Group hike with Annmarie & John – couldn’t think of a better way to bang out hike #45 of 2012 (yes, only 7 to go!).
Annmarie single-handedly selected today’s hike, planned our group meetup, added Amy & Dave to the day’s tally, AND drove one of 2 SUVs needed to track up RMNP. Thanks, thanks, thanks!
And as if I wasn’t excited enough, Annmarie sent out the weekend weather forecast Thursday prior – snow, heavy snow, and snow. FAAAANNNTASTIC! AND – on a fee FREE National Parks day. Hooray! ‘Cause ya’ll know: ‘free is for me!’
Arrived early at the Park but initially felt a bit duped – where was the snow? A light dusting, sure, but no feet of snow. The closer to Glacier Gorge trailhead however, temps dropped, resulting in heavier snow precip. Parked, layered up, posed for group pics – then onward TEAM. (No problem with capacity parking in snowy November :))
And because Ro was hanging back at Camp Bow Wow (no dogs allowed @ RMNP), I was able to use my poles. YES! Last week a headlamp, this week poles – all about the accessories. LOL>
Great conversations, lotta laughs and a heavy snowfall hike – LOVE this place, LOVE this day, LOVE these people! AND we picked up another hiker midway, Henry from the UK (Manchester – Go United!).
The snow slowed our pace but managed a short break at The Loch. The lake was almost completely frozen. Snow coated my eyebrows and Annmarie’s ‘Heidi’ braids. AWESOME day hike!
Folks wanted to head back just before we reached Glass Lake (still managed 8.57 miles roundtrip, so no slouching). Thankfully, John was our voice of reason: ‘We came as a group, we leave as a group’.
This day the ‘journey’ ROCKED, no worries about reaching a target destination.
Ended the day with burgers at Smokin’ Dave’s in Lyons.
Top 10 best hike of 2012! Annmarie & John – ROCKSTAR hiking BFFs!
The Loch/RMNP (heavy snowfall clip)
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- parked, layering up, ready for adventure!
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- trailhead group pic, check
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- new hiking buddies
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- Alberta Falls – AMAZING!
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- …and the snow begins
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- even a Yankees cap couldn’t save Annmarie’s ‘Heidi’ braids
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- The Loch
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- another hiking group joined our water/snack break, sheltered from the elements
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- near white-out conditions – FAAANNNTASTIC!
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- first snow angel of the season (no, you’re never too old)
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- turning back and grabbing burgers at Smokin’ Dave’s
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- AWESOME DAY HIKE!
Woke up Saturday morning to rain. Ugh. 40 weeks of fair weather hikes, my luck had ended – maybe. Rain is not super common in Colorado so no matter what your plans, you happily adjust and remain grateful for precip of any kind.
Weather folks have been saying ‘snow in the mountains’ for weeks – so off to mountains we drive. AND good to have my hiking buddy Ro back. Ro was more than ready for a road trip, circling the car multiple times before I opened the rear passenger door. From the time I grab my backpack and start loading with water and food fuels, Ro gets super excited; little guy knows 🙂
Off to the Continental Divide, today’s target was Mount Parnassus – a 13er not far from Grays & Torreys. But as I learned last week in Moab, there’s much joy in the journey (although end destination/summit views generally ROCK!)
Arrived at Herman Gulch trailhead, greeted by light snow and ONE other vehicle in parking. Hmmm…no getting lost today – appears my hiking community stayed in bed dreaming of the impending ski season (our state’s unofficial religion). Layered up and ready to go. Ro was a dog possessed today – LOVES snow! Sniffing, rooting [his nose] under the snow, then leaping in attempt catch snow flakes.
What a gorgeous hike start – light snow, pines, bare aspens (having now shed their leaves), and quiet…complete quiet. Far from work and concerns of the world, the simply beauty of today’s hike refueled my soul. Passed a stretch of fallen trees from spring avalanche past, right at the first trail marker, then left at the second pole. Successfully crossed two small creeks, stayed dry. Right on track, no getting lost.
Loss of treeline near 12,000ft and the wind blew. Snow erased all remnants of trail so needed to use hiking experience this day – kinda like taking a midterm. Headed UP, identified the range ridge – trails lead to ridges, ridges lead to peaks.
Snow pellets were stinging as the wind gusted. Ro’s beard was completely snow-abomiable now, icicles forming off his neck and muzzle. Then almost like a mirage, I spotted another hiker. Ro & I picked up the pace – was not gonna lose sight of the only other human out today. John, Kelso & Chena (his 2 dogs) hike this range often and didn’t mind us tagging along to Woods Mountain, a 12er directly ahead. Parnassus was right of the ridge saddle, Ro & I had went left. Could have backtracked and hiked 1500ft UP to summit; but honestly had no attachment to Parnassus vs Woods this day – all about the journey (and hiking with other humans) 🙂
10 minutes more and hike SUCCESS! Wind was whipping; Ro kept forcing himself between my pants legging for shelter. Enough for one day. 30-45 minutes down from Woods, I found group of rocks & 2 trees to shelter us from the pounding wind/snow pellets.
Lunch break! My energy bars were jerky-hardened from the cold but still had available water thanks to a trick learned from my friend Kimberly. Blowing water back into the CamelBak after drink-finished keeps water from freezing in the tubes. Sure she was trying to keep water from heating up at Delicate Arch – but same concept.
5 days after Moab hiking in a t-shirt, now Macgyver-focused on water not freezing in my backpack.
LOVE LOVE LOVE my Colorado life!
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- strewn trees from avalanche past
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- LOVIN’ this hike!
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- creek crossing
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- biting wind past treeline
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- hey look ahead…
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- another hiker!
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- oh no, now gone in today’s white-out
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- hiker John w/ dogs Kelso & Chena
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- SUMMIT SUCCESS!
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- crazy cold wind – LOVE my Colorado life!
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- Sno Ro – too much of a good thing
After almost 2 feet of snow, woke up to a sunny Saturday and thought – where can Ro & I hike that doesn’t involve driving to a trailhead?
Waneka Lake in Lafayette is only a mile from my home so this local park worked perfectly in our plans. Iced over and winter home to flocks of Canadian geese and wood ducks, hard to imagine folks paddle-boating here after Memorial Day.
Because of our heavy snow, the walk to Waneka itself provided part of the fun for this day hike. Did I mention – my dog LOVES snow. Burying his head deep in the snow or racing in circles at break-neck speed were prime for this day. Since the lake was frozen, we dropped off the path and snowshoed an area which is usually water – our only competition this day were cross-country skiers and sledders.
Beautiful sunshine, beautiful snow, beautiful day.
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- Skiing, sledding & ice fishing – Colorado
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- Don’t think we’re supposed to drop off the path
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- Waneka Lake in February
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- Help I’m stuck!
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- Wait, wait for me!
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- Snow angels
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- Geese!
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- And I’m sleeping again…long day.
