[Journal entry for January 4, 2019; the Tenderfoot Trail, Dillon Colorado] I parked at the hiker’s lot near the big water tank along Road 51 in Dillon Colorado. Two trails diverge from this point, the Tenderfoot and the Oro Grande (Spanish for “Big Gold”). I took the former. It is a loop trail that first ascends and then descends the steep western flank of Tenderfoot Mountain, via innumerable switchbacks, reaching excellent viewpoints but not attaining the summit. I took the northern part of the trail up. It first ascends through woods and then crosses open areas that are part of a power line right-of-way. The views are a bit marred by pylons and wires, but in places are excellent, nonetheless. The view of Dillon Lake and the Tenmile Range beyond it are particularly good. I decided to push on when I reached a gateway in a wooden fence at the top of the loop, and bushwhacked steeply uphill, following a track left in the snow by another hiker. I had been walking with snow boots, for the trail was hard packed, but switched to snowshoes after this point. After a bit of a huff, I reached a woods road that followed the contour of the hill. I took it southeast, past two stream crossings. It had some open sections with excellent views. I then turned about and retraced my path back to the fence. I then took the southern part of the Tenderfoot Trail loop off the mountain. It traverses more open hillside and, consequentially, has the better views. I passed several old struggling Ponderosa Pines, growing amid rocks on ridgelines. The trail joins the Oro Grande and the bottom of the hill. I walked that trail (actually, a woods road) back to the car.

About three and a half hours.