Previous season highlights
Catalyst+ Hartenstein Lake Snowshoe
Date: Saturday, February 4
Time: 6:30 am meet-up time. Travel time to trail head approx 2.5 hours from Colorado Springs.
Carpool: Yes. Depending on the number of participants, additional drivers may be necessary and will need 4x4/all wheel drive. Donations to drivers greatly appreciated to help cover fuel costs.
Difficulty: Moderate to more Difficult. Due to the nature of this activity, participants should be in above average cardiovascular condition to enjoy this trip and be prepared for extremes in winter weather conditions. This is not just for your safety but for the safety of the group.
Distance: Approx. 6 miles round trip - plan 5 hours on trail. With travel times and stops anticipate a full day!
Elevation: 1,911 ft gain. This elevation gain does not seem too bad but with snow shoes in possible deep snow the difficulty can increase significantly.
Description: The hike to Hartenstein Lake begins off of the Cottonwood Pass road, paved all the way from Buena Vista, to the summit of Cottonwood Pass. The pass is closed in winter and the trailhead is situated within yards of the gate. The lake is named after George K. Hartenstein, a Buena Vista lawyer at the turn of the century. Moutain goats patroll the cirque behind and west side of the lake but may be difficult to spot this time of year. These are likely ancestors of the Jones Mountain band, one of the first introduced into Colorado’s mountains. Transplanted from Washington’s Olympic Mountains to near Cottonwood Pass in the 1940s, they have since spread locally north and south along the Continental Divide. This beautiful trail travels thru several valleys with great views of Mt. Yale and other surrounding peaks.
For meeting location, to RSVP or for more info, email Curtis at curtisk@q.com.
