Spring weather is here and after three consecutive weekends of ROAD TRIP hikes, wanted to keep it close this week. Supposed to be outdoors – but supposed to stay FUN too!
Working in Boulder, several coworkers have talked of Mount Sanitas as a fun local hike. Being only 20 minutes away, Ro & I didn’t hit the trail ‘til 10am and BAM it was packed! Crazy, but everyone else seemed to know it was sunny, warm and SPRING too 🙂 Boulder (and Colorado in general) is a healthy, athletic community – old, young, women, men – don’t just see (U of Colorado) college students on local hikes. LOVE LOVE LOVE this place!
Warm sunshine and a panoramic view of scenic Boulder at Sanitas’ summit. Many folks joined us for summit pics this hike – tens of people make the trip up. Ended the day with a trail run down – 2 weekends in a row! Ro enjoyed the exercise and I enjoyed having part of our Saturday open for a late afternoon walk around Hecla – beautiful weather weekend.
-
- first Spring hike of the season
-
- water (& burrito) break
-
- no ice – Ro’s streak ends
-
- nearing the top
-
- summit view
-
- let’s do it again
-
- finished hike w/ trail run (2nd straight week)
-
- back home in Louisville
Decided it was finally time – Ro’s 1st high altitude hike!
Did my online research and settled on Lake Isabelle – part of Indian Peaks Wilderness. Although our Colorado sun evaporated precip from all local roads, ice and patchy snow fast became the norm on the climb to Brainard. Elevation increased past 8,000 ft and the snow deepened. Enter ‘Ward Colorado’ – the town that time forgot…er, shanty town. One road through town – snowmobile traffic on all dirt road offshoots. Additionally, saw more abandoned (roadside) trucks and campers than could be counted on 2 hands.
All roads close shortly past Ward, who knew? 🙁
5 miles in to Brainard trailhead, we saw our first sign prohibiting dogs from Nov-April. Seriously…after a 5 mile hike? Who’s gonna patrol today? Hmmm… And lucky for me I left my snowshoes safely stored in the front hall closet. Argh! That said – what a beautiful Colorado day! Snow, sunshine and brisk low-oxygen air – can’t help but smile. LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! 🙂
Brainard Lake, then Long Lake, then Lake Isabelle. Lake Isabelle….hmmm. The trail to Brainard was arduous but not impossible, thanks to ski tracks left by previous travelers. Brainard Lake 10,300 ft – a WOW moment!
Brief lunch break, then Ro & I start the trek to Long Lake. Literally FEET of snow ahead – where are those snowshoes? Frozen pants, short breaks to clear ice-build up on puppy’s paws and snowscaped parking lots. Blue diamond markers now also snow-covered — ranger ski tracks through the woods become our only point of reference.
Wind, cold, stillness. Completely alone on this hike.
Our hike ended not far past the last ranger tracks at Long Lake. Quick pose at Brainard to commemorate Ash’s 22nd birthday – then homeward bound and 11 hours of solid sleep. Who needs a dog park?
-
- No what allowed? Argh. Wasn’t spelled out on protrails.com so…Rowan is exempt. PLUS we already hiked 5.2 miles to this point. Protrails didn’t account for closed roads in winter. Double-argh.
-
- In theory we were driving past Brainard & Long Lakes and hiking to Lake Isabelle. Roads ended just past Ward, CO.
-
- FANNNTASTIC!
-
- Super windy up this high – check out the snowscape.
-
- Ro walking on ice – 8th consecutive week!
-
- MedicAlert – I’m stuck! Does the bracelet come with a beacon? I’m cell phone free now…what would MacGyver do?
-
- Lucky for me, snowshoes are safely stored in my front hall closet.
-
- Dig Ro, dig!
-
- Camouflage
-
- Trailhead parking lot…LOL.
-
- Ranger ski marks end here…oh no. Been following Blue Diamond trail marks but ski trail was much more visible.
-
- Long Lake under many many feet of snow: Reason #106 why we call this HOME!
-
- Yes Ro we can go home 🙂
-
- Who knew pants freeze? Heavier travel…generally leave my ankle weights at home.
-
- BDay greetings from Brainard (Lake Isabelle will have to wait ’til Spring)!
-
- 11 hours of sleep later and still seeing sun & wind (in my face – LOL)
Needed a nudge to get Ro & I out of Boulder County before we ran out of unique hikes (yeah, yeah – that’ll never happen in Colorado :)). East Coast (flatlander) friend here for a visit – ROAD TRIP!
Travelled north to Fort Collins and after some minor difficulties locating the trailhead, were on track to see Horsetooth Falls. Waterfalls in winter? Gotta do this, check 🙂 [Lesson learned: using GPS coordinates to map trailheads going forward.]
Layering is a hiking must in Colorado because of our 300+ days of annual sunshine. Snow underfoot but warm sun and high altitude = necessary clothes shedding. Sun-exposed trail was clear of snow; shaded side of mountain was more than a foot deep [of snow]. LOVE LOVE LOVE this place!
Can’t say Horsetooth Falls was a waterfall gusher but the Falls created a beautiful February icescape. ALSO tacked on a 5th consecutive week to Ro’s obligatory ice-walk pics 🙂
Fort Collins is home to Colorado State University so have heard hikes at Horsetooth can be crowded. Happy to report, February is the ideal time to go! Minimal hiker traffic, plenty of snow – AND a waterfall!
protrails.com – Horsetooth Falls
-
- Horsetooth trailhead
-
- fresh snow…TGI the weekend!
-
- Sunshine & Snow (jacket optional) – Reason #105: why we call this HOME!
-
- How high are we going?
-
- bottom of the Falls (thanks to photographer Stephen)
-
- weekly obligatory pic of Ro walking on ice
-
- Waterfalls in winter ROCK! AMAZING day!
-
- Don’t leave me down here!
-
- Pic from behind the Falls
-
- Sno Ro
-
- 35F – time to shed the jacket
