Six adventurous seniors from our hiking group hiked the Ingalls Creek Trail today! Sunny skies greeted us, with comfortable mid-60s temperatures in the morning that climbed to mid-70s by afternoon. An occasional cool breeze kept us refreshed throughout the journey.
We embarked on our trek from the Ingalls Creek Trailhead around 9:50 am. The trail unfolded before us, bursting with a vibrant display of wildflowers. Lyall's mariposa lilies, Rocky Mountain helianthella, harsh paintbrush, red columbine, and tall bluebells added splashes of color to the scenic landscape. We also enjoyed roaring sound of the Ingalls Creek and occasional glimpse of rushing water.
After a delightful 3.4-mile hike, we were thrilled to discover the elusive mountain lady's slipper (Cypripedium montanum) blooming in all its glory. We couldn't resist capturing numerous photos of these rare beauties.
Continuing our exploration, we pushed further along the trail until we reached a scenic horse camp. This picturesque spot provided the perfect backdrop for our lunch break, where we reveled in the sound of the roaring Ingalls Creek.
After a relaxing lunch break lasting about 30 minutes, we retraced our steps, completing our rewarding out and back hike around 3:40 pm.
Our GPS track is in the link below.
Stats:
Distance: 8.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,320 ft
Highest Point: 3,090 ft (Horse camp)
Total Time: 4h 51m
Moving Time: 5h 51m
Comments
Great report, thanks for the map!
Posted by:
AlpsDayTripper on Jun 12, 2024 06:12 PM
AlpsDayTripper, I read your last trip report for Ingalls Creek and chose the date to hike to see lady’s slipper. I am a fan of your trip reports. I am too old to do a long hike that you do, but I can do a shorter version.
Posted by:
Yasobara on Jun 13, 2024 06:53 AM
I'm so glad it worked out, it is a lovely flower!
Posted by:
AlpsDayTripper on Jun 13, 2024 07:44 AM