Purchased an annual Park pass again this year – but all the talk about FREE day inspired me to drive up to Estes & hike another trail in RMNP (2 years in Colorado but still so many trails to choose from – LOVE it!).
The 13 Fee Free Days in 2013 include Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 21), National Park Week (April 22 – 26), Founders Day (August 25), National Public Lands Day (September 28), and Veterans Day Weekend (Nov. 9-11).
Picked out today’s hike while on the Park N Ride bus provided by RMNP (parking within the Park is crazy crowded through Labor Day – so why not enjoy a free ride to the trailhead?)
Wait, REWIND — 2 days prior, rented a fun Australian film titled Mental. In the opening scene, a mom of five daughters is in her backyard pulling laundry, goes mental, spinning in the backyard singing ‘The Hills are Alive’ from The Sound of Music.
Then on Saturday I hear ‘Climb Every Mountain’ – again, from The Sound of Music. What are the chances?
So when I see a 9.3 mile hike in the Park named (Julie) Andrews Glacier, hmmm…kismet. [Ok, the glacier was not named for Julie Andrews but she was commencement speaker this year at CU – coincidence, I think not. :)]
FAST FORWARD to today’s hike. Hopped off [the bus] at Glacier Gorge trailhead & made a quick stop .8 miles in — at Alberta Falls. I’ve been here before but wow – when the water is sudden/rushing/alive, it’s just breathtaking.
Few more miles within treeline, a 2nd hike stop at The Loch. Loch Vale Lake was an end destination during last year’s hike challenge — but that was November and in the midst of a white-out. This day, stopped and smelled the roses, er…pine.
The trail then snaked noticeably UP over boulders to The Gash & Sharktooth, jugged sawtooth peaks saddled with deposits of glacier snow. Followed a happy Colorado hiking couple (Johnstown & Denver) up the final push to Andrews Tarn & Glacier.
WOW, WOW, WOW!
I have not lost my sense of awe in 20 months of hiking. It’s here, here in the mountains where I feel close to God.
Did a Julie Andrews spin for pics – but unfortunately looked more like Wonder Woman so you won’t find any attached. LOL>
Wait wait, a tarn?
A tarn is a mountain lake or pool, formed in a cirque excavated by a glacier. It is formed when either rain or river water fills the cirque. In Scandinavian languages a tjärn is a small natural lake, often in a forest or with vegetation close around it or growing into the lake.
Waded to my shins in the glacier fed tarn – really really cold water. First numbing then my feet cramped from the intense cold. Life’s meant to be lived. How many dudes get to wade in a glacial pond at 11,400ft? WOW, what a crazy happy life!
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- Alberta Falls, near Glacier Gorge trailhead – WOW!
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- Hike on!
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- Mountain Ash berries
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- The Loch (no monster – but check out the view!)
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- wonder if this is how God sees us
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- Checked in, centered – I LOVE hiking!
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- The Gash (& glacial snow)
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- fellow hikers led climb UP to Andrews
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- Sharkstooth
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- summit view of the Continental Divide
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- WOW pic – Andrews Glacier. AMAZING!
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- numbing waters of Andrews Tarn – Bring it!
With my days & nights mixed up after back-n-forth travel to California, needed to get out (with minimal driving) & ward off the bad juju – start over, get centered, re-discover my happy place.
If I could go back & career re-do, I’d study glaciology or Plan B – study geology. While not in the right mindset to do a glacier hike today, visiting a geology museum might just do the trick.
Denver’s Museum of Nature & Science is your typical kid-friendly museum with exhibits ranging from Egyptian mummies & North American Indians to space exploration, wildlife & the human body. But for me, I came to see rocks 🙂
Colorado was founded on mining, and in the historical mining section you’ll see local finds, like Tom’s Baby, an eight-pound nugget of crystallized gold unearthed in Breckenridge in 1887.
While the Nature & Science Museum only came up 2nd on my Google search, it also houses a 3D IMAX flic on Great White Sharks. No brainer – I’ve been scared/intrigued by sharks since watching Jaws as a kid.
