Bear Lake and Much Much More

We just can't seem to get enough of those lake hikes.  There was Crater Lake in the James Peak Wilderness.  Mills Lake, last week in Glacier Gorge, and this week, Bear Lake.  Each has it's own unique natural beauty from virtually any sport along the shore line. Note: Click on individual images to give you a full screen.

Line of park visitors waiting for the shuttle.  We made bus #4.

Eleven members of the High Country Hikers group, based at the Aurora Center for Active Adults (ACAA) made the early morning ride to RMNP.  Their reward,  a wonderful day of hiking - if you forget the dozens of families, scout groups, babies, dogs and unprepared and unfit hiker wanna be's. 

Lily pond nestled among the spruce and pine.

Trail side scene.

One could not help but be inspired by the raw landscapes experienced today.  All within a two-hour drive of Aurora.

Rock steps, and lazy switchbacks take hikers up.

Take a moment to rewind all those images of the past few weeks,  My guess is, each person will have a book of one-of-a-kind images to savor.  All this beauty at our disposal.  All of it wonderfully staged by none other than Mother Nature herself.

Simply awesome!

Trail connecting these bodies of water is without question, in exceptional condition.  Thanks to the men and women who as part of their job with the NPS, spend time performing maintenance, building new trail, and repairing existing trail features so we can enjoy our journey more.

Today, we had the opportunity to see first hand what types of physical labor is involved.  Two men were relocating a large rock using a "Come-along secured to a tree.  Three others were building rock steps on a slope.  Yet another group was building a series of rock bars (or bleeders) to retain soil during heavy downpours and provide for a more controlled route of runoff.  A number of HCH members expressed their appreciation to crew members for their work.

Oh yes, to be standing where Mary K. is standing.

Rocky Mountain, like all national parks, have countless reasons to visit again and again.  The next best thing to being there is to capture the essence of the wonders of nature with the lens of a camera.

Boulder strewn approach to Lake Haiyaha.

The author stopped countless times on trail to capture those images.  If not a landscape, butterfly, waterfall or fellow hiker, it may be a super curious chipmunk with its cheeks loaded to the max with choice morsels. 

Next week, HCH return to RMNP again to tackle Deer Mountain and the trail bearing its name.  We will experience yet another awesome view of RMNP from the 10,013' summit.

Deer Mountain is not the last hike of the year in the park.  In early October, we are scheduled to hike the Upper Beaver Meadows Loop.  A week later, Bridal Veil Falls is not to be missed.

The roudy high country hikers. (L - R) Penny, Sharon, Dorothy, Out-of-control Ed; seated, Elizabeth and Marsha, Judy, Mary K, and Jonelle 

So if you are a casual or first time reader of this blog and you want to enjoy what members of HCH have been enjoyinmg, call the ACAA at 303-739-7950 to register for an upcoming hike.

If you don't make the list (first 13) to ride the van, ask to have your name added to the waiting list.  If somebody cancels, you may have a chance to see nature's handiwork.

Did I mention we stop on the way home for coffee/ice cream at one of our favorite digs. A wonderful group of over 50 (some over 60 and some over 70) outdoor enthusiasts.

Total Miles = 6.3 (7.3)

Total elevation gain = 940' (994')