Ute Trail - RMNP

Authors Note: The Ute Trail is named for prehistoric Arapaho and Ute tribes who traveled this alpine route for thousands of years from Beaver Meadows to their summer hunting grounds on the great plains and winter hunting in the tundra.

For the second week in a row, 13 members of the High Country Hiker Group experienced steady gusty alpine winds throughout the day.  These experienced active seniors came prepared for extreme alpine conditions, donning knit caps, hooded fleece and windbreakers tightly cinched around their faces.

Approach to Tombstone Ridge.

Views from Trail Ridge Road - the highest continuous paved road in the U. S. -  are awesome any time of year.  Today, for the entire 9.9 miles from Deer Ridge Junction to the TH, all eyes were focused on the vast landscapes of RMNP. 

Would Ed find a parking spot along the short pull-off at the TH on Trail Ridge Road?  Not today!  So he moved on to the next pull-off.  The 1/4 mi. walk back to the TH would provide us a first hand account of the continuous wind we would face today.

Alpine pool.

It was obvious we would be battered all day by wind gusts so there was no lingering at the TH.  At this altitude (11,466'), there is virtually no protection from the elements of mother nature.  Add a mix of odd shaped exposed rocks and you have the potential for mis-steps, trips, and falls.  Not the case for this well tested group.

Lone hiker makes his way across the ridge.

We begin by climbing to Tombstone Ridge (11,675'), then continue crossing 1.8 miles of alpine tundra before beginning a descent that ends at a junction with Beaver Mountain Trail.  We would not go that far today.  Great views are along this route of peaks and valleys to the south including Longs Peak, the only 14er in RMNP at 14,259'.

Lunch on the rocks with a view.

Finding a spot free from the wind was not possible.  We did, however, locate a large rock outcropping atop the ridge that provided protection from direct gusts.

G1 and Luisa are captivated by the view.

We could clearly see Lake Estes in the distance, and the glistening from vehicles in downtown Estes Park.

A baby ptarmigan was spotted just off trail.  Later, a number of marmots were seen laboring across the rocky landscape.  

Luisa Sandoval.

On our return to the TH, Forest Canyon and Big Thompson River were to the Southwest.

High Country Hikers (L to R): Monica Johnson, Marcia McBurnett, Betty Day, Kathy Tedrick, Gary Merical, hike leader/driver, Ed Blum, Luisa Sandoval, Kathy Hall, John Tedrick, and Bob Seckman.  Not shown: Marilynn Micek, and Barbara Peck.  Photos by Gary Alleman, Happy Trails Photography, Aurora, Colorado

Total miles = 4.1

Total elevation gain = 363'