Trip Recap: Weminuche Wilderness

Posted byLindsay KennedyPosted inUncategorized

In July 2024, students and faculty in the Bridge Adventure Program went on a five-day, four-night backpacking excursion in Colorado’s Weminuche Wilderness.

A group of 17 Red Raiders, which included 13 Bridge Adventure students, three program directors, and one friend of the program, traversed through southern Colorado’s San Juan Mountains among flowing creeks and blooming wildflowers.

The Ute Creek Trail was the main access route into the Weminuche Wilderness for the backpacking trip. The trail steadily gains elevation; it begins at roughly 9,500 ft, reaches Black Lake at 10,900 ft, and then tops out at 11,500 ft where it meets the Continental Divide Trail. The group totaled more than 35 miles on Ute Creek Trail, the CDT, and the Ute Lake Trail. 

Photos by Lindsay Kennedy.

A group of people preparing food at a campsite in the wilderness, with a red tent in the background.
A student relaxing by a lake surrounded by wildflowers and mountains in Colorado's Weminuche Wilderness, with clothing hanging on a line in the background.
A man sitting on a rock at a campsite, looking into a blue container filled with food, near a tent and a water bottle.
A group of hikers with backpacks walking on a trail through lush green meadows in Colorado's Weminuche Wilderness.
A yellow tent set up in a grassy field with blooming wildflowers, surrounded by mountains during twilight.
A group of campers gathered around a campfire in a forested area, with several red tents set up in the foreground.
Two individuals sitting by a river, surrounded by greenery and rocks. One is wearing a brown jacket and the other is in a green shirt, both appear to be resting.
Vibrant wildflowers in various colors in a lush meadow with a mountainous backdrop under a cloudy sky.
A group of students sitting together at a campsite surrounded by tents, enjoying snacks and drinks during a backpacking trip.
A participant in the Bridge Adventure Program sits on a rock in front of a camping tent, holding a cooking pot, with a mountain landscape in the background.
Two female hikers standing in front of a Weminuche Wilderness sign, surrounded by greenery and mountains.
A camping scene in the Weminuche Wilderness featuring red tents set up on a grassy area with a group of people gathered around a fire in the background, surrounded by pine trees and mountain terrain.
A group of individuals preparing food outdoors under a tent, with one person in a red and blue jacket chopping vegetables on a griddle.
A vibrant scene showing a red tent in a grassy field under a cloudy sky with two rainbows arching over the mountains.
A person adjusting an orange tent in a green meadow, surrounded by trees and mountains in the background.
Group of people sitting around a camp area, sharing snacks and engaging in conversation, with a tent and greenery in the background.
A group of students gathered around a campfire in a grassy area, enjoying snacks and conversation during their outdoor backpacking trip.
A group of individuals preparing vegetables at a campsite kitchen under a tent, with mountains and greenery in the background.
A person in a red hoodie smiles while holding a fish near a serene lake, surrounded by lush greenery and blooming wildflowers.
A smiling female hiker with long brown braids wearing a gray t-shirt and a white cap stands in a lush green forest setting, carrying a red backpack.
A smiling individual wearing a colorful Patagonia jacket, a cap, and a backpack stands outdoors, ready for a hiking adventure.
A smiling hiker wearing a red long-sleeve shirt and carrying a blue backpack stands on a grassy trail in the Weminuche Wilderness of Colorado. Towering evergreen trees and a mountainous backdrop can be seen.
A young man with a wide smile, wearing a hat and outdoor gear, standing in a grassy area surrounded by trees.
A smiling male hiker wearing a turquoise long-sleeve shirt and a green backpack, standing outdoors in a natural setting.
A smiling female student wearing a backpack and a 'Bridge Adventure' cap, standing in a grassy area with trees in the background.
A smiling student wearing a black hiking jacket and carrying a red backpack, standing outdoors in a grassy area surrounded by trees.
A man wearing a light-colored long-sleeve shirt and a cap stands in a green, outdoor setting with a backpack.
A smiling young woman wearing a blue long-sleeve shirt, holding hiking poles, and wearing a backpack in a green forested area.
A smiling man wearing a light blue long-sleeve shirt and a blue cap, standing outdoors in a grassy area surrounded by trees, holding a backpack.
A smiling hiker wearing a beanie and a backpack, standing in a green outdoor setting.
A smiling young man wearing a backpack and sunglasses in a natural setting with green grass and trees in the background.
A young female hiker stands in a lush green meadow, wearing a blue shirt and outdoor gear, with a backpack and a camera in hand.
A smiling man wearing a red long-sleeve shirt with 'Red Raiders' printed on it, carrying a backpack, standing in a green outdoor setting.
A smiling male hiker wearing a blue long-sleeve shirt and a green backpack, standing in front of evergreen trees.
A smiling individual wearing a black and red jacket, cap, and a backpack, standing in a grassy area and making a hand gesture.

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