Indian Peaks Wilderness (Colorado) Backpacking - August 2018

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This is the previously unpublished video of my 2018 Indian Peaks Wilderness trip (Colorado) with my son, Christian, and the dogs. The trip didn't go well, and there were only a few miles of actual backpacking, which are the reasons it has remained unpublished until now.
You may recall that in early 2018, while the snow was still falling here in Indiana, I made my first (and only) full-year trip agenda video. Nature was against me all year in 2018 - with frequent rain, flooding, fogged-in vistas, swarms of mosquitos, and one of the coldest moments I've ever experienced (night at Boulder Pass, Glacier NP) - but I managed to complete every trip and make a video of everything mentioned on that initial agenda video... except one - this 2018 Indian Peaks Wilderness (Colorado) video. People have asked me in the KZbin comments 'what happened to the 2018 Colorado trip?', and this video will answer that question.
Illness was the culprit on this trip, and it made me realize how lucky we had been throughout the years to never have a trip disrupted before due to illness or injury. We actually did start the hike and made it to the start of the brutal 4-mile climb up to Pawnee Pass, but I realized that pressing on further at that point would be dangerous and reckless, so I pulled the plug on the backpacking.
We did carry on with some stellar car camping after that, having luck finally fall our way and scoring the absolute primo campsite at the primitive Rainbow Lakes car camping campground quite near the trailhead in Ward, Colorado.
The lack of actual backpacking on this trip had thus far convinced me to not publish it, but I realized that it was still a fun Colorado road trip plus there is some nice information on staging this trip out of Nederland as well as some glimpses of what the trailhead situation is like at the Brainard Lake Recreation Area (i.e. 'challenging'!). Oh, and for anyone interested in primitive car camping in that area, the clips showing the Rainbow Lakes campground and adjacent area should be of interest.
(And since 2020 was the first year since 2011 that I haven't been able to do a western US backpacking trip - my 'happy' place! - re-editing and publishing this video filled a little bit of a western trip 'vacuum' that I've been suffering through).
Equipment / Gear List:
Still and Video Camera: Nikon Z6 amzn.to/3dHJvni
Lens: Nikkor 24mm f1.8 Z-mount lens amzn.to/2QZqNOo
Tripod: Sirui T-025X carbon fiber tripod amzn.to/3bH3Rvg
Camera shoulder clip: Peak Designs Capture clip system amzn.to/2wRdusp
Video Editing Software: Vegas Pro 16 amzn.to/2X5dKyu
Pack: Zpack Arc Blast 52L (me), Exped Lightning 45 (Christian)
Tents: Nemo Meta2P, Zpacks Hexamid Solo-Plus
Sleeping Bag: Zpacks 20degF Sleeping Bag
Sleeping Pad: Therm-A-Rest NeoAir X-Therm amzn.to/2yjrUlj
Sleeping Pad: Therm-A-Rest NeoAir XLite amzn.to/39zju6v
Pillow: Exped Air Pillow UL amzn.to/2WYE5hZ
Stove: JetBoil Flash amzn.to/3azKRi7
Stove: MSR PocketRocket 2 amzn.to/3dPtOL5
Pot: MSR Titan titanium 0.9L kettle amzn.to/3bF1RDB
Headlamp: Black Diamond Spot amzn.to/2R0JvoW
Buff: Merino wool Buff amzn.to/3dCYHSC
Recharging Battery: Anker 3500mAH ‘lipstick’ charger amzn.to/2URI7G3
Camp Chair: Helonix Chair Zero amzn.to/2xzbwgh
Camp Shoes: Xero Shoes Z-Trek amzn.to/3bA3X7I
Wet Wipes: Survivorware Wet Wipes amzn.to/2JwbQ2e

[@pjreads5014]

I enjoyed the trip report and information in it - we did almost all our early backpacking in Rocky Mountain National Park, but have never hiked Indian Peaks at all. Living in Kansas City very close to I-70, my "hooray" moment when we headed west as a child was crossing the Kansas State Line. And the smell of the pines when you first get out of the car in the mountains - priceless! Thanks for posting!

