Snow frosting

A fresh dusting of snow clung to the Flatirons this morning. Tilted toward the rising sun, these slabs of granite shed their frosting quickly, making a morning like this more special. The rays from the rising sun lit up the cloud bank that was perched in the divide, turning it into a large pink pincushion. Tough to leave the comfort of my quilts, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Muneca isn't getting out with me on these outings, although I could tuck her in my pocket. I think she is enjoying all the other similarly sized creatures that have sprouted on my shelves. Papa Noel may have to fight Bob the Rock for her affection.

Winter silhouettes

Hiking on the plains in the winter is as beautiful as the high mountains, but in such a different way. Many of the trails follow creeks and irrigation ditches, allowing me to observe kingfishers, mallards, canada geese, and whatever else might be stopping near the water. If I'm real lucky, a great horned owl will be hidden somewhere in the crown of a magnificent cottonwood.

The seed heads of last summer's abundance hold their heads high, high enough for the birds to find, even when there is a foot or two of snow on the ground.

Hercules

With only a few hours available to christen my new snowshoes, we headed up the Finch Lake trail to visit Hercules. Unfortunately, there really wasn't enough snow to warrant the snowshoes, but I did have them on for about half a mile and loved them. Hercules lives in fairly secluded meadow, just below a ridge, so she is protected from the vicious winds. Over 600 years old, Hercules spreads her arms into a graceful canopy, unusual growth for a douglas fir. I have many special trees that I visit on my favorite trails. I think I have a new friend.

Winter trails

Muneca took a quick trip up to The Pool to enjoy the snow. It's winter all around now, although there was still a tiny bit of water flowing down the Big Thompson.

Retreating into winter

Alas, no photo today - the camera is with Kelly in California. November and a chance to walk to Sandbeach Lake without snowshoes. Some snow has fallen over the last few weeks, but the only remains are above Hunter's Creek. It felt like summer at the bottom, autumn in the middle, and the beginning of winter at the top. Sandbeach Lake was a combination of all three. The sand was warm as I laid back on my pack, enjoying the sunshine. The view to Copeland and mountains south was snow covered and wintry. The lake itself was covered in thin ice, with a small margin of water lapping at the edges, sounding as if it was trying to free itself from the icy grip.

Water and Ice

The high country is trying to hold on to its last bit of warmth for the year. Ice is forming at the sides of the river, but the flow is still strong with the melting of last week's snow. Nature's attempt to turn toward winter was rebuffed for a time. While most everything looks ready for the winter slumber, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw a harebell, still blooming when the calendar is about to turn to the month of November.

Eldorado

Although the big hikes to the high country are over for a little while, October is the perfect time to explore all the lower hikes around Boulder. Today we headed out the Ashram trail and into Eldorado State Park for a short hike. Chinook winds were funneling through the old railroad rockcuts making forward progress difficult at times. The views of the sheer cliffs, adorned with tiny climbers, equal Yosemite Valley. The cottonwoods lining the creek are full of autumn leaves, giving the early morning canyon a golden glow.

Mt Audubon

I cannot think of a better way to spend a birthday than hiking in the high country on a perfect Indian Summer day. How often can you be above 13,000 feet in late September in shorts and a t-shirt? Mt Audubon was a perfect destination. The views from Brainard Lake are always incredible, but when I got above treeline, rounded that first corner, and caught that glimpse of Chiefshead, Pagoda, Longs and Meeker, I feltl like they were reaching out to me.

At the summit, you have 360 degrees of views. To the south, all of Indian Peaks, with Navajo and Apache in the foreground.

Birthday girl on the summit with Arapahoes, Navajo, Apache.

There is a last gasp of fall color on the tundra. Bright red rosettes of big rooted spring beauty are hiding in every rock crevice near the summit. Monument plant (green gentian) glows golden. The willows have turned a burnished gold on the mountainside, providing texture to the otherwise stark landscape.

Emerald Lake

What a way to finish the official hiking season. I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day or more wonderful company. On the way to Estes, I caught the first rays of the sun hitting Long's Peak. I remember taking a similar photo at the beginning of the season. It would be hard to beat this commute! A little further up the road, right before Fish Creek, I saw a large animal on my right. Another bull elk running around madly because of the rut, I thought to myself. But then I realized it was a bull moose! Brown, ungainly, huge antlers, and a hump on his back, he was trotting through the meadow. Second moose I have seen this summer!

Bear Lake was calm today and reflected the stands of aspen like a mirror.

Dream Lake provided another opportunity to admire how beautiful this part of the park is. There is a reason that these lakes are the most popular destinations for short hikes.

My company on today's hike was a women's hiking group from Glenview, Il. I think I have found some soul mates. All were wonderful, but Liz provided a special highlight when she agreed to sing an aria from an opera at Emerald Lake. Surrounded by brilliant blue sky, towering rock walls and glistening water, her voice echoed off the walls and took my breath away. She received a standing ovation from the other hikers at the lake. This will truly remain the highest point of my season.

