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Hike to Crater Lakes, July 4th 2015…

Happy 239th Birthday America!

After a long night working the Zac Brown Band concert at Coors Field the night before and barely functioning on nearly 4 hours of sleep, I had made the decision to celebrate the country’s Independence Day by taking in a hike with friends.

Crater Lakes of which there are 5 of them are 3 miles in from the East Portal Trailhead at the Moffat Tunnel. The trail is moderate in elevation gain until about the last mile or so, then it becomes a little more steep and challenging.

We stopped at the first lake had lunch and made our way back down the trail. Next time I hope to see all five lakes.

 

Plenty of snow fields still left
Another view.
On the trail
Runoff
The first of the Crater Lakes.
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Snowshoeing East Portal Trailhead, Dec 29, 2013…

It’s been six weeks since my last outing and what better way to get back into in than to do some snowshoeing. I’ve hiked this trail numerous times, but never have done any snowshoeing on it. So today would be that day. No destination in particular just getting outdoors is the main objective.

Other fellow outdoors enthusiasts
Yea it’s me in my new jacket by Columbia
Over 3 feet right here
Beautiful day!
The parking lot first thing this morning

The temperature was 18 degrees upon arriving in the parking lot and it couldnt have had a better day. Blue skies and lot of sunshine. The wind was a lot worse in the parking lot than it was on the trail, but it’s always windy there at the Moffat Tunnel. And there were a lot of people out today, a few other people snowshoeing and quite a few more people on cross country skis. The conditions were just right, there was plenty of snow to be had up there, 2-3 feet in some areas, maybe even more. It literally was a picture-postcard day up there! It was a fun day and also a tiring one. But definitely a great way to end 2013!

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Hike to Roger’s Pass Lake June 22, 2013

I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July yesterday. I of course had to work my 2nd job yesterday, so celebrating was not on my agenda. So I figured since I have the day off today that I would catch up on the blog with my hike to Roger’s Pass Lake from 2 weeks ago.

I did this hike last fall and this time around it was much more difficult than before. It’s a relative moderate 4 mile hike to the lake, but what made it more difficult this time around was the numerous snow fields we ran into the second half of the hike. So needless to say I was a little unprepared. Some of the snow we ran into was on and off the trail, near bridges crossing rushing water. Some of it solid enough to walk cross with no problem, others not so much. And some were at least 3 feet deep! I know as I suddenly sank down in one up over my waist! Talk about cold!

All and all it was a good hike, as any hike is, but this day I got a lot more out of it, than I had expected, still that’s not necessarily a bad thing. We did come across some bear tracks in the snow close to the lake. That was exciting I thought, though I didnt follow the tracks to see where they might lead. But the idea did cross my mind!

These are a few photos from the hike, I hope you enjoy them!

Bear tracks
Just a sample of what was to come as we went further up
Frozen reflection
A half frozen Rogers Pass Lake

I dont know that my body will forgive me for what I put it through on this day, but I do know I am tougher for it! Get out and enjoy the outdoors! Next hike for me is this weekend, Saturday actually. Eldorado Canyon Trail in Eldorado Canyon State Park, just outside of Boulder, CO.

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Rogers Pass Lake & Heart Lake Sept 30, 2012

Two weeks later and hopefully not my last hike of the season, again I was back at the Moffat Tunnel and the East Portal Trailhead. I say this because the weather is getting much cooler especially in the mornings and today is a perfect example. But if you know me, I always hike in shorts no matter the weather. Call me crazy and I’m sure many have, but I’m most comfortable this way and I dont feel the cold on the lower half of my body anyway.

This time the hike would take me to Rogers Pass Lake, which was the original destination but later it turned out that we would throw in a short and steep quarter mile addition up to Heart Lake as well.

To me there is no better smell when I’m hiking than the fresh smell of pine. It just awakens my senses and lets me know that know matter how many miles are ahead of me, that this will always trump any day at the office! You get plenty of fresh pine smells on this trail. Enjoy the pictures!

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Forest Lakes Hike Aug 11, 2012…

Great hike today to the Forest Lakes. There was a little bit of everything to be had this day. Sunshine, blue skies, gray clouds moved in, then a little rain, a cold wind and a cool 48 degrees lakeside. There are numerous mushrooms along the trail as we got closer to the lake. There are two Forest Lakes, one upper and the other lower. This day due to low cloud cover the decision was made to not try for the upper lake though it wasn’t much further up the trail from the lower lake. Here are some pictures from the hike, I’ll add captions later. Enjoy!

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