This past weekend Joe came to visit us and do some mountain exploring. We spent Friday night at Steuben's restaurant then explored uptown Denver. Found some good bars and local hangouts.
Saturday we started off by heading into Rocky Mountain National Park. We purchased an Annual National Park Pass before we entered, which allows anyone with us access to any national park/forest/monument in the United States. Rather than head up to the top of the park via the paved road, we decided to take the Fall River dirt road. It's one-way and a lot less busy.
Saturday we started off by heading into Rocky Mountain National Park. We purchased an Annual National Park Pass before we entered, which allows anyone with us access to any national park/forest/monument in the United States. Rather than head up to the top of the park via the paved road, we decided to take the Fall River dirt road. It's one-way and a lot less busy.
Front of the annual pass. Very happy to support our national park system and hopefully allow many of our friends free access into the many parks in Colorado and surrounding areas.
Back of the pass. Good until the end of August 2014. The best $80 I've ever spent.
Heading up the dirt road.
Bumpy dirt roads are fun.....
First stop was at Chasm Falls.
Looking down the short trail.
Joe hanging up top with Gob for a moment while I go down with Megan. (Dogs are not allowed in non-motor vehicle areas of the park)
Megan is all smiles.
Chasm Falls.
Brother and Sister-n-law posing.
Co-Pilot Gob on scanning duty.
We traveled up another few miles and found a short hike that leads to a creek around 9,500feet and about 57 degrees.
Joe crossing the stream and looking for good rocks.
Brothers.
Looking back up at the car from our hiking position.
Drove further up the road, nearing the top with the Ridge Visitor Center in the distance.
Great shot of the valley from edge to edge.
Elk chilling down in the valley.
Looking back at the road we took to get to the top.
Brothers enjoying a hot meal at 12,000 feet.
The view from our table. Probably can't see them but the Elk are still down in the valley.
Broseph~
The view as we leave the Ridge Visitor Center heading for Grand Lake/Granby Lake
Some folks fishing on Granby Lake.
Granby Lake with RMNP in the distance.
My Posse on the lake.
Some flower/bushes near the lake.
As far as the eye can see..
We drove past Winter Park Ski Resort. In full summer swing.
More Winter Park.
Sunday brought us to St. Mary's Lake/Glacier. Prepping in the parking lot before the trailhead.
It was a rocky and steep climb just to get up to the lake.
The "trail".
Looking across some bushes near the lake.
Panoramic #1
Panoramic #2
Looking at part of the glacier/snowfield across the lake.
There were lots of people actually jumping off the cliff into the lake....freezing cold glacier water!
Lots of people were just hanging out near the lake, lots of dogs around too.
Joe and Gob admiring the surroundings.
Megan and Gob at the glacial waterfall while Joe and I make the climb up to the glacier
Heading up to the ice!
Me and Joe working our way up.
Part of the way up I turn around for a shot.
Getting closer..
Another shot looking back..
Victory!
Joe decides to work his way to the top of the ice field.
Looking across the ice down at the lake. My favorite shot of the weekend, you can really see the contrast of the glacier sloping down against the lake below.
It was quite steep up here..
Once we traveled above the first ice field..a second ice field appears!
:)
Looking back from behind the first ice field.
The creek running underneath the ice. Great textbook shot of glacier mechanics.
Joe at our highest spot in the climb. Was starting to rain and thus time to head back. (lightning is a real threat above the tree line.)
As we made it back down..one last shot looking back up.
Megan got some video when we were making our way back down...can't see us though
My most prized rock find high up near the glacier. It's a conglomerate of Feldspar(pink), Quartz(white), and Mica(black and shiny). You never know what else could be inside one of these samples. Maybe one day I will break it open and find out!
It turns out there is some debate over whether or not St. Mary's Glacier is in fact a glacier. Some argue it has reached the point where it should be called a "diminishing snow field". Either way it was an awesome climb and we will definitely be back. There were even people that hiked up with skis and skied down it!
We were so thrilled that Joe wanted to come visit us! It was a phenomenal trip and we hope to see him, and you all soon!
-AR
