25 total miles driving today!
Morning in Estes Park looks like a great day for a hike!:
I got up to the Longs Peak Ranger Station (the trailhead) by 9:41
If you add it up (0.5+3.0+0.7), it is only 4.2 miles one-way. Yeah, right.
The first part is a nice hike in the woods - uphill, but not difficult:
The signs are pretty cool:
There was a stream/rapids/waterfall on the way up:
It was REALLY WINDY (headwind) right above the tree-line. But that is also when the views kicked-in
The cairns help keep you on track:
Two guys from Philadelphia on their way back down:
I was up where the trail to Longs Peak goes off to the right.
And then it got REALLY COOL:
Looking down at Peacock Pool, with Columbine Falls on the right:
But keep going uphill towards Chasm Lake:
Under the looming face of the "Diamond" (the east-facing wall of Longs Peak) [this is more than 2,400 feet high!!]:
you finally get to Chasm Lake:
It is literally an "otherworldy environment" up around the lake.
Views coming back down:
THAT WAS A GREAT WORKOUT!!:
And there were some fun visitors back at the house!
Thank you God for these Great Adventures! (and THANK YOU Doug & Mia for your wonderful hospitality!!)
Music today: only one album:
The Rolling Stones - Exile on Main Street, 1972
Temperature-wise, it was 44º F at 9:09 AM leaving Findley Court - 37º F at 9:32 AM at the trailhead, and 44º F at 2:24 PM back at the car. But it was REALLY COLD up on the mountain!
Shameless Plug: if you enjoy this blog, you may like my other one about Hiking the 4,000 footers in New Hampshire/Vermont/Maine (On Sept. 1, I joined Deede and Tad hiking Mt. Katahdin [Hunt Trail] - his final day on the AT!)
hyperlink: dixonheadingnorth
http://dixonheadingnorth.blogspot.com/
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