2025 XXXII Annual Extreme Trip: – Colorado Bound
Ex-treme (ek-streme) adj.
1.  Most remote in any direction; outermost or farthest   2. Being in or attaining the greatest or highest degree; very intense   3.  Extending far beyond the norm   4.  Of the greatest severity; drastic 
Trip preview:
If you are in for an adventure we have a WHALE of a challenge for you with FIVE Marathon Days!  We are heading to Colorado and explore it from North to South and East to West.  We’ll climb tall mountains, explore desert dunes and ancient civilizations, visit 5 national parks (1 is in Utah), swim in steaming natural thermal pools, hike into deep canyons, raft BIG whitewater in the Royal Gorge, refresh ourselves in lots of waterfalls, and see many things for which pictures cannot do justice.  So come along and you will have joined an elite group and will live your life going forward in a whole new way.  Nothing can take these experiences away from you.  Come and enjoy the thrills, the revelry, and the camaraderie among a certain kind of unusual people the Extreme Trip breeds – overcomers.  You’re invited…GET PREPARED (not optional!!), and Be There…BONZAIII!!! 
ITINERARY (subject to change):
Friday 6/13 – Pick up trailer, leave for Colorado no later than NOON from 5838 Shannon Rd, Hartford, WI
Saturday 6/14 - Eastern Central (Colorado Springs Area) – MARATHON DAY #1
  1. Paint Mines Interpretive Park, 29950 Paint Mine Rd., Calhan (1056 mi, 15:07) 1 hour hike, 5:30 am at dawn
  2. Garden of the Gods, short hike, 1805 N. 30th St, Colorado Springs (40.2 mi, :54) 1.5 hour hike, 7:30 am
  3. Half day Rafting at Royal Gorge class III-V with Echo Canyon River Expeditions 45000 W US 50, Canon City, (alt Bighorn Sheep Canyon if water levels too high, or if chosen as an alternative) Canon City (57 mi, 1:20), 12:15 pm for check-in, start rafting at 1 pm, 1 hour travel, 2 hours on the river
  4. Bishop’s Castle, 12705 State Highway 165, Rye, CO (52 mi, 1:08)
  5. Camp at Greenhorn Meadows Campground, 7184 State Hwy 165, Colorado City (21 mi, :28) – pack breakfast and lunch for Sunday
Sunday 6/15 – South (depart 3:30 am) MARATHON DAY #2
  1. Great Sand Dunes Park and Preserve (101 mi, 1:41) 5:45 am 1 hour hike
  2. Zapata Falls (in Zapata Falls Campground), Alamosa .9 miles 200’ elevation gain (12.2 mi, :20), 7 am 1 hr hike – wear shoes that can get wet
  3. Mesa Verde National Park (229 mi, 4:32) – Balcony House Tour tickets available 6/1, 8 am MT (2, 2:30 or 3pm): From the park entrance, drive 20 miles (32.2 km) to the all-way stop on Chapin Mesa. Turn left. Drive 0.4 miles (0.6 km). Turn left. Balcony House is 3.4 miles (5.5 km) ahead. The tour begins at the Balcony House shade structure. To allow at least 1 to 1-1/4 hour to drive to the Balcony House parking lot from the park entrance. Meet the ranger at the benches (under the shade structure). You MUST arrive 15 minutes early for a safety and logistics briefing.  On this one-hour tour to Balcony House, you will climb a 32 ft (9.8 m) ladder, crawl through an 18 in (45 cm) wide by 27 in (68 cm) tall tunnel extending 12 ft (3.7 m) long, and climb up a 65 ft (20 m) open cliff face with 31 ft of steep uneven stone steps and two 18 ft (5.5 m) ladders to exit. A visit to Balcony House is a 0.25-mile (0.4 km) hike.
  4. FREE Petroglyph Point Trail - hike counterclockwise, unmaintained with a narrow passage, stone stairs, steep edges, loose rock, scrambling required. 2.4 miles. A rugged and adventurous trail with steep drop offs. Hikers traverse the side of Spruce Canyon, squeezing between boulders and descending narrow stone staircases to reach a large petroglyph panel at 1.4 miles. From here, hikers must climb a 100-foot (30 m) cliff, scrambling up rocks and uneven sandstone steps to the mesa top, before returning through pinyon-juniper forest on the mesa top to complete the loop.
