Flora Hiker: Rocky Mountain National Park

Showing posts with label Rocky Mountain National Park. Show all posts

Monday, March 9, 2015

Loch Vale again by mistake but then we hit our intended target: Mills Lake

There are so many different trails heading out from the Glacier Gorge trailhead that it gets confusing making sure you're on the right one. We hit the split and made the turn for Mills Lake but then met another split and took the wrong one (we assumed both would take you to Mills Lake). We ended up at Loch Vale again (we did this hike about two months ago) but along a completely different route.

Today we had crystal clear skies and warm air (high 30's, low 40's) with no wind.

The snow had blown off or melted from much of the ice so we were able to look down into the lake and see how the air bubbles froze as they were coming to the surface. Very cool!

I didn't know they had sea lions in RMNP!

On our way back down to hit Mills Lake we found some fun sledding hills.

We were up close and personal with the ice climbers this time.

Q and I made it all the way to Mills Lake. It was a nice view but...

there was a mutiny! My children were the grumpiest they've ever been on a snowshoe/hike. We had told them they needed to get in shape for soccer so we were doing the whole hike no matter what. Oh, did their legs, backs, and feet ache and we heard every whine all the way up and half the way down!

Personally, I think the view at the top made it all worth while!

Hike: Loch Vale to Mills Lake

Trails Used: Glacier Gorge Trail Head to Albert Falls to Loch Vale to Mills Lake and back down

Distance: 6.6 miles
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Overall average: 1.5 mph
Overall Time: 4 hr, 14 min
Total Ascent: 1431 ft.

Saturday, December 13, 2014

One of the most studied watersheds in the world: Loch Vale (Rocky Mountain National Park)

In an attempt to get the kids in skiing shape, we went for a hike up in RMNP. The Loch proved to be a beautiful lake and a relatively easy hike. We stopped at the Donut Haus (very tasty and great service) in Loveland for the breakfast of champions. After an hour-ish drive up the curvy Big Thompson Canyon and another curvy road into the park to the Glacier Gorge Trail head my little girl (who read most of the drive) was feeling queasy. Luckily, we got her out of the car in the nick of time but not quite quick enough to save her shoes from a splash of the sick. She's quite the trooper...within five minutes she was ready to get going and joking around with everyone.

The trail winds through some nice Aspen. It was snow packed and not necessary to wear snowshoes if you stayed on the trail. Yak Traks and poles would have been helpful on the steeper sections of this trail.

The trail splits after a bridge early on and there are no signs to tell you which way to go. We went right and bypassed (unknowingly) Alberta Falls. I believe this was a more direct route to the Loch. On the way back we took the path towards the Falls. We essentially did a loop. The right we took merged with the other trail right before this sign.

On one of our breaks we saw what we assumed to be ice climbers. They were still in the same position on the way down so we don't know if they were actually going to do it or were just checking out the ice.

The camp robber was just waiting for us to drop some goodies.

The Loch was impressive. Taylor Peak & Glacier rise from the background along with Thatchtop Mountain and The Sharkstooth. Judging by the ice and snow on the lake this area can get pretty windy but we had no wind that day. The kids had fun walking on the ice and trying to break through.

We had a great lunch spot with views of all the peaks and many Camp Robbers (at least six) stopping by to see if they could pick up some loot.

On the way back down we went by Alberta Falls. I thought they would have frozen cool but was disappointed with how they looked. We didn't miss anything by taking the other way on the way up!

At the steep sections the kids got on their butts and sledded down the hill. After starting this hike off with one star the kids were giving it four stars by the end raving "We should definitely do this hike again!" Funny how their attitudes can change so quickly...

The only casualty of the trip was the puffer. It got torn by a tree branch!

Hike: Loch Vale

Trails Used: Glacier Gorge Trail Head to Albert Falls to Loch Vale

Distance: 6.05 miles
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Overall average: 1.7 mph
Overall Time: 3 hr, 32 min
Total Ascent: 1286 ft.

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Breakfast of champions, a scenic drive to a hike, and then a drive through RMNP

We started the day off at Daylight Donuts.

Headed past Dillon Reservoir towards Rocky Mountain National Park. We came up with this plan so we could avoid the drive down I-70 into the inevitable construction traffic.

I guess we wore the cousins out or woke them up too early in the morning!

Arrived at our hike (Cascade Falls) by Grand Lake. This pretty falls was right by the North Inlet Trailhead.

The kids always want to know how far we are going and refuse to read the signs so I told them we were doing Bear Lake!

The first part of the hike starts out through private property.

Then we passed this pretty stream. It was so clear you could see the fishing swimming around.

We were walking along trying to freak J out about mountain lions when J spotted these three moose taking a break in the woods.

Of course this made the hike for me!

At another break spot we saw these marks on some trees. Poppa informed us that they were from a bear marking his territory.

The falls were actually less than inspiring as far as falls go for me. It was also hard to get a decent shot of them without a lot of scrambling on rocks. The sky started getting grey fast and the lowlanders didn't have rain coats so we left quickly....

but not before we grabbed a quick bite to eat.

We passed this small falls on the way.

That would be a headless deer...just kidding! We did see the moose again on the way back but they were pretty far away so I didn't bother taking anymore pics.