Animal Tracks in the Mt Evans Wilderness (Mt. Evans Wilderness, Colorado)

12/23/2018

1 Comment

Trip dates: Dec 15-16, 2018

Caltopo map here: caltopo.com/m/LUG2

Day 1

Looking north

Looking east (towards my eventual campsite). Glad I had extra batteries for my headlight.

Day 2

It's always a good idea to stomp down the snow for your campsite. This keeps your shelter a bit below the snow surface. This would reduce drafts if you are using a tarp but isn't so important with a fully protected 4-season (ie: 1-season) tent. The real reason to do it is so you aren't constantly tracking snow into your shelter and to allow you to walk around without snow shoes while you are melting snow/cooking and adjusting guylines. Note the imprint from my sleeping pad (this was after I packed up).

Looking west towards Square Top Mountain.

The were animal tracks EVERYWHERE in the forested areas around Scott Gomer Creek. Easily the most I've seen in the winter. I guess it makes sense as I saw no people after I passed the turnoff to go to Mt. Bierstadt.

Snowshoe Hare running. The larger two prints are actually the hind legs and the smaller the front legs (legs cross when running).

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has a good page with descriptions of Coyote and Bobcat Tracks.

Distinguishing Canine vs Feline prints. From Michigan DNR.

Approx Sizes of Cougar, Coyote and Bobcat tracks. From Michigan DNR.

Bobcat tracks

Bobcat Scat

Snowshoeing through these willows was pretty tough.

Field Mouse? (definitely something small with a tail)

Something very small met something big.

I think this was a field mouse that got gobbled up by a bobcat.

The bobcat was apparently hiding at the base of this tree till the field mouse came out from its home.

Square Top Mountain

These articles of clothing are apparently near the end of their useful life (note patch on down jacket). Also, my fingers appear to be at the end of their useful life.

Coyote Tracks

Coyote Tracks heading towards Mt. Bierstadt.

Looking back on the valley around Scott Gomer Creek. The area with trees on the right had the most animal tracks I've seen in my whole life. In one 25x25 foot area I counted 6 species: Elk, Moose, Coyote, Bobcat, Snowshoe Hare, Mouse. Somewhat surprisingly I saw no actual animals on this trip.