Gem Lake

August 19, 2012

Gem Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park is truly a hidden gem.  I loved this hike and loved Gem Lake.  Some hikers may think the lake is too small or too insignificant, but the rising rock walls behind the lake make for a different kind of lake view.

The trailhead isn't actually inside the Rocky Mountain National Park entrance, so it's perfect if you want to hike but don't want to pay the entrance fee.  From downtown Estes Park follow MacGregor Ave. north and follow signs to the Gem Lake Trailhead.  It's very well marked.  As always, my advice is get there early.  The parking lot fills up quickly.

Paul Bunyon's Boot

 

The first thing I noticed about this hike is how different the scenery is.  Instead of meadows or tall trees surrounding you there are huge boulders and spectacular views over looking Estes Park.

This interesting rock formation is known as Paul Bunyon's Boot.  It looked pretty neat! 

View of Estes Park from the Gem Lake Trail

The hike to Gem Lake is 3.6 miles round trip and the elevation gain is just under 1,000 feet.  That doesn't sound hard, but you gain all the elevation in about .5 miles.  There are stair like rocks you climb up for the last half of the climb.  It's not easy, especially on the knees, but push through it, you'll be glad you did!  I sure was!

First View of Gem Lake

View from Opposite Side of Gem Lake

My dad and I decided we weren't quite done exploring when we reached Gem Lake.  We decided to climb the rock wall behind the lake, betting there would be a beautiful view from the top...  Wow, were we right!

A Chipmunk, Probably Wondering Where I Came From

View from the Top of the Rock Wall Behind Gem Lake

So, if you're feeling up to it (and you have very good hiking boots on), check out the view from the top of the wall.  I have never seen anything so beautiful!  But be careful!  Getting up there was easy... getting down I was questioning how I managed to get up there.  But we made it down, safe and sound, and with beautiful pictures!  

Like I said, I loved everything about this hike, once you get past the stair climbing parts.  I wasn't expecting this tiny lake to be so beautiful.  And to think, the only reason I wanted to do this hike was simply to cross it off my list.  What a pleasant surprise!

The Crater

August 18, 2012

The hike to The Crater in Rocky Mountain National Park was a very short, but beautiful hike.

The trailhead for this hike is right off Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park just across from Poudre Lake.  Parking is limited, so of course it's best to get there early.  The hike is a whopping 2 miles round trip, but take time to sit and enjoy the view from the top.

The View from the Hike

A Deer We Saw Along the Way

The Crater

We chose to do this hike because we heard this is the breeding area for big horn sheep.  This area is closed during the lambing season, which I think ends in July.  It was open and pretty crowded in mid-August.  We didn't see any sheep, but a few hikers that were finished when we started said they had some luck.  I think we got a late start since we set up camp first.

I would recommend this hike for it's beauty alone.  While it's a short hike you do get above tree line, so the altitude makes it more difficult and much more windy.  I was actually COLD!  It was well worth it though!

Gnome Hunting at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science

August 7, 2012

I have been to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science twice before this visit, but never have I enjoyed it so much!  Shortly after moving to Colorado I saw a story on the news about hidden gnomes painted in the dioramas at the museum.  I quickly searched for them the first couple of times I was there but the crowd I was with thought gnome hunting sounded lame.  So I let it go.

When my best friend Kimberlee came to visit with her husband and 8 year old daughter I told her about the tale of the gnomes and of course she was intrigued as well.  This is why she is my best friend!  So, we spent the day hunting for gnomes!  What a day!  We actually found quite a few on our own before we realized the museum provides you with a detailed list of where to find the gnomes.  We were too good for that though and felt very proud of ourselves for finding most of them without any assistance.

We found six painted gnomes, a gnome constellation, two 3D gnome figurines, and Yoda.

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We had a lot of fun with this!  I didn't type out the specific locations of all these since you can get it at the information desk, but this way you can see what you're looking for should you decide to go gnome hunting at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.  I highly recommend it!

Lu Lu City

 July 14, 2012

The Lu Lu City trail starts at the Colorado River Trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Colorado River Trailhead

I will be honest... The only reason we did this hike is because I was told you were likely to see moose near the end of the trail.  We did not, and without seeing moose I found this trail just so-so.  Nothing spectacular.





The hike is 7.4 miles round trip and I would consider it easy for the distance.  The only tip I have is get to the trailhead early!  The parking lot was nearly full when we got there and we are very early starters.

