Alberta Falls

No weekend marathon, no Seven Continent challenge.  Colorado HOME, back on Mountain Time.  Overheard Ash making hike plans for Saturday.  No one minds a tag-along, right? 😊

Early a.m. Start, hour-half commute north to Estes.  Day destination: Rocky Mountain National Park.  More specifically: Loch Vale, off Glacier Gorge Trailhead.  Haven’t summer-hiked in RMNP past few years.  Their NO DOG rule, Park’s biggest deterrent.  This weekend with grandpup lying low/on the mend, Ash & Tom brought Party Marty over to hang with Ro.  BROs UNITED.

Park arrived quarter-to-7, wait-line of 10-15 cars already.  No parking at Glacier Gorge.  2 miles further UP, Bear Lake lot also FULL.  ARGH!  Think I hit the same snag, couple of Fall seasons back.  Luckily, the Park operates a mighty efficient transport system from a set of nearby commuter lots.  FREE too.  Just a matter of remembering.  Check, done.  Back on track.

Glacier Gorge Trailhead.  Super scenic mile-hike thru quaking Aspen, Ponderosa pine.

Alberta Falls, day’s first photo opp.  Water powered o’er the Falls.  Previously trekked to Alberta Falls, twice (2012 & 2016) – both winter hikes, Falls frozen-over both times.  STUNNING when captured in ice; however maybe more BEAUTIFUL thundering STRONG/HIGH with water.

Hike day starts at the Falls (lose 80% of the tourists).  People chatter gone; day noise swap.  Chipmunk, bird calls, glacier-fed streams, smell of pine.  LOVE our Rocky Mountains.

2 miles more to Loch Vale, a large alpine lake 3 side-surrounded by craggy snow-capped peaks. Perched above the water, lunch-snacked on a store burrito.  WOW whatta view!  Continent count now 5, travelled all 50 States.  Easy to forget PARADISE you have in your own backyard.

Back on Mountain Time, good to be Colorado home.

Alberta Falls-Loch Vale, RMNP