Hermit Park r2 - Homestead South / Kruger Rock

We were due for a three-day spring storm starting on Friday, so I accelerated my plans to tackle the southern homesteads in Homestead Meadow by a day and went Thursday.  The day was about as good as it gets.  Temperatures were in the low-mid 60's, just a hint of a breeze, and partly cloudy.

I got to the Hermit Park Open Space about 0815.  While I was getting ready a Larimer County Ranger stopped by to talk.  He said that there were still a few elk and maybe a moose around Hermit Park.  It would be great to spot a moose, but I didn't get my hopes up.  I was up here almost a month ago.  It was only snowy in spots, no traction devices or snowshoes necessary.  Since I had already visited the northern homesteads, it would be a pretty long hike to the first homestead; Engbert.

Egbert Homestead is up a long ascent to a small meadow near a local mountain top at 8800'.  The Lion Gulch Fire of 2002 destroyed the homestead, so there isn't anything left but the information sign and a four burner stove.

Information Plaque at Engbert Homestead

Site of Engbert Homestead

Remains of a four burner stove

The forest seems to be recovering nicely from the fire of 2002.  There were many 4-5' trees growing amongst the debris of the fire.  Homesteaders certainly made-do with whatever they could; an example is below.

Home-made furnace

The next homestead on the list was Laycook.  This homestead lay about a mile and a half away, down a long steep hill into another drainage.

I can see Twin Sisters Peaks from my front deck, but this was the first time I have been this close on the east side.  There are pretty impressive.

Twin Sisters Peaks

Twin Sisters Peaks from Engbert Homestead

The Laycook Homestead is the oldest one in the area, claimed in 1891.  I don't believe there is anything left of the original homestead.  The cabin ruins date from the 1950s.

Laycook Homestead Information Plaque

Cabin (circa 1950)

Laycook Homestead

Barn Foundation remains and corral

While on my hike, I decided to skip the last two homesteads for now in order to go back to Hermit Park and see if I could tackle Kruger Rock after a long day.

Kruger Rock sits at 9124' just south and east of Estes Park.  It would be a climb of 800' in about 2 miles.  Not quite the climb of Monday, but healthy nonetheless.  There are several locations on the trail where there are good views of Estes Park, the Mummy Range, Continental Divide, and, of course Long's Peak and Mt Meeker.

Mt Meeker/Long's Peak from Kruger Rock

Twin Sisters Peaks, Mt Meeker, Long's Peak from Kruger Rock

Even though for 16 years, I have seen these mountains from my front deck and have viewed them from every angle except from on top; they never get old.

As you can see the Friday storm was beginning to arrive.  All in all this was another good hike; the second longest of the year.

Oh, by the way, no moose was sighted.

Overall Track Statistics for HermitPark - Homesteadr2KrugerRock,   2389 data points

 Length 16.433 miles  :  Garmin Length 17.073 miles

 Start Elevation - 8438.32 feet

 Maximum Elevation - 9244.29 feet

 Minimum Elevation - 8224.08 feet

 Date of Hike - Apr 14, 2016

 Start Time - 08:19 AM

 End Time - 03:59 PM

 Total Duration -     7:39 hours:min

 Total Ascent - 3438.02 feet

 Total Descent - 3652.26 feet

 Net Ascent - -214.24 feet

 Maximum Grade - 19.36%

 Average Speed -  2.15 mph :  Garmin Average Speed  2.22 mph

 Maximum Ascent over Mile - 608.63 feet

 Maximum Speed over Mile -  3.29 mph

 Maximum Gain over Mile (%) -  9.28%