  5. Mancos State Park for camping (33.1 mi, :50)
Monday 6/16 - West Central (depart 6 am)
  1. Columbine Lake trail #509 (strenuous), 6.6 miles out and back 2,295’ elevation gain (4:33 hike) – between Ouray and Silverton (San Juan Nat Forest) (81 mi, 1:45)
  2. Ouray – Box Canyon Falls, climbing .57 miles, 243’ (23.3 mi, :45)
  3. Ouray Hot Springs, 1220 Main St, Ouray (open 11 am to 8 pm to soak those tired muscles) (1.3 mi, :07)
  4. Camp at Ridgway State Park (17 mi, :24)
Tuesday 6/17 – West Central (depart 6 am)
  1. Bridal Veil Falls, Telluride, 2 mile out and back, 859 ft Elevation gain to falls, moderate with some loose rocks – start hike at 8:30 am, finish at 10 am (47 miles, 1:02)
  2. Keystone Gorge loop, Telluride, 2.3 mile loop trail, 518 ft Elevation gain.  Highlights include beautiful river views, scenic bridges, and diverse landscapes. Challenges consist of steep inclines, loose rocks, and muddy spots.  Start hike at 11:15 am, finish at 12:30 pm (4 miles, :09)
  3. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, South rim scenic drive: Gunnison Point, Oak flat Trail (2 mi), Cross Fissures view, Painted wall overlook, Cedar Point nature trail (103 miles, 2:09)
  4. Camp at Highline Lake State Park (134 mi, 2:36) arrive approx. 9 pm
Wednesday 6/18 – Northwest (depart 6 am) MARATHON DAY #3
  1. Arches National Park, Utah (94 mi, 1:29) – tour the park, hike Devils Garden 7.9 mi-strenuous, depart at noon
  2. Colorado National Monument: take the Rim Rock drive (27 miles, and Hwy 340 back east) (109 mi, 1:45)
  3. Otto’s Trail .7 mi, :19
  4. Devil’s Kitchen 1.5 mi, :40 (take short spur to right)
  5. Monument Canyon-Wedding Canyon Loop 4.5 mi, 2:05
  6. Coke Ovens Trail .9 mi, :27
  7. Camp at Rifle Gap State Park (82 mi, 1:19) – short distance to Rifle Falls State Park (triple 80’ waterfalls, limestone caves and caverns)
Thursday 6/19 North (Rocky Mountain National Park) (depart 4 am) MARATHON DAY #4
  1. Cow Creek South Campground, 124 Highway 9 N, Fairplay, CO (138 mi, 2:38) – drop off trailer site #039
  2. Grand Lake Entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park (58 mi, 1:11) – arrive by 9 am or timed entry pass required!
  3. Mt. Ida Continental Divide Trail at Milner Pass – explore a mile or so for views, :20 (~15 mi, :20)
  4. Alpine Ridge Trail at Alpine Visitor Center – watch for massive elk, .6 miles at +12,000’, :20 (5 mi, :10)
  5. Rock Cut Tundra Communities Trailhead – Toll Memorial Trail, 1.1 mi, :30 (few miles East)
  6. (Optional) Tombstone Ridge via Ute Trail – watch for bighorn sheep, 3.8 mi, 1:34 (few miles East)
  7. Gem Lake Trail – from Lumpy Ridge Trailhead just off Devils Gulch Road in Estes Park, 3.2 mi, 987’ gain, 2:00 (15 mi, :30)
  8. Cow Creek South Campground (138 mi, 2:48)
Friday 6/20 – North (Rocky Mountain National Park) (depart at 4 am) MARATHON DAY #5
  1. Bluebird Lake trail begins from the fairly remote Wild Basin Trailhead in the southeastern corner of Rocky Mountain National Park, located near the small communities of Meeker Park and Allenspark. To reach the trailhead from Estes Park drive 12.6 miles south on Colorado Highway 7 to the Wild Basin Road junction and turn right. After driving four-tenths of a mile make another right turn into the park. The Wild Basin Trailhead is located roughly 2.2 miles from the park turn-off on a narrow gravel road.  12.6 mi, 2490’ elevation gain to 11,000’, 7:00 (130 mi, 2:56) 
  2. Camp at Cow Creek South Campground (130 mi, 2:56)
Saturday 6/21 - North Central (Denver Area) (depart 7 am)
  1. St Mary's Glacier, 7599 Fall River Rd, Idaho Springs, CO, 1.5 mi hike, and 2 places to cliff jump!! (68 mi, 2:10)
  2. Sage Creek Campground, SD (443 mi, 7:06) – note: part of Badlands National Park, dispersed camping with buffalo!
  3. Extreme Dinner – Salty Steer, Wall, SD (17 mi, :27)
Sunday 6/22 – home (depart 6 am)
  1. 5838 Shannon Rd, Hartford, WI (779 mi, 11:10) – arrive mid-evening
​COST
$700 per person.  Note: this trip is partly underwritten.  Registration is due ASAP, and payment is due by May 15, 2025.  Note: only 18 registrations will be accepted.  Please make payments to Kirk Bailey, 5838 Shannon Rd., Hartford, WI  53027 by cash, or check (or by Paypal: @kirkbailey1, or by Venmo: @Kirk-Bailey-3)
Trip limitations:
Must be at least 13 years old and in good condition to participate.  Attendee must not be afraid of water nor heights, a good swimmer, and must be prepared for strenuous physical activity and “carrying their own water”.
What to bring:
Pair of water shoes or sandals for water activities, Under Armor style nylon shirt to wear under wet suit when rafting, broken in hiking boots, shammy or towel, mosquito/black fly & sun protectant, snacks for trip, hot-warm-cool-cold weather clothes, gloves to assist with rock scrambling, rain poncho, jacket with hood or sweatshirt for cool nights, swim suit (one piece for ladies, please) and travel towel, travel games, bible, wide brim hat, sleeping bag for cold weather & a blanket, air mattress or sleeping pad, water bottle, energy bars, day pack with 3L water pouch, flash light with new batteries, beret from past extreme trips, cooling towel for hikes, beret from past extreme trips, spending money ($50), camera (opt)., canned oxygen (opt).
Things that will be provided:  Chaperones, recreational equipment (rafts/wet suits/water boots), passes/tickets, camping fees, first aid kits, food, food prep/storage gear, tents, transportation.