Above: The boys enjoying Calypso Cascades
(Much bigger cascades earlier in the season!)
Below: The upper section of trail travels through
the area burned in the 1978 Ouzel Fire
Below: Bluebird Lake
Mountain Sage Inn
September 26, 2009 - Bluebird Lake, et al
Wild Basin is a great area for fairly easy hikes and lots of destinations.
The hardest part of the hike to Bluebird Lake is the distance.
According to the Park Service, it is 6.4 miles from the trailhead to the Lake,
but there's a lot to see along the way!
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Above: The boys enjoying Calypso Cascades (Much bigger cascades earlier in the season!)
Below: The upper section of trail travels through the area burned in the 1978 Ouzel Fire |
Above: Chickadee Pond Below: Bluebird Lake |
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September 5, 2009 - Flattop Mountain & Andrew's Glacier
This is the fun loop route to climb Hallett and Otis Peaks also.
Start at the Bear Lake Trailhead and come down the trail from Andrew's Glacier & Tarn,
hike down to the Loch and end up at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead.
This route is better a little earlier in the season when Andrew's Glacier
is in better shape and safer for travel.
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Above: View west from Flattop Mtn The sky is hazy from the fires in California. That is Grand Lake in the valley below.
Below: The view down the valley from the top of Andrew's Glacier |
Above: Fall colors and late flowers above treeline.
Below: Andrew's Glacier from Andrew's Tarn The glacier is just a fraction of the size it was the first time I hiked it. |
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 Fall colors just getting started along the Glacier Gorge Trail |
August 29, 2009 - Lake Helene, Odessa and Fern Lakes
Start at the Bear Lake Trailhead and end up at the Fern Lake Trailhead.
In the summer, the free Hiker Shuttle will take you back to your car at Bear Lake.
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Above: Lake Helene
The Little Matterhorn is the spire above Odessa |
Odessa sits in the valley below Helene
Fern Lake with the Little Matterhorn and Knobtop Mountain above it. |
August 22, 2009 - Shelf Lake & Solitude Lake
Hey! I remembered my camera this week! Click here for pictures
This is a beautiful hike above Alberta Falls and Mills Lake, but it's
one of those you really have to want to do. The last half mile is a bushwack
straight up the mountain through downed timber and rock. It took me as long to hike
the last half mile as it did to hike the 3 miles before it.
August 8, 2009 - Mt. Chapin, Mt. Chiquita, Mt. Ypsilon
Left to right: Mt. Chapin (12,454'), Mt. Chiquita (13,069'), Mt. Ypsilon (13,514')
Only about 7.5 miles round trip, but steep! The flowers are still blooming, but will be done soon.
It's been a nice cool summer, so the tundra is still very green and pretty.
July 11, 2009 - Loch Vale, Timberline Falls & Lake of Glass
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The Loch 2.7 miles from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead That is Taylor Peak towering above. |
Timberline Falls seen from the trail just above The Loch. |
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Timberline Falls close-up 4 miles from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead
The trail up to Lake of Glass is the ribbon of water on the right hand side of the falls. |
Lake of Glass Sky Pond sits in the bowl about a half mile above Lake of Glass |
July 4, 2009 - Twin Sisters Mountain
Click link for pictures
This is the first mountain I ever climbed back in 1983.
I was the first one to the summit this morning and just passed by
the lines of folks heading up as I came down. The rain came early today.
I missed it, but I bet the rest of them didn't!
Elevation: 11,400' Distance to summit: 3.7 miles
June 13, 2009 - Bridal Veil Falls
Click link for pictures
A beautiful early season hike. The spring run-off makes the falls especially nice.
I started just after sunrise and saw two herds of mostly bull elk and a black fox!
Trailhead: McGraw Ranch Distance to falls: 3.2 miles
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May 31, 2009 |
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It's been a bit of a slow start this year with the late snows and wet weather, but, thanks to a little inspiration from good friends, I made it out this morning to a beautiful lake that wasn't on my hiking list this year! The weather was wonderful and we got an early start and had the lake to ourselves. We did see some elk - one of which appeared to be in the early stages of labor. I'm sure we'll start seeing a lot of baby elk really soon! |
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Cub Lake This is a great hike through meadow, aspen groves and wetlands. (But a good dry trail!) It's also one of the few trails completely melted of snow this early in the season.
Distance: 2.3 miles Elevation Gain: 540' |
Anne and Teresa enjoying the morning at Cub Lake. The pine beetle is starting to make its presence known in this area of the park. |
Hiking Season is just getting started! Stay tuned and have a great summer!
Lyn
Mountain Sage Inn
553 West Elkhorn Ave.
Estes Park, CO 80517
800-552-2833 970-586-2833
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