Last March I first snow-shoed in Rocky Mountain Nat’l Park (with a guide through Apex Ex). LOVED it! This year purchased 3 more tickets and treated Ash & Tom as a Christmas gift.
Temps kicked up after weeks of snow – just above freezing, sunny in the mountains. Pretty much perfect 🙂
Same gig as last year – met up at Beaver Meadows Visitors Center in RMNP, followed by a 20 minute drive to Glacier Gorge Trailhead. Poles, shoes, group introductions, porta-potty – then, hit the snowy trail to Nymph Lake.
Today’s snow-shoe itinerary – Nymph, Dream & Emerald Lakes, a 3.6 mile round-trip trek, crazy popular this time of year.
Guide was more aggressive with elevation gain & hill climb than last year’s adventure to Lake Haiyaha. Wasn’t exactly the walk thru the meadows tour I touted to Ash (sorry) – that said, LOVED it!
Highlights? Trekking across Dream Lake – ice formations were stunning. And of course, 3-cheese fondue & apples high in the Rockies aside Emerald Lake. Honestly, absolutely nothing like it – highly recommended!
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- shoeing across Nymph Lake
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- good attitude, another hill climb
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- today’s WOW pic – snow & sun high in the Rockies
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- trip highlight: trekking across Dream Lake
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- stunning ice formations
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- all smiles kinda day
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- Hallett Peak
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- day’s obligatory selfie – can’t believe I live here!
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- destination, Emerald Lake – left the group & hiked UP past tree-line
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- kickin’ back, hot cider
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- 3-cheese fondue, bread & apples – YUM!
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- high-altitude fondue feast
After a few days of temps in the 60’s, how best to celebrate the end of March? How ‘bout an 8 hour snowshoe trek in Rocky Mountain National Park? LOL>
Purchased a Groupon a few months back, intending to snowshoe in early February. Little did I know this package was so popular, their first opening was March 30th.
My friend M & I met up with 2 Apex Ex guides & 8 other shoers at Beaver Meadows Visitors Center in RMNP. 20 minute drive to Glacier Gorge Trailhead, shoes & poles doled out – and we were on our way.
Aside from the spectacular winter landscape, what I liked most? Backcountry hiking. In winter you’re no longer restricted to trails in the park as you are in summer months – because trails are covered by 8-12 feet of snow 🙂
Stopped for a photo opp at Dream Lake, nestled under towering Hallett Peak – then fondue at Lake Haiyaha.
Cheese fondue & apples after snowshoeing in the Rockies. Bucket list ‘must do’ — seriously. FAAAANNNNTASTIC!
FULL Colorado weekend. 10 mile pre-dawn run on Saturday, hiked 8,100ft Green Mountain in Boulder, then shoed 5 miles in the snow-blanketed Rockies on Sunday.
Lovin’ life. Trading with no one – crazy happy with the hand I’ve been dealt.
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- 5 mile snowshoe hike in RMNP
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- stunning Hallett Peak
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- check out that backdrop — snow blowing off the high peaks above Dream Lake…W-O-W!
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- We’re here!
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- cheese fondue & apples at 10,220ft
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- fondue & snowshoeing in the Rockies — SPECTACULAR!