AND today’s gem exhibit placed a heavy emphasis on native Colorado gems & minerals. Very cool. LOVED it.
Favourite rock of the day – Rhodochrosite, state mineral of Colorado – and in particular, the Alma King.
Rhodochrosites from the Sweet Home Mine are gem-quality crystals because of their translucent cherry-red color, which is due to the relatively low amount of iron, magnesium and calcium impurities. Many experts acclaim the “Alma King” as the finest and most valuable mineral specimen ever mined in North America. Rhodochrosite became the Colorado State Mineral in 2002.
Ended my day at Jett Asian Kitchen & Sushi on Colfax.
On my way back folks, bad juju almost gone – hiking a glacier tomorrow 🙂
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- Denver skyline from City Park
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- rock day @ the Museum of Nature & Science
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- Colorado State Gemstone – Aquamarine
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- Amethyst
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- Barite
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- Colorado State Mineral – Rhodochrosite
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- the Alma King
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- re-constructed cavern of gypsum crystals & stalactites
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- 30 years later — still traumatized by Jaws
Hiking, check. Marathon, check. Backpacking? Hmmm…. Stuffed an oversized backpack & headed to nearby Nederland with Ro. Goal – our first overnighter in Colorado. Destination – Lost Lake.
Took the free shuttle from Nederland High to Hessie Trailhead to avoid parking congestion on this near-perfect weather day (shuttle operates Memorial Day to Labor Day). Spent 10 minutes talking to ‘the Moose Lady’ who provided ‘what/what not to do’ info on moose encounters. Sadly, saw no moose this day despite Colorado’s recent uptick in numbers.
Arrived at Lost Lake in 45 minutes. WOW – that was fast & all 9 camp sites were full. What to do? Hike on 🙂
Passed an older couple who talked up Woodland Lake, their favourite hike. BAM & that’s how it’s done in the 303. Sunshine, rushing water & an abundance of wildflowers – perfect Colorado summer.
5 miles in — past a meadow, another mountain stream and a grove of pine & spruce, Woodland Lake.
[Insert exclamation expressing astonishment or admiration. Synonyms: holy cow, holy mackerel, holy moly, whoa; cool, amazing, awesome, far out.]
Set up camp & after watching Ro swim as far as his lead leash would let him go, was inspired to wash in the chilly glacier-fed waters. Our only neighbors were 2 fishing couples on opposite sides of the lake (one came with a Jack Russell which kept Ro’s attention). Peaceful.
Tied my food cache (energy bars) high in a nearby tree. However left a meat bone in the tent for Ro. Huh? Yeah, all I really managed to do was limit my own nighttime snacking. LOL!
Ro stayed alert most all night – perched at the front of the tent.
One low growl in the early evening but for the most part, still & quiet. Plan A was to stab ‘the bear’ with a knife while Ro would be barking/causing chaos. Yeah – need to think through a better Plan A before our next overnighter. Never previously wielded a knife as a weapon – much less oppose a bear. Maybe a can of bear mace makes more sense 🙂
Woke early, waded in a waterfall & return hiked by noon. HUGE fan of backpacking!
Ended the weekend with dinner & bluegrass at the historic Gold Hill Inn. Accessible off a dirt road above Boulder at 8300ft, HIGHLY recommended!
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- Hello Moose lady! (sadly though we saw no moose)
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- end of summer hike – lotta wildflowers
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- Colorado Aspen
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- Indian Paintbrush
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- rushing water in mid-August – awesome Colorado summer!
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- pollinator
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- Rowan O’Roark – LOVE LOVE my dog!
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- Woodland Lake
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- our first overnighter
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- stored energy bars high from bears (but left a meat bone in the tent for Ro, huh?)
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- glacier in upper left, tent in lower right – AWESOME backpacking location!
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- don’t think he slept a wink
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- morning waterfall dip (’til my feet went blue)
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- rustic mountainside dining above Left Hand Canyon (4 miles on a dirt road)
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- dinner & bluegrass at 8300ft – HIGHLY recommended!
