Booth Lake Trail – Near Vail, CO

Some people might say that waking up at 4am on a Saturday morning to go hiking is crazy, but I say it’s the only way to experience the best of some of the more popular trails in Colorado. That’s especially true when you get into the I-70 ski resort area of Breckenridge, Copper, Vail, etc., because most of the people hiking the popular trails are tourists staying at those resorts, and they don’t have a 2 hour drive!

Eager to beat the masses, I packed up, headed out around 5, and arrived at the trailhead at 6:45 or so, met by about 8 cars. Because there is dispersed camping on the trail, at least a couple were surely campers from the night before still, but the parking lot is pretty small and I imagine it wasn’t too long after me that it was full. There was an overflow lot a little ways down the road, but that would just add more mileage to an already long hike.

From the very beginning, the trail made sure I knew what kind of a day I was in for today. It started out steep, as if to say, “are you sure you want to do this?”. The first mile was brutal, climbing over 775 feet of elevation, which is pretty steep for me considering I use 500ft per mile as my benchmark of what I personally consider “steep”. My body wasn’t ready for this so early, but luckily for me, the forest around me was awakening with me and it was breathtaking, with the trail winding it’s way through groves of quaking aspens and more wildflowers than I’ve ever seen in my life.

I’ve thought some hikes we’ve been on had a lot of wildflowers, but this particular trail was in a different class altogether. You’ll have to forgive me, as I think I probably could’ve taken 1,000 pictures easily trying to capture the perfect shot of the flower-filled meadows.

I have to admit that my plan was to hike only to Booth Falls, a 4.2 mile round trip journey, but as the sound of rushing water grew louder and louder, I still couldn’t see Booth Falls. So I kept hiking, assuming that I would get my amazing view just around the next bend.

There were certain parts of the trail where you would come around a corner, and could only say “really?”

As the sound of rushing water turned to the trickling of a stream on my left, I knew that I had likely done something wrong. The hike up until this point has been one of my biggest challenges yet this summer, and I wasn’t about to go home without getting some sort of a payoff – though one could argue that all the wildflowers were payoff enough.

I liked to imagine that the gold color of the water was the gold lining the bottom instead of the sun’s reflection

My first sign of sun today!

I’ve written before that sometimes I don’t know when to stop when I’m hiking by myself, and this turned into one of those days. The trail beyond where the falls were presumably at was unrelentingly steep, continuing upward constantly, with few flat areas to offer a break. I kept glancing nervously at my watch as the elevation passed 2,000 feet and kept going.

I thought this was so cool! Mother Nature at work, breaking down the tree to feed the new growth to come.

As the miles wore on and I passed 2,000 feet elevation gain, I started to wonder if this was a good idea. If it weren’t for the views and the wildflowers spurring me on to see what treasures might be around the next corner, I don’t know that I could’ve completed this, but it’s funny how the sense of adventure kicks in and I start ignoring what my brain is telling me.

Columbines are definitely my favorite wildflower – so I was really excited to come across this bunch!

More Columbines!

The last push to the lake is probably the most challenging section of the entire hike, so it’s a good thing that I emerged over the crest of the final ridge to a spectacular mountain lake vista. The sheer faces of the surrounding cliffs, carved out by years of snow and ice building up all winter and melting each spring, yielded to the crystal clear, ice cold lake. There were a few people dotting the shoreline and I made my way around to the other side of the lake where I could find a place to myself.

The water was so clear and so calm that it made for a magical experience.

I wasn’t in my spot along the lake for very long, when I noticed some commotion with the people that I had passed. I’ve been doing enough hikes lately to know that commotion like this, at such a peaceful mountain lake, could only mean one thing – wildlife. A review on AllTrails mentioned running into a herd of mountain goats, so that’s exactly where my thoughts went. I hopped up to see what was going on.

Sure enough, I was looking at the first mountain goats I’ve ever seen – though they were quite a ways up on the ridge. As I stood there and watched in amazement, more and more of them emerged, with eventually 10-15 or so coming into view. They made their way down the mountainside towards us curious humans, searching for the perfect plant to snack on in the cracks of the rocks. The closer they came, the more I realized just how large mountain goats actually are – and also how large and pointy their horns are. They didn’t seem to really care about the humans taking pictures, but when one seemed to find a plant that they all craved, little skirmishes would break out within the herd, as they would charge at one another for a chance to eat first. Whenever the big one would look you in the eye though, it made you think twice about how close you were.

