James Peak

James Peak Colorado, 12 October 2002

Ashlee, Derek Jr. and his father Derek Sr. and I went to James Peak today. Derek had just bought a new Sony P51 digital camera and I brought along my Sony S75. We went to this location to find a small body of water called "Lake Luena." Joseph Collier took a photograph of this lake in late 1870s or early 1880s. We found the lake, but much to our surprise, it was not "James Peak Lake" like we had thought, it was the smaller "Little Echo Lake" which was next to it, and I didn't recognized it until a few days later when I was comparing my photograph with an old Collier photograph. Click on the thumbnails below to bring up a larger photo.

	This view is looking southeast from Pile Hill, about four miles from Apex. If you look in the center of the photo, you'll see a cabin my father and I almost bought in 1990. With the economy at the time, we decided not to.
	This view is looking southeast from Pile Hill, about four miles from Apex. Apex is about four miles northwest of Central City.
	Another view looking northwest from Pile Hill.
	We had driven as far as we dared and decided to walk the last mile of road before hitting "James Peak Trail." A Toyota truck drove by and offered us a ride, but he only went another 1/4 mile before stopping at this patch of snow.
	Turning completely around from the above picture, you can see the snow blocking the road, and the edge was too narrow to drive along. Ashlee Christlieb is seen here all dressed to keep warm. The temperature was 41 degrees, but the wind gusts were blowing at about 40-50 miles-per-hour.
	Derek and his son Derek Jr. walking along the road to James Peak. No way my Explorer could have ploughed through that drift!
	This was our first full view of James Peak. It doesn't look like much in this photo, but standing here was awesome.
	The sign above James Peak and Little Echo Lake. The trail looks nice and dry just behind the sign, but don't let it fool you.
	We'd only walked about 1/4 mile down this steep hill, this is a view looking back up. This part of the trail had only partial snow, the trail behind me was totally covered. It was about this time my wife called on my cell phone to see how we were doing, the pioneers sure didn't have that luxury! Derek Sr. and Derek Jr. can be seen here.
	The view looking below. James Peak Lake would be at the top left of this photo.
	Looking north at Nebraska Hill. The Ute Indians had carved a trail along the face of this northern spur of James Peak.
	A picture of the snow covered trail ahead of us. Although we could have walked this trail, we were afraid that one slip would cause us to slid down to the bottom.
	Little Echo Lake, also known as Lake Luena. Compare this photo to the one below. The rock slide going into the lake matches Collier's. Slightly different angles of course.
	Joseph Collier had this to say about "Little Echo Lake" which was known to him during the early 1880s as "Lake Luena." From the back of Collier's stereoview #2 Lake Luena: "This beautiful little lake is situated above the line of elevation where the trees cease to grow, and nearly eleven thousand feet above the level of the sea. It is named after Miss Luena Langdon who came here to earn money with which to complete her education, but was accidentally drowned. What fitter monument to her memory than this mountain jewel fed by everlasting snows. The northern Spur of James Peak is shown." Photo courtesy of Paul Weitfle.
	This is what we came to see. This photo circa 1880 taken by Charles Weitfle of what he called "Lake Luena" on "James Peak Trail." This was my second attempt to find this spot. Two years ago there was just too much snow for my vehicle to travel through and that was in June. This time, too much snow on the trail for us to walk. I plan on returning in July of 2003. Photo courtesy of Paul Weitfle.
	Ashlee and Derek Jr. catching their breath.
	Derek Sr., Ashlee & Derek Jr.
	Yup, that's me, Jeff Christlieb.
	The sign leading to Kingston Peak, if we would have been smart, we would of taken the ten minute walk up there to see the top of the St. Mary's Glacier.
	Ashlee & Derek Jr. heading the mile back to the car.
	The road heading back.
	Arapahoe Peak seen in the distance.
	James Peak slowly disappearing.
	You can see the snow glistening.
	Mammoth Creek Basin down below.
	Getting closer to the car and looking back at James Peak.
	Arapaho Peak close up.
	There's my Explorer, I usually just throw it in park, but with the size of that hill behind it, and nearly eight miles to the nearest neighbor, I decided to put the parking brake on this time!
	Derek & Derek Jr. coming over the hill, James Peak is now gone from our view.
	Heading back down just below Kingston Peak. The park service sure knows how to mark a trail.
	Apex straight ahead and Lake Pisgah to your right, you definitely don't what to go to your right, I've been there, you'd need a bigger four wheel drive!
	Looking back at Elk Park, we had just crossed Elk Creek, of course with the drought, it's a lot smaller now.
	Looking south from Elk Park.
	Looking south from Elk Park, you can see a mine in this view.
	James Peak from Elk Park.
	Looking south again from Elk Park.
	Apex, Colorado!
	A new reservoir just above Central City, you needed a permit to fish here, and of course the water line was low with our drought.
	We took "Oh My God Road" down to Idaho Springs and had dinner, civilization again! The new restaurant Paco's behind Ashlee & Derek Jr. is where we ate.

This site was last updated 11/12/05