Vent: That supposedly easy 18-mile loop in Colorado turned into a 3-day nightmare

Last month I tried that 'beginner-friendly' Lost Creek Wilderness loop near Bailey. The guide said 18 miles and moderate terrain, but I hit snow patches in July and lost the trail twice. I ended up bushwhacking through willow thickets for like 4 hours, and my feet were soaked through my boots the whole time. Has anyone else gotten tricked by a trail that was way harder than the reviews said?

2 comments

2 Comments

milaprice6d ago

Ugh yeah a buddy of mine tried that same loop last year and ended up post-holing through thigh-deep snow in June. He said the trail markers were totally buried, took him two extra days to get out.

lisa57d ago

Are you sure you just didn't pack the right gear for an 18-mile hike in the mountains, even in July? Did you actually check recent trail conditions before you went, or just assume it would be dry?