yours along?
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2002 Martin OM-18V 2012 Collings CJ Mh SS SB 2013 Taylor 516 Custom
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#5
06-11-2021, 07:04 AM
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Goodall, Martin, Wingert
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#6
06-11-2021, 07:38 AM
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Love Medano creek in the spring. 1/4 mile wide and 6" deep! Constantly changing flow patterns.
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#7
06-11-2021, 11:59 AM
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Paul, how is the tick situation down there?
I keep hearing it's bad this year, but I have yet to see one on my dog or elsewhere.
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2002 Martin OM-18V 2012 Collings CJ Mh SS SB 2013 Taylor 516 Custom
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#10
06-11-2021, 12:55 PM
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Actually he's just getting an early start so he won't be late for the Jackson Hole Hootenanny. out there past the cows to the left and to the timber  ) Finally staring this Monday after the forced Covid recess  Shane was filmed just north of this Jackson Hole icon 
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Enjoy the Journey.... Kev... KevWind at Soundcloud KevWind at YouYube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...EZxkPKyieOTgRD System : Studio system Avid Carbon interface , PT Ultimate 2023.12 -Mid 2020 iMac 27" 3.8GHz 8-core i7 10th Gen ,, Ventura 13.2.1 Mobile MBP M1 Pro , PT Ultimate 2023.12 Sonoma 14.4 Last edited by KevWind; 06-11-2021 at 01:07 PM.
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#11
06-11-2021, 01:10 PM
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Beautiful! My favorite thing to do is......Yes, hiking. I feel so much better after one.
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Alvarez AP-70 Squire Contemporary Jaguar Kustom Amp (acoustic) Gamma G-25 Amp (electric)
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#12
06-11-2021, 02:08 PM
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Great Sand Dunes NP is another example of how folks are, more than ever, heading outdoors. Website says the entrance station during weekends is seeing cars lined up for 1 - 3 miles waiting to get in.
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Goodall, Martin, Wingert
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#13
06-11-2021, 02:37 PM
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