[@kevinseversonandhisvizslas8287]

If you made KZbin videos of going around that circle in the park back in Indiana we would all watch it. So glad to see that you were walking perfectly after the surgery. Christians a great kid, and you are one hell of a dad

[@trevort5380]

Even though the trip was a bust, it still made for a great video! Thanks for sharing this with us David

[@nelsonminingandabandonedplaces]

David, I am binge watching all the videos I am home recovering from surgery Soni am better for hiking season, so needless to say got time on my hands and guess what I making and eating crackers and cheese spread while I watch I love all that you do and show us see you on the trail hike on.

[@amywalker3267]

Enjoyed watching. It was a beautiful campsite. Loved hearing the water.

[@connienelson1515]

Rolled with the punches very well.

[@bobb7029]

Great video thanks for sharing it. Way to make the most of a difficult and disappointing situation. Any time spent with the kids is time well spent

[@All_Things_Out_Doors]

Beautiful area! Hate it that it did not go as planned for you guys. That would still be a great environment to camp out in I bet tho. Thanks for sharing!!

[@nigelgiven2976]

Love your videos .have watched them all now.I was sick with covid and they entertained me and the scenery is awesome.blessings from Northern Ireland

[@ustakkpiat]

Great moment... Thanks for sharing...

[@donyerwin4587]

Hey David, great video. I always enjoy how you keep it real. I have been driving out to Indian Peaks Wilderness from Louisville KY the past four summers, but had to cancel this year because of coved concerns my wife had. The first year, 2017, I did a solo backpack of the Pawnee Buchanan loop and was completely blown away by the scenery. I stayed at Pawnee campground which borders IPW for two nights of car camping in order to acclimate. The first day up and over Pawnee Pass to Crater Lake about killed me but once I did that, the rest of the hike was very doable, and of course by the time I got to Buchanan Pass my pack was lighter and I was more acclimated so it wasn’t an issue at all. There are tons of day hikers around Brainard Lake but once you get a couple miles in you see fewer people. The Cascade Creek Trail between Crater Lake and the junction with the Buchanan Pass Trail is spectacular with lots of waterfalls, then as you slowly ascend up into Fox Park you realize that “wow this is Colorado at its finest.” One of the reasons this video struck a chord with me is the second year I went to do the same trip, the morning I was to start up to Pawnee Pass I woke up with a headache and sinus infection and the weather had turned dicey with high wind and sleet/snow so after a few steps on the trail, I stopped, turned around, jumped back in my car and drove back to KY! One last note...there’s a really cool historic hotel in Wilson Kansas called the Midland Railroad Hotel that I always stay at on the way out. I hope to be out there about the third week in July 2021 for year #5! Thanks for a great video and happy hiking.

[@liortepper3619]

Thanks for the video. Made me think about the hiking I did with my father. They were the best

[@MADHippiesLife]

Another great video, David. We have hiked the IPW extensively over the years, such an amazing place to explore. Pawnee Pass is no doubt a high country experience not to be missed, you guys will definitely have to return and give it another go. We'd be happy to head out with you!

[@nelsonminingandabandonedplaces]

Good video, reguardless of what happened you had a epic trip time with your son in the tranquility and grandeur of the mountains I live in Utah and spend everyday in the mountains I very much enjoyed this video and everyone you do.

[@mikehuber2480]

I’ve hiked all over the Indian peaks wilderness area. Hope to see you try that hike again. Crater lake is incredible!

[@SlightlyOffKilterCo]

This was wonderfully informative! I've been to the Brainard Lakes Rec Area and heard good things about Rainbow Lakes campground. This would be an easy getaway for me. Thanks for sharing!

[@TheWayOutdoors]

David I am so glad you published this video. Sometimes trips do not go as planned but your attitude and style of filming/editing always makes for an awesome trip. What a beautiful area the Indian Peaks Wilderness is! I have lived on the Front Range now for almost a year, and have not gotten a chance to get up there yet. This year has obviously provided challenges, especially with the wildfires out here and COVID. If you ever plan to tackle that loop again, I would love to join if you wanted company. I know you have done a couple trips with fellow KZbinrs, and I feel my positive energy, outgoing personality, and will to push through a tough hike would make for a great hiking partner. I look forward to future videos of yours, and I hope you stay safe this Holiday season. Safe Trails David!

