In June 2009 I spent 7 days in the Weminuche Wilderness, Colorado's largest wilderness area, backpacking the Elk Park to Needleton Loop utilizing the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad to access the remote interior. In addition to the traditional route, I took side trips to Vestal Basin, Nebo Pass, and Mount Eolus, a Colorado fourteener. The terrain was spectacular, and the weather was true to form; nice mornings and violent afternoon thunderstorms. My favorite part of the trip was spending two days in the remote Vestal Basin, and not seeing any humans. I also greatly enjoyed the hike from Johnson Creek to Columbine Pass, and the loooooooooong glissade into Chicago Basin. This was my longest solo backpacking trip, and one that I will not soon forget.