Backpacking the Lost Creek Wilderness in Colorado

Tech Trek Colorado 2022

Read about my summer adventures in South America before this backpacking trip in Colorado here!

Beginnings in Atlanta

I never seem to be able to fall asleep quickly the night before I begin a trip. Preparing for a trip always fills me with a mix of excitement and anticipation, and that usually keeps me awake longer than I should be, which isn’t a great habit to have because traveling often coincides with early mornings. The morning of my backpacking expedition to Colorado was no different, so, despite a restless night, I found myself wide awake at 4:30 a.m. to start the drive up to Atlanta. 

In Atlanta, I met up with other trip leaders for the week’s backpacking expedition and then drove a Georgia Tech van to collect the luggage of the students participating in the Tech Treks from a nearby hotel just off of campus. While loading all the suitcases and bags into the van, I caught up with friends who were assisting with the event. Once the vans were filled, we made our way back to Outdoor Recreation at Georgia Tech (ORGT).

Campus Activities: Outdoor Recreation at Georgia Tech

Back at ORGT, we dropped off the luggage and gathered for a quick opening ceremony. The group then split into four teams—Alaska, Colorado, Minnesota, and Montana. Our Colorado team walked to Georgia Tech’s Leadership Challenge Course (LCC) to officially begin our adventure. As someone who works at the LCC during the school year, it was fun to participate in the activities again after being gone for the summer and to see familiar faces. Despite some initial nervousness, our group thoroughly enjoyed the challenges presented at the course.

After we ziplined down from the course, we ate lunch with the entire group before heading back to ORGT. We needed to review the gear the participants had brought to ensure that nothing essential was left behind. We also fitted everyone to a hiking backpack and practiced proper packing techniques. Following a hearty dinner, our team gathered once more to discuss final pre-departure logistics, bringing an end to the day’s activities.

Another early morning awaited me, but this time, instead of sleeping in my comfortable bed, I dozed off in two chairs hastily put together at ORGT. The bright emergency light and people using the nearby bathroom throughout the night didn’t provide the most restful sleep, but it still didn’t come anywhere near to the worst night of sleep I’ve ever had. 

Flying to Colorado

On Sunday morning, we conducted a final check to ensure all the hiking backpacks were packed and ready. Then, we drove to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where an ORGT employee assisted the entire group with the check-in and payment process at the Delta counter. Once all the bags were checked, our group moved toward the security line. However, I took a moment to catch up with a friend who was also catching an early morning flight to embark on a kayaking expedition to Vancouver, Canada before heading through security.  

My friend and I wished each other good luck and I made my way to our designated gate, passing through security along the way. We boarded a few minutes late because our flight attendants were arriving from a previous early morning flight from New York City, but we still managed to depart around our scheduled time. As I settled into my seat on the plane, the exhaustion from the previous day finally caught up with me. I managed to stay awake until takeoff, but sleep claimed me before we even left the state of Georgia. I woke up somewhere over Kansas, and shortly after, we landed at Denver International Airport.

Final Preparations in Denver, Colorado

After deplaning, we made our way to the train that transported us to the baggage claim area. Once everyone retrieved their bags, we headed outside to the shuttle pickup area, where we caught a bus to the rental car center. Some of the trip leaders entered the Hertz rental car building to collect the keys for our vehicles, while the rest of us divided the group and gear among the three cars. Once we had everyone organized, we drove west through Denver towards the looming Rocky Mountains in the distance. Our first stop along the way to our campsite that night was a Walmart in Lakewood, Colorado, where we picked up all the food we would be eating during our backcountry adventure, while another van made a quick stop at REI to pick up fuel canisters. 

After verifying our food order and ensuring that we had all the necessary groceries for the next few days, we drove to Crown Hill Park for a picturesque picnic lunch. Following the meal, we double-checked everyone’s gear while separating the food from the Walmart pickup order. The park provided a serenely scenic setting for our preparations, with a beautiful mountain view across a small lake.

Thunderstorms at Lone Rock Campground

As the afternoon progressed, we made our way to Lone Rock Campground, a beautiful area alongside the South Platte River tucked into the bottom of a small valley. With rain clouds in the distance, however, we jumped into action to cook dinner and get everyone’s tents set up for the night. Almost immediately after we finished though, the incoming storm began, dumping rain over the valley. Most of the group rushed into their tents to escape, but it wouldn’t be long until I began to hear frantic shouts coming from one of the tents nearby. Another trip leader and I stepped out into the heavy rain to address the issue, discovering that one tent was leaking. Drenched from the downpour, we began to fix the rain tarp, but in the middle of doing so, the tent’s occupants decided to instead seek refuge in one of the vans parked nearby.

