My partner and I decided to hike Missouri from the Clohessy Lake 4WD trailhead to combine nearby Centennials Emerald and Iowa Peak. I thought it would be a good alternative to the standard route and Clohessy Lake was worth a visit alone. We brought our dogs to join in on the adventure.

We started early from the opposite side as the standard route up Missouir so we could see the herds of people on their way up as we topped the ridge. We watched the ants march uphill as we relished the summit all to ourselves. The clouds and fog moved in as we descended toward the other peaks and away from the traffic.
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The weather dropped a bit of moisture on us before eventually clearing for the remainder of the day. The trek over to Emerald and Iowa was mostly grassy tundra and enjoyable terrain. We were a bit off route on the descent back to Clohessy and ended up on a steep scree field of talus that the pups did not enjoy, nor did we for that matter.

‍ We were happy once we were back at the lake and the Rockdale trailhead ready to head home. I loved this area and would return just to camp up here! 

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Buena Vista is quite possibly my favorite mountain town in the Sawatch range. The people, the culture and the vibe are all excellent. I always make a point to stop in BV, usually Eddyline, my favorite brewery in Colorado. Highly recommend stopping or staying in Buena Vista.

Local spots: Simple Eatery & Spoon It Up, House Rock Kitchen, Eddyline Brewing.