Here's a trip report for Mount Galbraith. I've been playing with some of the Google API's and think I've automated the translation of data from the gps and camera directly to the web. Galbraith is a very easy trail that is decent for warming up to larger items like the 14ers we will be documenting. Make sure to read the full blog posting and not just the summary to see the maps and satellite imagery.

I'm not going to write very much about this particular trail because the main focus has been integrating the different technologies into a seamless platform deliverable by this blog. The general concept is to be able to stop and take a picture that translates into the map below complete with gps coordinates and clickable pictures. It has to be totally automated for when we start doing the 14ers again. I'll upload the raw gps information soon as well.

If you'd like to view this complete with a waypoint selector Click Here. The data file for Google Earth can be downloaded here. The raw images are stored in a Picasa Album and are available at high resolution.

Mount Galbraith Park

While visiting Mount Galbraith Park you'll encounter steep and rocky trails that lead you to panoramic vistas! Leave your bike and horse at home because this park is Hiker Only and has approximately 4.7 miles of trails.

Natural Resources

Natural resources of note for this park include three primary plant communities: mountain mahogany/needle and thread; Douglas fir/mountain ninebark; and narrowleaf cottonwood/willow. Wildlife on the park consist of as many as 300 head of elk that use the park in the spring. Red tail hawk, black bear, mountain lion and bighorn sheep have been seen. In addition, there are numerous species of songbirds, some of which are uncommon to the area.

History

Clear Creek Canyon on Mount Galbraith's south side and Golden Gate Canyon on its north created vital gateways into the central Rockies for Native Americans and Euro-American settlers. The California gold rush of 1849 brought tens of thousands of men west. Miners cross Mount Galbraith, as travel was easier along the ridgelines than through drainages. Golden Gate City was founded in 1859 at the mouth of Golden Gate Canyon as one of many rough supply towns. By 1860 it boasted several firms, hotels, stores and shops. Golden Gate City and Golden City (now Golden) were archrivals for the County seat, population and influence. Both were named for Tom Golden, a farmer, rancher, some-time miner, politician and town promoter. Golden Gate City stalled out because of a local land feud.

The quarry on the Clear Creek side of the park was first mined in the 1930s and 40s and again in the 1960s by Asphalt Paving Company. Brannan Sand and Gravel drafted plans to mine a large area now within the park but instead sold the property to Open Space in 1995. In 1997, a land trade with O. R. Goltra exchanged 80 acres on the western boundary for 80 acres in Clear Creek Canyon. In 1999, Open Space received a donation of over 75 acres from Golden Properties, Ltd. on the east side of the park.

Getting There

From State Highway 93, take Golden Gate Canyon Road west approximately 1.5 miles to the parking area and trailhead.