[@fernandomunoziii6371]

Hey, I actually did this loop around the same time you were there. This was my favorite loop so far. Lone Eagle Peak is so worth it. This loop is so full of waterfalls and other beauty. Hope you can try it again.

[@sherylolguin4014]

Nice one, but the oops version gave us a chuckle there at the end. Thanks for all you do.

[@davidgrayin]

Yep, sorry about that. Got to see how the 'sausage is made'! :-) But I needed to fix that before it was out 'there' forever.

[@mikejordan9220]

I have been to Colorado several times as a tourist with the family but never for serious hiking. I hope to do that sometime. I went to Red River Gorge last weekend and It was nice but the number of people the area is seeing is not sustainable. If you are familiar with the area, I got stuck in traffic on Tunnel Ridge Road and had to leave due to no place to park. I finally did find a place to park in the Wilderness area near Swift Creek Camp. I'm going somewhere again the day after Thanksgiving and may go back to the Peninsula Trail in Indiana. I hiked it last February after discussing it with you and really enjoyed it. The lakeside camping sites were nice.

[@jordondon5464]

You are an icon buddy.

[@bruce2keys270]

Hi David, you have a cinematographer's talent of making good of something that didn't go so right. So good job on making it work out ! I'm currently editing a video, from Oct 2015, on a trip to Kroenke Lake in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness where I camped at the exact spot as Christian & you did earlier that summer. Thought of you two when I was next to my camp fire ( I'm a subscriber and viewed your vid before my trip ). By the way, all the wood was across the lake. I enjoy all the videos, you put alot of work into them, their great !! Thanks !

[@davidallen6970]

love your vids, good interesting voice,love it,

[@ronoclcuk]

it's hard to explain how happy my wife was when she caught a glimpse of david gray's orange drawers @21:51. it's normally the packit gourmet cheese spread or dunkin donuts coffee that grabs her attention. today, it was the drawers. love your channel, good to see you out for a walk.

[@davidgrayin]

That's funny! Those are my Ex-Officio Give-N-Go boxers. Sort of like thin, stretchy bike shorts. I only use them when backpacking, and I started using them as a solution for some gnarly chafing that occurred from time to time (worst thing ever when you're halfway through a trip, chronically sweaty and dirty, and have no choice but to keep on hiking). One of the best finds ever - I never get chafing now unless the boxer legs start creeping up and I don't notice it quickly.

[@janetantill2919]

It seems you like small trails and History. Where I live is the Valley that change the world. We have a 36 mile hiking trail called Oil Creek hiking trail. Just outside of Titusville Pa where the 1st oil well was drilled. It not a hard trail but its not easy either. It is in a small mountain range but the hole trail is full of history. It has really nice camping and huts for a small fee I think like $5 for as long as you are there. Check it out I you might like it here. Frozen from the AT hiker Outdoor Adventure has do it and he liked it . just putting it out there for a small trip for you. It is a beautiful 2 to 3 day trip .

[@muddyfeethiking]

So what was the planned route? You do a great job on your videos. Thanks for even posting the ones that don't go as planned.

[@cgriggsiv]

I watched the first one you put out it was fantastic beautiful views everything I did love the hiccup at the end Totally epic hiccups but it was awesome 😂🤣😂

[@davidgrayin]

Yeah, sorry about the miscue on this first go around. You got to see how the 'sausage' is made, but knowing the video would be 'out there' forever, I decided to fix it and re-publish.

[@marinamile]

I think the run across kansas is a slow climb in elevation which makes you burn more gas.

[@pitchclimber]

Awesome to see this video. We did the double bypass in August 2019 from Mitchell lakes TH, however we did the loop counter clockwise. The campspots, views and waterfalls were nothing short of epic on this trip! Do you have any intentions of returning to try to complete this hike?

[@cgriggsiv]

Don't know what happened but I watched the first one went to go reply and it disappeared

[@C-TOS]

I saw the feast the night before as the culprit. I can tell because I got gastritis for a week after eating a calzone. Food poisoning is no joke. 😥

[@ericcomp7032]

Poor Christian caught a dope habit in Colorado. He was dopesick AF.