The trail takes you to the site of Lu Lu City, once home to 200 residents with high hopes of finding enough silver to make it big.  Needless to say, that never pannned out and by 1884, just four years after plans were made to build the city, it was abandoned.

Site of Lu Lu City

Now the only remnants of the city are a few logs and mining machinery left behind.  Personally, I wasn't impressed by what we saw along the hike.  Below is the picture of the only log cabin along the way, and I think we saw a rusty mining cart, but really there wasn't much to see.

Shipler Mine

Once you get to Lu Lu City the view opens up and it is really quite pretty.  We found the perfect log on the shore of the Colorado River to sit and eat lunch before the hike back.  We also ran into some small wildlife friends along the way.

Marmot Friend

Chipmunk Friend

Colorado River

Lake Haiyaha, Bear Lake, Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, and Emerald Lake

July 7, 2012

I have wanted to do this hike since I saw it in my hiking book.  It's a relatively easy hike and you see 5 beautiful lakes, so what better day to do it than my birthday!  What a great birthday it was!!!

The hike starts at the Bear Lake trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park.  Obviously, the first lake you pass is Bear Lake.

Bear Lake

Bear Lake is beautiful, and if you feel up for it you can take the very easy .5 mile hike around the lake.  The best views are from the opposite side of the lake where Hallett Peak rises above the lake.    

The next lake along the trail is Nymph Lake.  It's .5 miles up the trail from Bear Lake and an easy elevation gain.  This lake was my favorite!  The top was covered in water lillies and I thought it was so peaceful.

Nymph Lake

Just before reaching Dream Lake (1.1 miles into the trail) you come to a fork in the trail.  We decided to head to Lake Haiyaha first since it looked to be the more difficult of the options.  To get to lake Haiyaha you  take the left fork.  If you head right you will pass Dream Lake and then head towards Emerald Lake.

The hike to Lake Haiyaha is a little steep, but not too bad.  This lake lies 2.1 miles from Bear Lake, and it's full of giant boulders.  We hiked on a cloudy day, which kept us from really seeing the views, but it added a creepy feeling to the hike.  We felt like we were hiking in the clouds!  It was really neat!

Lake Haiyaha

After reaching Lake Haiyaha we headed back down to Dream Lake and took the other fork in the hike.  Dream Lake was very pretty, and there seemed to be good fishing there as well.  It was the largest of the 5 lakes we saw, but again I think it would have been a better view had it not been so cloudy.  I think beyond the clouds there would have been some beautiful views of mountain peaks.

Dream Lake

Past Dream Lake the hike climbs uphill for .7 miles until you reach Emerald Lake.  Emerald Lake was pretty, but I wish we could have seen the views.  We may have to take this hike again, but even a cloudy hike is better than the best day at work!

Emerald Lake

I calculated the whole hike, seeing all 5 lakes, (not including the .5 mile walk around Bear Lake) to be around 7.5 miles.  I would call this hike relatively easy with a few uphill climbs just before Lake Haiyaha and Emerald Lake.  But, if I can make it, anyone can make it!

This hike a must do!  I am also planning to do it again on a clear day, but I have so many others to do first before we can think about doing any hike a second time.  

Pikes Peak

June 8, 2012


I know I have already blogged about Pike's Peak but this time we drove to the summit, rather than take the train, and it definitely deserves another blog post!


There a few pros and cons to driving vs. taking the cog train.  Pros - it's a beautiful drive, you can spend all the time at the top that you want, it's slighting cheaper, and there is a lot to see along the drive.  Cons - It's a scary drive!!!  Also, it's crowded, and of course wear on the brakes.  Having done both, I preferred the drive to the top.  My V8 truck handled it very well and I read and followed all the recommended driving instructions (see below).

Crystal Creek Resevoir

Take Your Time ... at least two hours

• The 39-mile round trip to the summit takes about two hours, not including time you spend at the stops along the way.
• The speed limit on the highway is 25 mph.
• All vehicles should have at least a half tank of gas.
• Uphill traffic has the right-of-way at all times.
• Do not pass on corners.
• Watch for maintenance equipment on the road, and do not straddle rocks or grader ridges.
• When stopping, use the turnouts provided. If you must stop on the roadway, choose a straight section so your vehicle is visible to the other motorists.
• If your engine begins to labor on steeper grades, shift to a lower gear to maintain speed and engine cooling. Shift an automatic transmission manually to stay in a lower gear.
• When you reach the summit, run your engine at fast idle for a few minutes to dissipate engine heat.
• On the way down, use your vehicle’s lowest gear to allow the engine to brake your vehicle. Above all, don't ride your brakes as this will cause them to overheat and possibly fail.
• If you plan to be away from your vehicle for an extended period, leave a plainly visible note on the windshield saying where you are going and when you will return.
• Information obtained from  http://pikespeak.us.com/Essentials/driving-tips.html

