Mt Edwards was my first experience in the High Country since moving to Colorado from sea level (Delaware) one week earlier. The previous owner of my new home in Conifer drove us up the rather harrowing 4 wheel drive road from Georgetown to Waldorf, arriving at about 9 am. We investigated the outbuilding that was in ruins at Waldorf, then climbed the mountain that was behind it, knowing nothing about it, ahead of time. We hiked over several talus peaks, then followed north up a grassy moderate slope up to Edwards (we found out at the register) east shoulder. We were keeping an eye on about 30 mountain goats that were just hanging around on that shoulder. We scrambled across more talus to the summit only to be delayed by a goat standing on the summit. As the hike was interupted by many stops to check out rocks and wild flowers(neither of us were in shape), it is hard for me to say how long it took. The return trip to the vehicle only took about 45 minutes.
The trip took a sudden change when as we were investigating an abandoned silver mine east of Waldorf, we were startled by the arrival at Waldorf by two emergency helicopters, and many 4 wheel drive EMT vehicles. We found out later that several Texans had rented a 4 wheel drive SUV, and didn't know the right of way rule, and as they were ascending, backed up to yield to an SUV that was coming down, and they backed over the edge of a cliff to their deaths. A very sobering ending to what was otherwise a very good trip.
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Front Range (CO)
