An Unusual Day @ Mohawk Lakes

We knew the weather was going to be iffy even before we started.  It's monsoon season and had been acting like it for the past two weeks.  We decided to give it a go anyhow since if you wait around due to weather in Colorado you'll never get anything done.  Another saying is "wait five minutes and the weather will change.'  We made it down the long, bumpy 4 wheel drive road only to be greeted by the sounds of thunder.  We decided to wait it out in the truck.  The kids hung out in the back, Poppa took a nap (he's like a dog and can sleep anywhere), and then it started to hail.  Luckily, it was only small hail so we didn't get any more dents on my poor red truck!

After 20 minutes or so the hail and rain stopped.  We decided to brave the weather.  There's a nice cabin part of the way up.

The falls are pretty!

Little Red Elephant:

This was the signature J face when she was ready to be done going uphill:

Aster:

Our lunch spot:

Poppa and T went fishing on the far side of the lake...

and caught something!

The clouds were all over the place.

Bistort:

Star Gentian:

Mining hole:

King's Crown:

Indian Paintbrush:

Arctic Gentian:

Sheep fur:

One minute it was this beautiful:

and then it turned downright ugly.  We decided to high tail it out of there!

Hike: Mohawk Lakes

Trails Used: Mohawk Lake

Distance: 3.28 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Overall average: 1.3 mph
Overall Time: 2 hr, 36 min
Total Ascent: 1228 ft.

Bear Lake

The family went camping in Rocky Mountain National Park for the weekend.  We did a couple of hikes up at Bear Lake before we set up camp (Moraine Park Campground).  

The road out there is undergoing some major construction so we needed to take a bus to the trail head. 

Saw some wildlife out the window on the way:

Bear Lake:

Snacking and resting on the way to Alberta Falls.  Did you check out that hiking outfit?

Yup, that's a hole in her tights (that was there when she put them on this morning.)

Alberta Falls:

Reminds me of a 70's hotel painting:

Couldn't resist the rainbow:

The camping party:

Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins

Took a dusk wildlife walk and saw many elk!

Wall flower:

These hummingbirds were noisy and dive bombing bugs all around us.  Not a great pic but a great memory!

Finally, rest and relaxation.

(Notice-no little people in sight!) 

:)

Hike: Bear Lake to Glacier Gorge

Trails Used: Bear Lake, Alberta Falls, Glacier Gorge

Distance: 2.91 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Overall average: 1.6 mph

Overall Time: 1 hrs, 45 min

Total Ascent: 313 ft.

Finally, a real hike again: Horsetooth Falls

Don't let the above shot fool you...there wasn't that much water coming down the falls.  If you expect to see more water then the optimum time to go to Horsetooth Falls for a hike would be in May.  There were many wildflowers in bloom (which is nice since Flora Hiker has been lacking on the wildflower pictures lately).

Sulpher Flower:

Sun Rose:

Rocky Mountain Beeplant/Scarlet Guara

Tufted Loco/Vetch:

Boulder Raspberry:

These were beautiful flowers (below) but once you take a picture of wildflowers from far away you start to lose that 'beautiful' quality.

My little hikers:

Wallflower:

Wallflower:

Geranium:

Wallflower:

Horsetooth Falls:

Enjoying the top of the falls for lunch:

Spiderwort:

Evening Primrose:

Aster:

Milkvetch:

Groundsel:

Prairie Cinquefoil:

Orchid Penstemon:

Vetch:

Hike: Horsetooth Falls

Trails Used:  Horsetooth Falls

Distance: 2.91 miles

Difficulty: Easy for adults, Moderate for children (can get hot out there so start early)

Overall average: 1.7 mph

Overall Time: 1 hrs, 44 min

Total Ascent: 583 ft.