The most important tip I can give is give your breaks a rest and stay in low gears.  When descending from the summit there is a break check half way down, and if your breaks are too hot you have to wait at the visitor's center while they cool off.  I stayed in 1st or 2nd gear all the way down and my brake temperature was fine.

View from the Summit of Pike's Peak

Once at the summit there are lots of things to do.  First, you have to try the homemade donuts.  They are not like any other donuts I've ever had but they are delicious!  I was able to find a coupon for a free donut on this website http://www.aramarkparksanddestinations.com/landing-pages/pikes-peak/donut-coupon.aspx.  I hope it still works, but you cannot miss these donuts!  Second, have your photo taken at the summit sign.  After all, you are standing at 14,110 feet, so you have to have the proof!  Lastly, shop, shop, shop!  

Molly, our Travel Partner

The drive to the summit is breathtaking.  We brought Molly, our beagle/boxer mix, along for the ride.  She had her nose out the window the whole time.  I guess there are a lot of different smells. She seemed to enjoy the trip as much as we did.  

Look Closely, See the Zig Zag Switchbacks?  That's Your Route to the Summit!  SCARY!!!

The most interesting photo spot is the "Big Foot Xing" sign.  The sign reads "due to sightings in the area of a creature resembling "Big Foot" this sign has been posted for your safety."  There have been numerous sightings of a Big Foot type creature, dating back to 1988.  


We didn't see any creatures resembling Big Foot on our trip, but we thought it was an interesting picture.  Maybe next time!

Steamboat Springs

May 27-28, 2012

As a Mother's Day/Father's Day gift to his parents, Rich took all of us to Steamboat Springs for a couple days. We wanted to see some place new and none of us had ever been to Steamboat before, so we gave it a try.  We were not disappointed!

A friend told me Fish Creek Falls was a must do, so we made sure to get there first.  The hike is pretty easy to find, but it's a little outside downtown Steamboat Springs.  Heading into Steamboat Springs from Denver you would take a right on Third St. and follow the signs to the falls.  GET THERE EARLY!!!  There is very limited parking for how popular this trail is.

The hike is short but difficult.  It's only .5 miles roundtrip, but it's very steep.  Gravel is loose on the way down and the hike is rough getting back up, but the falls are well worth the trouble!

Fish Creek Falls, Steamboat Springs, CO

After the hike we checked into our hotel, The Steamboat Grand.  This hotel took my breath away!  We stayed in a 2 bedroom suite and it was amazing!  The staff is friendly, the rooms were clean and beautiful, and The Cabin Restaurant in the lobby was the best dinner I've ever had!  Definitely try the lobster mac & cheese!!!

The Steamboat Grand

View from Our Room

On day 2 we had to try the local fly fishing!  We went to Stagecoach State Park, where roomer had it fishing was good.  We had a few bites and saw dozens of trout, but we left a little too early to really get into it.  We will definitely be back though!

Rich Fly Fishing at Stagecoach State Park

We finished the trip by taking the long way back home.  Rather than go back down to highway 70 we took highway 14 through Walden and Poudre Canyon hoping to see some moose.  We saw one moose in Walden just off the road in a meadow and another couple of them in State Forest State Park.  We also stopped by the Moose Visitor Center for a short walk to get out of the car.

The drive through Cameron Pass on the way home was beautiful!  I can't wait to go back to Steamboat Springs!  We had a wonderful trip!

Cameron Pass

Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park

September 23, 2011

Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park actually surprised me!  We had a wonderful time!

The visit to the park starts at the base of the mountain.  You have to take a gondola ride to the top, which is a beautiful ride.

In September this park is a ghost town, which has its advantages and disadvantages.  The nice part was it wasn't crowded and we didn't have to wait for any rides.  The down side was most of the snack places and some attractions were closed.

We were able to ride the rides we wanted to ride though.  I haven't tried many alpine slides, but I would guess the one at this park is pretty cool in comparison!  You sit in a toboggan on rails and you get going pretty fast, I even had to use the brake on some turns.

