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Distances are approximate. This site is your best friend: trails.colorado.gov/ From CO 135 north of Gunnison, turn onto FR 730 (Ohio Creek Road) drive approx 18.2 miles to the Swampy Creek Trailhead. Parking is on the right. There's no registration or permit required from this trailhead. From there hike Swampy Creek Trail #439 for 1.9 miles. Trail signage for where you have to turn left is confusing, be sure to have a map, GPS, or other navigation or you'll end up twitching off on the wrong trail or off onto one of the cattle runs. You need to bear left to get onto Little Pass Creek Trail #563 for the next 3.5 miles. Somewhere in there you'll have to pass through a cattle gate. Use ranch rules here. If it's open leave it open; if it's closed and chained, pass through the gate and make sure to rechain it. Long story short, that's how the cattle got into my camp, one of the ranch hands forgot to close and lock a gate. The entire West Elk Wilderness is all Grandfathered cattle leases. You'll come up to a broad, long valley. Signage and the trails are difficult to see in here. Do a little hook to the right on the Low Line Trail #438, hike only 678 feet. Then hook to the left onto the Castle Pass Trail #441. On Castle Pass Trail, at 1.4 miles, you'll see a faint trail to the left that crosses Castle Creek, follow that trail less than 200 feet and you'll find an old hunter's camp. That's where I camped. 38°45'36.26"N 107°10'14.19"W Costo Lake has two nice camps. Best used during the week because one is traditionally used by the outfitters for weekend warriors. The other camp is farther around and can accommodate several tents. It's is close to water, the view of the Castles, and FISHING! I see on your channel, you like astronomy. Bring your camera. It's not so much for the stars -- but this entire area, especially towards the Castles and the Cross, has spectacular lightning.

From your questions, I'm not sure how well seasoned or how familiar you are with Wilderness Area Regulations. So forgive me if I sound preachy ... I've seen too many people behave like the wilderness is their personal amusement park. ALWAYS assume there are predators in the area. Hang your food bag as far from camp as practical and as high as you can get it. Besides, hanging also keeps the rodents out of your food and the presence of rodents around camp can attract predators. Also, be careful not to have food (or grooming products or fishing gear) in or around the sleeping area. Some areas (specifically Maroon Bells/Mt. Massive) require a bear canister. I've never packed a weapon bigger than a Swiss Army knife, nor do I carry bear spray. Gun regulations vary in the different wilderness areas. The basic regulations are printed on the back of the Use Permit, but not all wilderness areas require a permit --- West Elk from the Swampy Pass side doesn't not. Do your research, look up the specific area to glean the rules. There are a wealth of links out there, primarily the Forest Service: www.fs.usda.gov and trails.colorado.gov/#activity=hiking Click on a trail of interest then click the link to view the details about the area. Universally, use the "7 Leave No Trace Rules". lnt.org/why/7-principles/wilderness.net Although this link is area specific, the information pretty much goes for all Wilderness Areas in all states. www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5270137.pdf Be safe, and know that, despite common sense rules and regulations, there's a ton of fun to be had in wilderness areas!

@@Gambeli02 will do. Thank you. I got a nice camp knife and we'll be safe. No firearms. We will take bear spray due to our boys. Make noises and keep foods above... got it

The plant at 3:01 looks like a type of Silver Mound artemisia. 3:26 Yes, a species of Hens and Chicks. The demo garden is really good at labeling the plants. Critters may go through and steal labels or the it's buried in foliage. In my own yard, I used to have a bunch of different types of H&C. But squirrels and birds nibbled them all out of existence. A couple blocks away is a yard with H&C growing outside their fence...last fall I picked a couple of the crowded out ones, planted them under a bit of screen, and now for the first time in 25-odd years, I have H&Cs again. Thanks for the comment sweetie!!

Oh, thank you!! For taking me on a ride in the mountains in the only way I can at this point! A walk in the woods is my goal for now--just walking period is a challenge, but I won't give up and ride an electric wheelchair! Not yet anyway! LOL And so glad you have Hens and Chicks now--hope they survive the winter! Anytime I see those, I get an instant shot of my Grandma--I can hear her sniffing--she always said you can smell if the soil is good and the plant is happy. Great memories!

HI RILEY! I sometimes wonder though... I should have ordered a new brain to go with the bucket! :D

Nicholas Gambeli That might be more complicated.

Hi Cindy! xoxo I do have another one to post -- a hike from last Friday. Going through the pictures now.

LOL The "Who are you." was a reference to Disney's Alice in Wonderland and the hookah smoking caterpillar.

The wildflowers: My degree is natural sciences. That means I dabble in pretty much all the sciences. hahahaha!!

Thanks Cindy! I've been in a dry spell for hiking this year. I'm 24/7 caregiver to an elderly parent and things are slowly getting more demanding. But, I hope to make time and start back out there in a couple weeks.

I feel your pain Nicholas. I lost my Mom a few months ago, but caring for our parents is just what we do--they did it for us, and for myself, I know I was much worse! But it is very difficult and eats up all of your time. Just enjoy what you can while you can. And I hope there is someone around who can give you an occasional day off so you can get out again. Being out in nature restores you and a few hours out there would give you a fresh view of the important thing you are doing.Best wishes on all of that.

Barr Trail is an "easy" 3 miles to the top of the Incline. It's the trail that is strongly recommended people come down after doing the Incline. I've climbed up Barr several times but always to get to destinations other than the Incline. The top of Pikes Peak for one. Also an 18 mile loop I did a couple years ago. If you're on FaceBook it's a public album at Niko Gambeli, 2014-10-31 Barr Trail - Hurricane Canyon Loop

Rockin' UK We got to around 11,113 ft (3,386 m) before turning back (461845.47 m E 4338486.05 m N). The tallest peak in the park is McCurdy Mtn. at 12,187 ft. To give you some perspective: I live at 6,166 ft. :)