Lory State Park - Sep 2018 camping trip
CATS Back in mountains at Lory State Park – 7-9 Sep
2018
I
missed the other two CPW (Colorado Parks and Wildlife reports) at Cheyenne
Mountain and State Forest State Park and decided I better report on this one.
Besides I am working on a combo article for all three parks coming out soon.
So, this is our 4th continuous year camping behind the famous
Arthurs Rock and whacking trail in the back country to keep it safe and
useable for all user groups. This year we were back in our original campsites
three years ago (5 and 6) and the place brought back good old memories for
sure. Like all years before, we assembled at the maintenance area for
unloading and then loading a dump truck full of our personal gear to go up
the mountain. So much fun in the parking lot and shuffling around. Finally we
were off and going for a spell until Bobcat (me) broke the muley. It just
made a loud noise and then thunking or banging thereafter. Very disturbing
and noisy. We pulled off and returned to base with dead OHV. Then there was
more scrambling and squeezing people into the last vehicle up. No worries.
Later we were all in camp in a frantic race to get personal tents up and then
the base camp. Right at dusk we finished and enjoyed smoors over the fake
fire. Star gazing, stories and mild libations made the night fun. Some went
on a trek down the trail to get a good view of Fort Collins at night. The
weather was mild at nights and hot in a sleeping bag. Strange. Up the next
morning for breakfast and watch hundredths of runners come by our tent in the
Black Squirrel Half Marathon. Those were some tough folks. After they
cleared, Cam came up with Nick and Dave Kopp hiked in from the bottom and we
were all together for a trek to the worksite a short half mile away. Lots of
mono-walls needed for holding in the CE as the horses and bikes were
sloughing off the edge from wear. Base camp was nice to come back every day
and enjoy the warm food provided by CATS. Stargazing was better Friday night
as Saturday evening was over cast and some rain was coming our way. Back to
our original site on Saturday and we worked our way back up the trail –
repairing sloughing trail. Two days at fixing trail in the mountains and we
were ready to head home.
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Members: Navy Bob, Connie, the other Bob, Dean, Brandon,
Denny, Lynn M, Dave K, Nick, Catherine and four great guys from LSP Hours: 20
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RESULTS: Combined days: 101’ +/- of new monowalls installed various spots on
trail, 115’ rubble walls, 10’ inside rock cribbing, special inside turn
stacked stones
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ROSES:
o
Third camping trek of the season
o
Third state park camping event
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Great assembly and pack up
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Combined effort get base camp set up
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Two campsites offered – lots of private camping
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Tremendous help from LSP staff in transportation
o
Had four mini crews working both days
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Nick came up the mountain with Cam on Saturday morning
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Followed by Dave Kopp backpacking up in time to catch us going down the
trail
o
Great weather
o
Breeze
o
Shady lunch spot
o
Lots of good solid rock work performed
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Beer cold and ready
o
The smell of cooked food in the mountains
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Runners sliding by in big race
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Good fun conversations
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Seems most CATS members were fully uniformed – looked great!
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Compliments came in from runners and visitors all day
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Campfire was fun (not)
o
Creativeness with the rock
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THORNS:
§ Muley broke down after
going out on the road with it
§ Lynn M smashed her middle
finger which needed immediate first aid. She worked both days and later she
needed a stitch or two. Tough CATS member!
§ Dusty dirt – the type that
gets up your nose
§ Rock selection in this
trail area was not the best – but we made the stones behave and work for us
§ Someone said, “the rocks
were either good or not” depending on one’s perspective
§ One mountain biker that
rode right through our work and had some negative comments to add
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BUDS: I will make this short as
I am behind in my writings. Camping with CATS is always fun and memorable. We
are rushed at first to get to where we need to be and then there is the set
up and settling in factor; after that we usually relax and enjoy the
privilege. Yes – privilege as we camp back in there where most folks don’t
venture or in places where other groups are not allowed to camp. Certainly we
appreciate this privilege and do our best to make the trails safer and
durable for the future. Lory is a special place with its own history. CATS
enjoys being part of the ongoing history timeline. From our early beginning
here at Lory with rebuilding the wooden bridges after the Galena Fire in 2013
to the present we strive to do good work. I am not sure what all the runners
thought of us this year as we were eating breakfast and relaxing? We
congratulated them and they returned the favor. You see we were on the trail
after them working most of the day while they nursed their sore bodies. They know
and appreciate the fact that we are fixing the trail for their comfort also.
Guess they are privileged as well to run trail in such a magnificent park.
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