Top 5 tips for Chicago Basin

[rockchalker]

A group of us are headed to Chicago Basin first week of September and will be taking the train from Durango with three nights in the Basin. Lots of great suggestions. I saw a comment that the cell phone coverage, at least in the basin itself, is non existent. Is there good satellite coverage for a SPOT Connect type of device?

Keep the great suggestions coming!

[a94buff]

A group of us are headed to Chicago Basin first week of September and will be taking the train from Durango with three nights in the Basin. Lots of great suggestions. I saw a comment that the cell phone coverage, at least in the basin itself, is non existent. Is there good satellite coverage for a SPOT Connect type of device?

Keep the great suggestions coming!

I was able to get 4G AT&T - albeit spotty - from the summits of Eolus and Sunlight. Enough to make a call home, and (unfortunately) for all my emails to pour in

[Dancesatmoonrise]

I tried to ski in from Purgatory Flats trailhead in January of last year. Simply amazing. I didn't make it all the way, but the solitude was just surreal.

The snow was terrible so I only made it 10 miles (just beyond the Needleton stop and the cabins there in the vicinity). And the day after I came out? Dumped 18 inches. Timing is everything.

Hey, can you provide a map/route of your trip? If you went down the canyon, how was it?

Thanks!

[leafmiles]

what's the deal with goin' #2 up there?

is there cover and soft ground to dig a privy in nearby?

after hearing about overcrowding in the basin, i'd imagine poo fields are an immediate consequence..

and managed accordingly

[wildlobo71]

what's the deal with goin' #2 up there?

is there cover and soft ground to dig a privy in nearby?

after hearing about overcrowding in the basin, i'd imagine poo fields are an immediate consequence..

and managed accordingly

They have a version of blue-bags that are kept in the metal box when you register... carry out. But, most people are resistant to carrying those, so just find a nice area well away from the water, and dig a cat hole. Even the USFS volunteer up there to promote, among other things, the collection bag, said he hated it.

[JQDivide]

All the above and...

1. Take a trash bag to cover your pack/food bags when you hang it. (Poke a small hole in the bag for the paracord/biner)
2. Jump in the creek or river before you get on the train... it's like a refugee camp with the B.O. from everyone getting on the train. And you'll feel better so will the train folks.
3. Take some beer/wine/whiskey into the basin with you... (and leave some soaking in the lower creek for the way out)
4. If you're catching the train back to Durango (3:30)... go out early and catch a ride to Silverton (11:30) to eat lunch... REAL FOOD!
5. Flip flops

[The_Ramp]

Pushing this to top of forum as I found it incredibly useful in planning a recent trip to CB. It is a little dated... there have been some changes to the train (e.g. you can no longer be dropped off at Needleton coming from Silverton, only departing Durango), so it's important to get the latest information from their website: https://durangotrain.com/wilderness-access/

My top 5 tips:

• 1. The hike to the basin is a beast, especially with a heavy pack. Took me almost 3.5 hours to the Twin Lakes trail split and I was one of the first off the train that day to get up. Equally challenging and never-ending to descend.

• 2. There are a lot of camping sites but you need to look for them; I found more much further into the basin, near and past the Twin Lakes trail split.

• 3. Critter-proof your site completely, including hanging all your gear that isn't in your tent. The first night, I had a porcupine attempt to steal my sandals that were under my tent vestibule not 6 inches from my face. I scared it off but learned my lesson and put them in my tent at night. I've read of critters eating into tents but I didn't experience that or heard of anyone else in the basin having that issue.

• 4. I went by myself but I was never alone. Met a lot of incredibly nice and generous folks on the train, and it was fun to see them later on in the basin. If you're struggling finding a partner, don't fret. Pick a summer weekend and make friends.

• 5. The 14ers, even the "easiest" one Windom, are big, hard climbs. Doing all four in a day would be a monster effort requiring a very early start, amazing fitness, and speedy hiking to beat the daily afternoon storms. I would also suggest splitting them across two days because...

• Bonus tip: Twin Lakes is probably the coolest place I've been in the entire state. Take your time, savor and enjoy it.

[seannunn]

Wow you are reviving a really old thread.
Without bothering to read the first 90 replies, here goes:

1. Don't go on a Friday. Lots of people have that same idea.
2. Have your stuff in order and ready to go so that you can start up as soon as you get your backpack from the folks who hand the backpacks out of the storage car.
3. 3000 feet over 6 miles is real, but it isn't unreal...unless you have a 50 pound pack. Check every item you put in your pack. The more it weighs, the more you should ask yourself if you need it. (Personally mine is 25-26 lbs and that is without super $$$ ultralight gear.) In other words, a 4 ounce first aid kit, yes. A 5 pound sleeping bag, no. Take about 4 layers to sleep in instead (since you will probably need 3 anyway to start your summit day) and a light sleeping bag instead. (This is assuming you are going soon and not in January.)
4. This is controversial, but ask yourself if the weight and bother of cooking at camp are worth it. For some people they are, and I respect that. For me personally, I can live on nuts, protein bars and "fruit" snacks for 36 hours or so. The added bonus is that after you get back down, a real meal tastes really good.

Or sorry, you said top 5.

5. Enjoy the journey. It is beautiful up there.

Sean Nunn
Peculiar, MO