[cdt-l] New trail south of Rawlins

[Jeff Braun]

I have prepared the following draft describing the new route south of 
Rawlins for Jim Wolf. If southbound hikers want to use the 
description and provide feedback, I am sure Jim would appreciate it.

Steel posts temporarily mark the new route. The last 3.4 miles is 
crosscountry following the posts.

Follow Northern Colorado Guidebook Sierra Madre section 1 route up 
Coal Mine Draw until 7.2.

Turn left at 7.2 (41.70576, -107.29924) and climb eastward to the 
ridge top at 7.5, where the trail turns south and descends steeply to 
Rim Lake (8.0). Follow the gravel road through the BLM recreation 
site (Outhouse and covered picnic tables are available at the BLM 
recreation site. The current lake level is nearly 10 feet below the 
full pool level for which the dock was installed. Water is difficult 
to reach since lake is shallow and the ground is very soft within a 
couple of feet of the water.)

Leave the recreation site with a right turn at 8.2 onto a short trail 
that immediately joins a jeep trail. Turn right onto an improved dirt 
road at 8.5 that heads south through a metal gate (9.0) and passes 
west of Eightmile Lake (alkaline). Turn left at 11.0 onto a jeep 
trail that heads east over a rise towards oil wells and storage 
tanks. Near the low spot the road bends right (south) and the trail 
leaves the jeep road where it bends back to the left at 11.6.

Follow posts due south crossing a pipeline near the top of a rise at 
12.0 (41.65230, -107.28224). Note the two hills immediately to the 
south. The trail heads towards the right cone shaped hill and then 
bends slightly to the right. The trail stays west of the ravine as it 
passes the cone shaped hill.  The trail bends left slightly to cross 
at the base of the next hill's gentle east slope (13.2 miles, 
41.63463, -107.28374). From here you can see a gap due south on the 
east side of a small cone. The trail passes through that gap at 13.6. 
 From the gap you can see on the horizon BLM informational signs at 
top of a rise.  Follow the trail south towards the signs, crossing an 
improved gravel road at 14.4 (41.62144, -107.28448) and reach the 
Bridger Pass Road at 15.0 (Supplement 14.4, 41.60899, -107.28527).

Maps are currently available at:

ftp://ftp.vizsolutions.com/pub/Rawlins-BLM1.pdf

ftp://ftp.vizsolutions.com/pub/Rawlins-BLM2.pdf

If someone wants all the waypoints, just email me.

Jeff