This was my first time on the Poplar Gulch Trail and as you can see in the adjacent photo, I really enjoyed my morning hike. We started at the trailhead in St. Elmo and hiked approximately three miles uphill to the top, an unnamed pass that leads down into the Green Timber Gulch area in South Cottonwood Canyon. We took in the beautiful mountain views up there before returning to St. Elmo.

How To Get To The Trailhead: From Nathrop, travel west on Chaffee County Road 162 to the St. Elmo Ghost Town. In St. Elmo, the trailhead is approximately 0.2 miles off of Tincup Pass Road (which leads to Tincup Pass). If you do not have a 4-wheel drive high clearance vehicle, park in St. Elmo and walk up the road to the trailhead.

In case you are searching for hikes in the Chaffee County area, I created a list of hikes in Buena Vista that might be helpful to you.

Lastly, special thanks to Derrick, Anne and Angela for coming along. We had an enjoyable time for sure and the Chinese food in Salida afterward was not too shabby either! :)

-Steve

	Poplar Gulch Trail The Poplar Gulch Trailhead. You can not miss it if you travel just a short distance up the road as if you going to Tincup Pass.
	The steepest portion of the trail is at the beginning before it reaches the meadow.
	Poplar Gulch was flowing fast and hard. All of the creek have been running higher than normal from all the snow melt.
	Some pine trees near the trail with Mt. Mamma to be seen faintly in the background.
	Out of the trees and into the meadow area.
	Then we began to see snow upward in the meadow. Large patches of snow could be seen throughout the forest. Yay! Here are some of my recent snow pages: Cottonwood Pass (June 12) Independence Pass (June 6) Local Snowfall (May 13) Loveland Pass (April 20) Trout Creek Pass (April 5)
	Three photos of some of the views near the top.

	At The Top Of The Poplar Gulch Trail A small cairn type of monument stands at the top. BOTTOM: To the east, a trail leads to the top of an unnamed point (alt. 13,078 feet). We sat and relaxed at the pass, but that peak is an option if you are feeling more ambitious than we were.
	The view to the south, looking back down into the gulch we just traveled up from. Mt. Mamma (alt. 13,634 feet) is the large peak to the left. The gulch directly to the right is Grizzly Gulch and that small blue body of water is Grizzly Lake. The town of St. Elmo is way back down in that canyon.
	The views to the west may have been the most intriguing. Why? Because that large mountain with the flat top and a plethora of snow is Emma Burr Mountain (alt. 13,544 feet). There is still probably way too much snow for me to get up there considering my mountaineering skills, but that mountain is on my list. Someday! ;) BOTTOM PHOTO: A very pretty and pointed peak to the right has a lot of snow on its north side.
	Look At All The Snow! TOP: Derrick walked way out there with his dog to get a closer look at that massive snow cornice! You will probably need to click the adjacent photo to see it at a larger size for better perspective. BOTTOM: I also could not resist frolicking in the snow and tossed some snowballs. There was a time when I hated the snow and freezing cold, but I have a changed heart and love every minute of being in the snow.
	Facing north, there is some significant descent and a trail leading into Green Timber Gulch. The most immediate canyon, best seen in the middle photo, leads back down toward Cottonwood Lake. Travel up this very canyon and you will reach Mineral Basin, with nice views of Emma Burr Mountain and Mt. Kruetzer. (See: 4-wheeling in South Cottonwood Canyon) There is also a 4-wheel drive road that travels close to Ptarmigan Lake, as Steve Quilico and I did last year. A closer view of Mt. Yale, a mountain I have summited twice: Mt. Yale Hike (2007) Mt. Yale Hike (2006)
	A few wildflowers were showing their colors, including this purple one.
	The four of us at the top. :) By the way, we began at the trailhead at 7:15 a.m. and did not see another person until we were practically back down at the parking lot at 11:30 a.m. No crowds here on this Wednesday morning!
	One picture with my cell phone as I sat at the top.
	Back at the bottom, Angela and I showed off our walking sticks that we inadvertently found along the trail. Oh and yes, I am wearing a John Deere hat (a gift thanks to Minnesota Mark) and good grief, I am sorry my stomach looks fat in that photo!

Thinking About Dad We all sat there at the top of the Poplar Gulch Trail for quite awhile, and Angela captured a photo of me with some grand mountain views in the background. I may have looked like I was posing, or as if I was a little more serious than I was, but I was definitely thinking and reflecting. My Dad is in the hospital and he has some health challenges to overcome this year. Dad, I trust you will see and enjoy this picture collection real soon!