Then we tried the Soaring Eagle Zip Line.  Having done a real zip line I found this one pretty lame, but it would be very kid friendly.  I am an adventure seeker, however, so it's was just so so for me, but my mother in lawn enjoyed it very much.  

Two people sit next to each other on a bench in a seat belt, then you ride down the zip line and get pulled back up backwards.  Yeah, not exciting...

But, the best ride at the park is by far Giant Canyon Swing!  We rode this three times.  You have to at least ride it twice to experience it on both sides.  The ride seats only 4 people, two on each side.  On one side when you swing you're looking straight down into the canyon, and you are high above the ground.  It's pretty scary!  On the other side you see nothing but sky when you swing over the canyon and it's a whole other rush!   Below is our video of the ride... So awesome!

I liked this park.  We all had a great time.  I highly recommend it! I am typing this almost a year later, but I hear there is a new rollercoaster addition to the park, so we are looking forward to going back in a couple months!

Hanging Lake

September 17, 2011

One word describes this trail - ROUGH!  The view from the top is completely worth it though!

Hanging Lake Trailhead

The trailhead is about 7 miles east of Glenwood Springs right off highway 70 and the exit sign clearly says Hanging Lake.  


This trail is only 2.4 miles round trip but it has earned it's difficulty grade.  For the first 3/4 mile the trail climbs steadily, gaining about 1,000 feet.  It's rocky and a little rough, but with a few rest stops we were able to make it.

Cascading water along the hike

My hiking partners, Rich (my husband) on the bench and Brian

After that the trail comes to a straight uphill climb for the remainder of the hike.  This part of the trail is strenuous.  The steps are large, the cliff is steep and narrow, and it can be very slippery in the rain.  Luckily, there is a hand railing leading to the top.

Just before you reach Hanging Lake a short trail breaks off to the left leading to Spouting Rock.  This is a must see!  It's a huge waterfall but you can walk behind it and it's really pretty!



After you get back on the main trail leading to Hanging Lake you come around a corner and then you see to the most beautiful view!

Hanging Lake

This is probably the most beautiful destination hike we have done.  Hanging Lake is crystal clear and the most amazing shade of blue I've ever seen.  I highly recommend this hike, if you're up for the challenge of getting to it.

Boom Days: Leadville, CO

August 5-7, 2011

First of all, camping in Leadville in August is still COLD!  The entire small town of Leadville sits at 10,200 feet above sea level, and nights while we were camping got down to 30 degrees.  We froze!  But, Boom Days in Leadville is a celebration not to be missed!

Boom Days is a festival to celebrate the old west.  There are gun fights in the street, burro races, mining competitions, and a parade.  It's not like any other festival I've ever been to.  For modern tourist types there are also a lot of local craft booths, excellent odd foods, and entertainment for the whole family!

Boom Days Gun Fighters

The weekend festivities kick off with the transporting of the beer tent (very important!).  Volunteers (my dad and step mom included) carry the tent down the parade route to its place in the center of the action, where later beer is served!

The Climax Mine Parade Float

Leadville got its name from the deposits of lead that carried high concentrates of silver.  By 1880 Leadville became one of the largest silver camps.  Even Doc Holiday visited Leadville during the silver boom.


After the lead and silver were gone the Climax mine began mining for molybdenum, used in fertilizer.  The town really stands behind their mining roots!

Parade Costumes

Random Parade Guy

My Brother, Anders, Racing his Stubborn Burro

This is what happens when we hit the beer tent after the parade...  Rich decides to wear his fish hat all afternoon.  He's so strange... :)

While in Leadville we drove Independence Pass.  This is a beautiful drive, but only open during summer months.

While driving Independence Pass you come to the old town of Independence, an old mining town discovered in 1879 and abandoned by 1890.  Now the only remains are old log cabins nestled in the foothills of beautiful mountains.  You can walk through the old cabins and stores and there's even a small souvenir shop in one of the old cabins.  It's a neat place!

Leadville, although a little quirky, remains one of my favorite mountain towns.  Boom Days is definitely a celebration like no other, but even visiting Leadville at any other time there is plenty to do.  I also suggest the self guided walking tour that can be printed online.  It gives you some history behind the buildings, and you'd be surprised how many infamous people called Leadville home, if only for a short time.  It's a small town packed with big dreams of striking it rich, and that feeling is still there!

Sunset Over the Mosquito Mountain Range