"Virtual Hike" page 3: Spotting Headwaters
Hill
We set out on the approximately 4 mile hike to Headwaters Hill. We
used the logging road on the way, because my maps showed it - but
they didn't show the Continental Divide/Colorado Trail, and I wasn't
sure where it went. (If you haven't downloaded the USGS reference map
yet, you can click
here to view it in a new window.) Turns out, about halfway into
the hike, the logging road meets up with the Trail, and the two are
concurrent for a short distance. After the logging road split off to
the east, we stayed on the Trail. There really aren't many spots on
the hike where you have a view of Headwaters Hill. But when the trail
finally winds around the unnamed 11,545' peak, Headwaters Hill is
suddenly looming right in front of you. The photo below was taken
there - where I pulled out the map and compass and figured out for
certain that this was indeed the mountain we were looking for.
The view is to the southwest, and the peak in the background is
Headwaters Hill. We're standing pretty much on the Continental
Divide, in the saddle between Headwaters Hill and unnamed 11,545'.
The Arkansas River basin is to the left, and Gunnison/Colorado River
drainage is to the right. From here, the Divide winds right up to the
top of Headwaters Hill, and Rio Grande drainage is on the other
side.