Hiking to Upper Cascade Falls, Ourary Colorado

** Video link at the bottom of post **

I had visited Ouray several times, but until July 2016 I had only seen the lower Cascade Falls.  I had not hiked up to the Upper Cascade Falls and Chief Ouray mine.  The abandoned building of Chief Ouray mine can be seen high above Ouray to the east above Lower Cascade Falls, but Upper Falls can not be seen from town.

The trailhead is located in the Amphitheater Campground at the southeast corner of the parking lot and the campground is in the southeast corner of the town of Ouray.  The trail is well marked and easy to find.  There are other trailheads which intersect the trail.

Trailhead is easy to find

The trail meanders through the forest and begins to ascend up the side of the mountains with a series of switchbacks.  The trail starts at 8,475 feet and reaches 10,000 feet prior to making it to the falls. 

Early on the trail

An interesting grove on the trail

With an elevation gain of 1,525 feet in approx. 2.2 miles the trail is considered moderate-strenuous.  The views of the San Juan Mountains and the town of Ouray from the trail are awesome.

Looking south from the trail

The trail never gets above treeline, but the trees do thin out allowing great views of the area.  About 2 miles in the trail makes a sharp turn at the edge of the mountain, which is the high point of the trail,  and begins to descent to the falls.

The trails turns sharply just past the rocks on the right and descents to the falls.

It was not long after the switchback I began to hear Upper Cascade Falls and soon the falls came into view. 

First view of the final crest of Upper Cascade Falls

After spending some time at the falls I continued on the trail with a slight elevation gain to the abandoned equipment building of the Chief Ouray mine.

Chief Ouray equipment building

 The old building was surprisingly sturdy and it was obvious hikers had visited a lot.  I hike a little past the building stopping to enjoy a picnic of trail mix and turkey jerky while soaking in the peacefulness and views.  I hiked down the same trail and never saw another hiker.  I enjoyed the solitude.

I highly recommend the hike.  It is worth it.  Check out the video below slowing a lot more from the hike.  Please also visit the video on Youtube where you can like, share, comment and subscribe!

Watch video on YouTube

Hiking in the rain or snow.

There are few things worse than hiking with wet clothes.  Having quality waterproof yet breathable outwear is a top priority for me.  I don't won't to be caught in a precipitation without my ARC'TERYX Theta SV bib pants made with GORE-TEX.

The Theta SV pants have a high waist and a stretch back pannel that provides a snug, but comfortable fit.  It took me a couple of times of wearing them to get use to the high waist.  The waist band is adjustable which is really nice and the adjustable suspenders makes custom fitting easy.  The zippers on the pant legs zip about 3/4 of the way up making getting them on and off easily with hiking boats on.

The pants are made from what GORE-TEX calls Pro Shell fabric.  It is the same fabric used in their Pro Shell Men's jacket.  The fabric is stiffer than what I am accustomed to and it makes more noise than most fabrics, but the upside is worth it.

The pants are reinforced in strategic areas so that they will last longer.  The knees are cut and sewn in a way that makes the bending of the knees smooth and comfortable.  The fly zipper, the leg zippers, and the pocket zippers are all water-proof.  You can more info from the ARC'TERYX site.

I have actually worn the pants while riding my motorcycle in the rain and they are, as ARC'TERYX claims, waterproof as well as being great at cutting the wind!

Hiking or riding the Theta SV bib pants are comfortable and they will keep you dry while being breathable.  This is only the second outwear garment I have made from GORE-TEX, but it will not be my last.

I am also impressed with ARC'TERYX.  The pants are my only product from ARC'TERYX, but I will look at their products when I am shopping in the future.

Great Gloves!

In North Texas we don't get a whole lot of really cold weather and for the most part not many days consecutively of low temperatures.  On those few days I want a good pair of gloves to keep my fingers warm and dry. Cold wet fingers can make a hike or a camp out very unpleasant.  

There are numerous choices of good quality gloves on the market.  I have chosen to wear the Black Diamond Gore-Tex Renegade gloves.  When I first tried them one I noticed that they are very snug.  I actually got a size bigger than usual.   The wool lining is soft and warm and yet the gloves are light and my fingers stay movable.  The Gore-Tex fabric keeps my hands dry even in the heaviest of rains.   The shell is made of a durable 120d twill and the palms and fingers are reinforced with leather.  Black Diamond claims a temperature range of up to 0 degrees Fahrenheit!  I personally know they work great to at least 15 degrees.

I have found the gloves very warm, dry, comfortable, and functional (and they look great!).  The only negative is the short and tight gauntlet.  I really have to be careful to make sure my coat sleeve gets tucked in to the glove so that it does not slide up on my arm.

It it difficult to beat the quality of Gore-Tex and the quality of this glove.  If you are looking for a good warm, waterproof glove for any outdoor activity this is the glove you want.  

Staying dry

Staying dry while outside is usually important unless you are involved in a water sport/activity. There are many options on the market today so finding the right waterproof jacket can take time.

I wanted a light waterproof (not water-resistant) and breathable shell so that I could layer up as needed.  After some research I chose the GORE-TEX Men's Pro Shell.

This jacket weights about 17 oz.  The cuffs are adjustable using the hook and loop fastener to allow maximum customization.  Once tight the cuffs keep rain and wind off of the arms.  The hood has a small "lip" under the bill so that you can hook it over your cap and it will not slide forward or backwards and it keeps the bill of the jacket ridged and shielding the face.

There are two zippered chest pockets on the outside, one inside zippered pocket on the left side, and zippered venting under the arms.  All six zippers work smoothly and easily.  The waist and the hood have drawstrings to allow customized fitting.

The jacket is a great protector against the wind and provides exceptional protection against rain.   I have found it easy to add layers under the shell when needed.

The fabric has been durable and comfortable although it makes a slight rubbing sound. Water beads up and rolls off the fabric.   The tight weave of the fabric makes it very snag-resistant.

I have worn the jacket in heavy and light rain, in calm weather and in windy conditions.  I love it.  It is a great jacket and I highly recommend this high quality jacket.  It will keep you dry while not adding a lot of weight or bulk.  Give it a try.

Disclosure: I test some products for Gore