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.

Hiking Blue Sky to Coyote Ridge

Day 2 of day 3 to tire the kids out so they'd stop squabbling.  Day 1 consisted of walking the kids to school and back.  It's not that far (1.25 miles one way) but every little bit of exercise in the winter counts and they obviously hadn't been getting enough!  This is one of the less inspiring hikes around but it's close to town and we didn't have to go out and back.  Q still managed to find some nooks to hide in.

We did see a couple of deer and

lots of prairie dogs

and even this bunny pretending to be a prairie dog! 

C even tangled with a wild Prickly Pear Cactus...by the looks of things I think the cactus won!

Taking a break!

Hike: Blue Sky to Coyote Ridge
Trails Used: Blue Sky to Coyote Ridge

Distance: 7.04 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Overall average: 2.2 mph
Overall Time:  3 hr, 7 min
Total Ascent:  749 ft.

A Blue Sky Day @ Devils Backbone

This hike started out with the usual belly aching but ended up with both kids in a decent enough mood. 

Telling a story:

Exploring:

When you're low to the ground it's easy to spot these caterpillars:

Hike: Devils Backbone

Trails Used: Devils Backbone

Distance: 5.2 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Overall average: 2.1 mph
Overall Time: 2 hr, 26 min
Total Ascent: 675 ft.

Snowy Mountain Range-Medicine Bow Peak Hike

Gorgeous lake, gorgeous wildflowers, fun hike.  That about sums it up.  Oops, I forgot to mention the 30 mph wind for the first half of the hike.  The last half was so pleasant I will just ignore the beginning of the hike even though there were great views,

 marmots, 

and a girl with a yellow hat hiking through a field of yellow flowers.

We nestled in the rocks out of the wind for lunch.

More of those great views from the top.  We heard it was overcast due to the fires in Washington State.

It might have been the first time the kids hiked higher than 12,000 ft.

What goes up must come down!

Penstemon:

 Little Red Elephant:

 Brilliant Indian Paintbrush, (Rosy Paintbrush):

Loved how these flowers curled under themselves, Avalanche Lily:

At the end of the hike we passed the CCC Latrine:

Makes me laugh that we are talking about the lasting workmanship of a bathroom!

Hike: Medicine Bow Peak
Trails Used:  Lake Marie Trail Head around to Lewis Lake Trail

Distance: 7.35 miles
Difficulty: Difficult
Overall average: 1.5 mph
Overall Time: 4 hr, 49 min
Total Ascent: 2028 ft.

Made it to the top of Angels Landing!

Had a beautiful sunny morning for our hike to the top of Angels Landing.  

 It's a short but very steep hike.  They advise against small children doing it but if the children and the adults are careful and want to, I see no reason not to try it.  I had one child (age 6) who wanted to do the whole thing and another (age 7) who turned around about .5 mile from the top since he started to feel uncomfortable.  We did make sure that we had a hand of Q's on the steeper sections and she knew she needed to listen to us as well.  When we told her to sit and wait, we expected her to sit and wait.

 The waterfalls along the way were pretty.

 Nice views down the valley:

 One of the steep sections, lots of switchbacks, and yes I think that guy is green was running up!

 View of trail from above:

 Right before everyone split off (Daddy, Gma, and C headed back; Q, me, and Poppa kept going up)

 Taking a Poppa break; I don't think Q noticed the uphill at this point, she's very competitive and just wanted to get to the top since her brother didn't.

 Looking back:

 At the summit!

Hike: Angels Landing
Trails Used: Angels Landing

Distance:  6.24 miles
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult but steep
Overall average: 2.0 mph
Overall Time: 3 hr, 08 min
Total Ascent: 3700 ft.