Herman Lake

Published August 26, 2017

Master went to Grasshopper.

Too much time on the road Monday in Wyoming. Wanted to hike this weekend, just didn’t want to drive to get there. Ash recommended Herman Lake, an alpine hike above tree-line – chock full of wildflower & only an hour-half from home. Check, done.

Early Saturday start. Full tank of gas, backpack, Ro in the backseat. Beautiful Colorado day.

Handful of exits past Georgetown, one away from Grays. Dirt trailhead parking lot right off exit 218: Herman Gulch Trail. Steep hike on the CDT (Continental Divide Trail), BESTEST way to celebrate National Dog Day 2017!

Forewarned ‘bout 2 Start complaints: highway noise & a HUGE initial climb. Check & check. Butted right against I-70, traffic noisy/distracting/easy-to-hear from Colorado’s east-west thruway. Drops off quarter to half-mile in.

1000 foot grind UP UP UP from the parking lot. Think daughter felt vindicated after I shared my elevation stats. AND no Colorado switchbacks this trek, just a direct push UP. Settled/caught my breath, sucked down a liter of water, elevation bit shy of 11,000ft. Trail emptied into high alpine meadow. AWESOME hike!

Steady gradual UP ‘til our lake destination, never really noticed. Mountain decorated/dressed in colour. Lush summer vegetation. Evergreen: pine, spruce, juniper. Wildflowers EVERYWHERE, every shade. Absolutely beautiful.

Good for the head. Surrounded by sheer MASS, felt small again. Inner peace.

It’s not Herman Lake’s size, but its location – spongy tundra border, framed-in by Pettingell Peak. Cold wind blew, snow a short 3 weeks away. Nature knows. Backed against a boulder, Ro tethered to my belt, lunched in the Colorado Rockies at 12,000ft.

No other place on Earth ❤

UPDATE: Home by 2pm Saturday. Grocery shopped, cleaned house/laundry, Sunday church – AND Patsy Cline. Ok, not THE Patsy Cline (she’s been gone since 1963) but a 2-hour two-Act matinee of the lady’s music at Longmont Community Theatre.

I’m not just ‘marathon man’, I’ve got an artsy side too 🙂