Black Pool

Time to find something out of the way that we had never been to before. I had heard that Black Pool is best to do late in the season because you have to cross Spruce Creek. Seemed like a good destination. Surprisingly, there is a trail down to Spruce Creek from the first switchback above the Pool, a relatively easy way to cross the creek, and a faint path up to Black Pool on the other side.

Pockets of aspen dot the mountainsides. You never know when you are going to turn the corner on another glowing stand.

We saw and heard lots of elk as we were heading back down to the Fern Lake trailhead. But back at the Y, at the puddle across from Dorsey Lake, two young bull elk were sparring, trying to perfect their moves for another year.

Ptarmigan Tarns and Glacier

Another day where every vista was more beautiful than the last. We started out from Bear Lake heading for Ptarmigan Tarns. I have more than enough photos of Bear Lake, but the fall colors were glowing around the lake.

A little further up the trail, aspens were framing Long's Peak with its new dusting of snow.

Up the trail to Lake Helene, and then further up Odessa Gorge to two tarns buried in the loose rocks left behind by Ptarmigan Glacier

After arriving at the tarns, we looked further up the gorge to yet another cirque. It didn't look too far, so we decided to keep on climbing and see if another lake was hidden from view. I think that all the rocks in this section are just sitting on top of an active glacier. With every footstep, rocks were moving underneath. Nothing was stable. Even the parts that looked like bare earth turned to mush if you stepped on them. Views of Notchtop were amazing as you got higher up the gorge.

We made it to the base of the Ptarmigan glacier - no hidden lakes. Just tons and tons of rock with water rushing somewhere down underneath. All the rocks that have fallen from the right side were black. From the left side, all were brown. They met in the center of the gorge, right near the bottom of the glacier.

The views as we descended back down to the tarns were beautiful - worth the effort to get further up the gorge.

 Arriving back at Bear Lake, we found more aspens framing the view

Calypso Cascades

The first full day of fall. Was it just on Sunday that it was almost 90 degrees and I drank all 3 liters of water I was carrying? A dusting of snow appeared on the high mountains yesterday afternoon, ushering in the new season. It also brought two great horned owls outside the cabin last evening. One was right above the cabin, silhouetted against the alpen glow, as he answered his cohort in a tree on the other side of the river.

Today we took the back way up to Calypso Cascades. The wind would keep the cold front at bay for a while, and then the clouds would descend and start pelting us with tiny hail. Every time the clouds would lift, we were treated to a rainbow and beautiful views of Meeker, Longs, and Pagoda.

The aspen are still beautiful - don't know what type of final color we will get after the wind in the last 24 hours. Pockets are already finished, while other stands still have further to go. Each day is a new vision of color, yet I know it will all be gone within 10 more days.

Copeland Falls was our last stop of the day. I think it is more beautiful in the fall when there is not as much water rushing over the rocks and the sun reflects at a lower angle to make it sparkle. The clarity of the water brings out the details of every rock in the pool.

The Gemstones

Another day of beautiful aspen color, accompanied by record high temperatures. Most people avoid the Gem Lake trail in the summer because the trail winds through mounds of lumpy rock which traps the heat. Who would have expected a day in the high 80's in mid September? 3 liters of water barely lasted the 4.5 miles (although we were scrambling on the rocks for 6 hours).

Tom led us on a tour of the Gemstones - the lumpy towers that surround Gem Lake. A day to feel like a kid - climbing up and around all these amazing granite outcroppings with incredibly good traction. There are huecos (little pots) hollowed out all over the stones. When the girls were little, we used to hike up to Rabbit Ears, on the back side of Lumpy Ridge. We would scramble around the ears, and place the girls in the "pots" where they were safe. Muneca also had a safe "pot" so she wouldn't blow off the top of the first gemstone.

Tom never ceases to amaze me with his knowledge of every inch of the park. He led us through a maze of rock outcroppings to find each summit. He also demonstrated some interesting climbing moves. None of us were able to replicate this one.

The granite domes of Lumpy Ridge stretched out to our west. I was struck by the similarities to Matopas Park in Zimbabwe. There are more balancing rocks down there, but the exposed and exfoliating granite is the same.

Bighorn Mountain

While most of the aspen trees are still green, some stands are beginning to burst with color. Following the Roaring River up the Lawn Lake trail, older aspen were standing tall, while the new trees, growing since the flood in 1982, provided brilliant color lower down.

Halfway towards Lawn Lake, we made a right turn and started climbing. In 3/4 of a mile and 2000 feet higher, we arrived at Bighorn Mountain. The view across to the Mummy Range - Chapin, Chiquita, Ypsilon, Fairchild, Mummy and Hagues was incredible - I felt like I could reach out and touch them.

Our group on the summit - Gordie, Clyde, Carl and Ken.

Maggie and Muneca on Bighorn - I've heard it is always windy up there, and today was no exception. Muneca could not pose for a photo op on her own.