Loch Vale Trail/RMNP5 weekends of running, time for a hike – maybe even 2 hikes.  After Thursday’s ‘first snow’, nothing but mountains & snow camping on the brain.  Temps plummeted to the 20’s…so settled on glamping & 2 RMNP alpine hikes (making the most of my 2016 Parks pass).

Woke to sunshine Saturday.  Beaver Meadows Entrance, quick left to Bear Lake.  20 minute ride, trailhead-parked at Glacier Gorge (last pull-off before Bear).  Winds blew, BIG smile.  Initial hike goal: 5 Lakes (Loch Vale, Haiyaha, Dream, Nymph & Bear)

Just under a mile to Alberta Falls, another 2+ to Loch Vale.  Most tourists can make the Falls hike; super thankful for winter & open trails.  Forgot how beautiful Alberta Falls can be…even frozen solid.  Tested the ice; crampon spikes a good gauge for weakness.  Must’ve flash-froze over the past couple days, thin ice covered in snow.  Snapped a pic, hiked on.

Last trekked Loch Vale 4 years ago, mid-November.  That day, hiked in heavy snow – white-out conditions limited our group’s day goal.  Winter precip accumulated 3” inches an hour, awesome memory making snow angels.  hike LOVE.

Today’s path vacillated between ice (sunshine melt/refreeze) & shin-deep snow (tree cover shade).  Both lodgepole & Ponderosa [pine] lined the Park’s well-maintained trail system.  Crazy beautiful, sunshine & solitude.

Left to Mills, right to Haiyaha, Loch Vale straight ahead.  Tested out trail conditions to Haiyaha…deep snow, no visible trek tenth-mile out.  Not happening today.  Turned back, Loch Vale < half-mile away.  Pushed thru a grove of trees, saw the Loch.  Frozen alpine lake blocked in by the some of the Park’s highest peaks.  Outdoor WOW moment.  Opened armed, let the cold wind blow, envelope me.

Snow whipped off the rock heights above.  Crampons scratched the Loch’s surface but no cracks.  Breezy, strong numbing wind.   Footsteps crunched over the thick ice.  No words.  Just WOW!  Wind-retreated after 15 minutes.  Sheltered behind two boulders, downed half a turkey wrap.  Only one Lake today…but absolutely no regrets.

Sunset.  Headed into Estes Park for a pricey dinner & the city’s tree lighting ceremony.  ‘Cowboy Brad’ welcomed visitors with a mix of John Denver & Colorado Christmas carols.  No better way to usher in the season.  FUN night!

 

Home?  Heck no.  Not before a Sunday a.m. hike — only 3 miles roundtrip.  Felt small under tall lodgepole pine, switch-backed UP 1,000ft, followed signs for ‘Trail Around Lake’, dropped off trail to snap shots of slushy Bierstadt Lake.

BEST vacation from a vacation – I choose mountain hike over Disney World every time 🙂

 

 

alpine hikes & holiday lights (Estes Park CO)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFPtcdnD0sM

 

 

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