Now completely soaked from trying to fix a tent that wasn’t in use anymore, my friend and I checked on the rest of the group before heading back to our tents. Unfortunately, our small tents had also collapsed from the wind and rain and were now sitting in a newly formed flood zone, so we also ended up sleeping in a van for the night. 

Lost Creek Wilderness, Colorado

The rain continued most of the night but cleared up in the morning. With a damp start, we decided to drive to my grandparents’ house a few miles away to see if we could get some cell service and explore the possibility of using their land as a backup option if our gear didn’t dry. We ended up with summer weather and our gear dried after a few hours at the campground, so instead we stayed and made the necessary preparations for the upcoming days. Once ready, we repacked all of our now-dry backpacking gear and embarked on a scenic drive to the trailhead, marveling at the majestic mountains that surrounded us.

The following days were filled with breathtaking views, challenging hikes, and unforgettable experiences. We embarked on a backcountry backpacking adventure, immersing ourselves in nature’s wonders. One of the trip’s highlights included witnessing the beauty of a supermoon, where we saw the sun set on one side of the mountain and watched the moon rise on the other, which added a touch of magic to our journey. Check out a map of our hiking route and a couple of slideshows of backcountry pictures below!

Backpacking Day 1

Backpacking Day 2

Backpacking Day 3

Backpacking Day 4

Final Adventures in Colorado 

Four days later we completed our 28-mile loop and headed out from the wilderness area. We drove a few hours over to Evergreen, Colorado for another Walmart food order pickup and a stop at Illegal Burgers along the way. Restocked now for the rest of the week, we headed up to a campground near Black Hawk, Colorado for the night. 

The next morning we piled into our cars again and headed west along 1-70 towards our day trip adventure – whitewater rafting on the Arkansas River. On the way over, I got excited as we passed through the Eisenhower-Johnson Tunnels, one of the most iconic Rocky Mountain engineering feats in the area. We headed south towards Buena Vista, Colorado, surrounded by a stunning mountain landscape on every side. Once we reached the rafting outfitter, KODI Rafting, we split into smaller groups and headed to the river. The whitewater rafting was a thrilling experience and left us exhilarated. Satisfied from the day’s incredible activity, we started driving back towards our campsite, making a pit stop at McDonald’s for some ice cream. 

An Unexpected Race Against Time

As our adventure neared its end, we stayed up late for one final group campfire, despite having to wake up a few hours later before the crack of dawn. Exhausted from the week’s trip, we were ready to fly back to Atlanta but discovered a minor setback right as we were about to begin the drive to the airport. With gear already packed and the group ready to leave, we discovered that one of the vans had a flat tire!

Determined to overcome this obstacle, we sent most of the trip participants ahead while a few of the trip leaders and I stayed behind to change the tire. Despite encountering multiple challenges, such as finding the spare tire on the rental van, a malfunctioning car jack, and an insufficient lug nut wrench, we persevered. Eventually, however, as I took a break to use the restroom, I sought assistance from a kind stranger with an RV with better equipment than we had access to that had just woken up. We were able to replace the flat tire a lot faster after that, thanked our new friend, and bolted out of the campground. We navigated the winding roads down the mountain pass, set on reaching Denver International Airport in time for our departure.

Traveling Back to Atlanta

Once at the airport, we checked in without any major issues and breezed through the security checkpoint. With barely any time to spare before our departure, we indulged in brunch at McDonald’s before boarding our flight back to Atlanta.

As we flew back across the country, I reflected on our unforgettable journey. It had been a whirlwind of breathtaking landscapes, shared laughter, and personal growth. From the early mornings to the late nights, our adventure in Colorado had left an undeniable mark on everyone in the group. I gazed out of the window, bidding farewell to the majestic mountains that had embraced us. Memories of the backcountry nights, the camaraderie formed, and the challenges overcome danced through my mind. Colorado had gifted us with a profound connection to nature and a sense of resilience that would stay with us long after our return home and in adventures to come.