After last month’s Herman Lake hike on the CDT (Continental Divide Trail), went back to Ash for other hike destinations I may have overlooked.  She gave me two: Jasper Lake (Indian Peaks Wilderness) & Whale Peak (off US 285, on the Divide past Gibson Lake).

Next 3 weeks: 2 Colorado hikes, one East Coast marathon.  Work hard, play hard.  B-I-G life, no regrets.

Late start – 6am Saturday wake-up.  In Colorado, that means ‘no trailhead parking’.  Circled back 15 minutes into Nederland & boarded the town’s FREE trailhead shuttle service.  Me AND my pup.  Yep, that happens in Colorado too.  Dog-friendliest state of our 50 ❤

Light rain in Boulder, light SNOW in Nederland.  Mix of precip, sun darted in & out all day.

First FALL hike of the season, Aspens were a poppin’.  Bright Aspen YELLOW.  8.8 miles roundtrip per ProTrails.  Ash quoted 10 – Strava would prove her right (shuttle drop-off to Lake & trail return: 10.4 miles).

Ro now off-leash; pup on ‘squirrel’ patrol.  Ran wild thru open meadows.

Woodland Lake.  Diamond Lake.  Stayed RIGHT at both forks.  Third & last trail juncture, went against the grain & trekked LEFT.  No getting’ lost this day.  Perrrrfect directions.  (Thanks Ash.)

Arrived Jasper Lake 11am.  Gray skies & snow spit.  Didn’t stop Ro from taking a quick dip.  Brrr.

Reality, this alpine ‘lake’ was a reservoir – being drained in anticipation of next season’s snow-melt.  Heavy winter mountain snow = plenty of downstream water all summer long.  Front Range Coloradans generally lucky that way.

Today’s hike destination not the sexiest lake…but the journey itself – FAAANNNNTASTIC!  Still early – stay or go-go?  Option A: mile to Devils Thumb Lake, mile further to Devils Thumb Pass.  Option B: bowl of warm chili in Ned.  Ya’ll know how this story ends 🙂

Followed by late afternoon take-n-bake pizza.  Followed by a double-scoop of PB&J at Sweet Cow.

Maybe should’ve hiked the extra couple miles, huh?  LOL>