[@owizzlebeezy123]

@DavidGray, what does your pack typically weigh for backpacking trips?

[@jamesbarclay4433]

Interesting that your gas mileage drops in Kansas. I wonder if it has to do with driving into continuous headwind from the mountains and the continuous gradual uphill from east to west (elevation change is 3400 feet). That being said, any trips planned yet for 2021? We have nowhere to go but up!

[@lastdaystravellastdaystrav2233]

what is the name of the filtration bag ...? thanks.

[@steveforsythe9264]

Thanks for posting this was enjoyable. Why are you so stuck on Dunkin Donuts coffee? I love McD's coffee lol. Take care!

[@davidgrayin]

I just love Dunkin Donuts. No affiliation with the company at all. I've tried all kinds of coffee but there is something about the way they roast it, and the lack of bitterness, that works perfectly for me. To this day it's still the 'standard' coffee that's used every day in my household. We buy the big containers of it at Costco and brew it in a Bunn coffee maker while at home.

[@vegasdavetv]

🙂

[@marshmutt8975]

I must've missed the reason you turned back? Too tough a trail or mountain lions?

[@davidgrayin]

No, Christian was sick. He wasn't feeling well going in, but when I parked the car at the trailhead that morning he opened the door and threw up. Not a good start! He wasn't doing well. And then every 10 minutes or so after we started hiking he had to pull off trail to throw up again. Nowadays, I'm sure I would have suspected the coronavirus but back then you didn't think much of it. But knowing he was probably extremely dehydrated and with no calories in his system, when we got to the base of the first big climb I realized it was insane to keep going - we were just asking for a bad outcome - so I pulled the plug on the backpacking.

[@shcmoly]

Sounds more like altitude sickness.

[@eakinj]

k i'm downloading this, this time, it went away last time I tried to watch it. ;)

[@davidgrayin]

Yeah, sorry about that. I mucked up the clips at the very end. I think I uploaded an old version of the file somehow. I didn't want to get off on the wrong 'foot' so I fixed it and re-uploaded.

[@eakinj]

@@davidgrayin I completely understand. Hope you're well

[@AmericanPatriot-bp7cu]

You speak of the wide open land of Eastern Colorado, but Colorado Springs is exactly like that from main street Tejon St. west, but the Californians who have moved there are paying 400K for a cracker box house shoehorned into subdivisions of 5000 houses all over the west part of CS! I don't even want to look at that mindlessness, so I moved. Things make sense again. Nice place to hike but you wouldn't want to live there.

[@davidgrayin]

Yeah, I know. It's getting crazy there with all the people moving into that thin stretch east of the mountains. I know many people that had lived, and hiked, there forever and just couldn't take the throngs of people anymore - they moved elsewhere. A good case study of a beautiful place that is being 'loved to death'.

[@AmericanPatriot-bp7cu]

@@davidgrayin The trailheads are crowded 24/7. S. Platte River has fly fishermen every 200 yards. The straw that broke the camel's back for me was going to Zion NP to hike the Angels Landing and it looked like I was walking into a Green Bay Packers home game at Lambau. I moved back East within months. Enough complaining from me. I really enjoy your hiking videos David! Keep them coming!

[@ArbitraryLifestyle]

Ward, CO is such a weird ass creepy "town".

[@charlesduncan6529]

Yeah looking at Christians face when you got to the Mitchell trailhead he looks bad!! Poor guy been there done that, got the T-shirt!!!

[@marinamile]

David, can you tell me what that recovery drink is that I've seen you use in a couple of your videos? Wanted to try it but I can't remember which videos I've seen it in.

[@davidgrayin]

The recovery drink I have used for a long time now is PacificHealth Endurox R4. It's pretty expensive - $48 for 4.5 pounds of powder, which is 28 servings - but for me the stuff is absolutely incredible for recharging spent muscles after a really long day of backpacking. I'm not affiliated with them in any way, but it's just something I stumbled upon which really works well.

[@marinamile]

@@davidgrayin Thanks, i've been wanting to try it, getting older, need all the help i can get :)

[@thomcrowley1043]

You might want to actually show the trail . it is a lot more than what you have to say GEECH