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.