Hey guys; I saw some discussion and request for pics/details of this loop in another thread from earlier in the year, and thought I'd put up pics from my recent trip(Sept. 17-23) .
Pretty safe to assume the storms I had on days 4-6 were atypical, as they were the result of moisture getting pushed through the area from Hurricane Odile.
At one point the forecast called for rain 7 days of 7, and had me trying to reschedule, so I guess I actually lucked out!

Elk Park to Needleton Loop, plus side trips including:
-Vestal Basin
-Highland Mary Lakes and Verde Lake
-Rock Creek Trail to Rock Lake(cut a bit short by weather)
-some wandering due to reality and the National Geographic map's version of it being two separate things

The trip begins with a shuttle to Elk Park via the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad's 1920s vintage steam engine.




It begins.


Looking ahead on the Elk Creek Trail.


The "Beaver Ponds" at mile 3.2.


Looking up toward Vestal Basin, my first side trip on the loop.




Lower Vestal Basin.


Looking out from the middle of Vestal Basin.


I head back down to the Beaver Ponds and beyond to the next water and make camp for the night.






Misty mountain meadow.


Continuing on the Elk Creek Trail.




Looking back.


Approaching the switchbacks up to the CT and the Continental Divide.


From the CT, which shortly joins the CDT.




On the way to my second extra destination, Highland Mary Lakes.


Cover up or get fried!


Approaching Highland Mary Lakes.






Camp, night 2. Quite a temperature differential here. It was 80F when I made camp, and 29F in the morning.