Soon, they had come down the mountain so far that they were blocking the trail back. I made my way around them, keeping my eye on the big ones that were keeping their eye on me, making sure that I gave them as much space as they wanted. I took this incredible opportunity so close to these animals to take as many pictures as I could. Much like it was when I had my moose encounter on the Chicago Lakes Trail, it was almost impossible to pull myself away from the mountain goats and start down the trail. I wanted to cherish it for as long as I could, but extending my hike to the lake had already added a lot of time to my journey.

It was so hard to pull myself away from the lake, especially after the effort to get there, so I perched on top of a rock overlooking the lake to snap a few more pictures and take in the beauty for a few more moments before heading out.

On the way up to the lake, I was very aware that I was climbing a pretty serious incline from how hard I was breathing and how much my legs were burning, but when I started to go back down, there were some parts that I couldn’t believe I had made it up. The trail was rocky, which helped with the traction going down such steep sections, but the constant decline was exhausting. When I did reach one of the few flat parts, not having to fight the pull of gravity almost made me feel like I was floating for a brief moment, before starting back downwards once again.

Down and down and down I go….

I passed a lot of groups on my way down, and it was yet another reminder of why I wake up so early to do these hikes. There were a couple hours on the way up that I didn’t see another person, and it allowed me to take my time to enjoy the beauty of this majestic trail. I chuckled to myself every time I passed people that were clearly not prepared for such a grueling hike, clutching empty water bottles with miles left, and wonder if they were going to actually make it all the way to the lake. I think this hike challenged where the limits to my physical abilities were and I’ve been consistently hiking for the last few months now. I can’t imagine trying it while visiting from out of town, as so many of the people seemed to be.

On my way back down, I did my best to search for Booth Falls, and it did seem to be close to where I thought it was based on the congregation of people in that area; however, I never did actually get a good view of it. I think there must be a turn off the trail that I missed both times, so I’m glad I didn’t turn around earlier searching for it, and instead conserved energy for the push to Booth Lake.

I had to do some serious searching to even get this shot…

At 10.5 miles and 3,100 feet of elevation gain, this trail isn’t for everyone, but the abundant wildflowers, waterfalls, streams, views, mountain lake, and wildlife catapulted it to be one of my favorite hikes I’ve done! I can’t wait to explore more of this area and see what other treasures it has to offer!

Returning to St. Mary’s Glacier – 2020

Carly and I have been dating for over six years and married for just under three now, which seems like such a short time when I write it like that, but we’ve packed a whole lot of adventure into those 6 years. In that short time, we’ve also started to develop some family traditions. There are traditions that will surely grow in the years to come, but some that I hope will never change. For anyone that’s read a few of my posts, I’ve written about it a couple of times before, but one tradition that I hope never changes is returning the same weekend to the spot of our engagement every year. The first time we came, we were still living in Oklahoma; however, now, the tradition has been made easier since moving to the Centennial State. Leading up to this weekend, I couldn’t believe it was already time for our fourth trek up to St. Mary’s Glacier.

We’re starting to learn our lesson when it comes to parking at the trailhead, and arrived just before 8am. We found parking no problem, but I’m sure it filled up not soon after. As is part of the tradition, I’m entrusted to carry the cooler full of food and drinks to the top of the rocky climb. The way back down is always easier once my backpack has been emptied.

There were a few people surrounding the lake when we finally emerged from the forest to the full glory of St. Mary’s Glacier. There was also more snow that we had ever remembered seeing before. I’m wondering if it hasn’t been quite as warm there this year, because at the same time, the water was also much lower than we were accustomed to. The rock where Carly was sitting when we got engaged is typically right along the edge of the water, but today, it was sitting much further back.

The view never gets old up here. Truly one of my favorite places in the whole world.

I mean.. how can you beat this?

Our favorite picnic spot around the edge of the lake was open, and we staked our claim by spreading the blanket. We settled in to relax and sink into the serenity surrounding us. It was here that we spent the next couple of hours – neither of us with a care in the world. Other people came and went. They took their pictures and moved on. We stayed unmoving, almost as if we were part of the landscape itself, content to have the breeze and the sun on our faces.

There’s no better place for a picnic, in my opinion!

The sunlight diffusing through the clouds and creating a rainbow was a treat today

There’s nothing quite like coming across a perfect wild Columbine

Eventually, though, we got the urge to go exploring. We hadn’t been over to the glacier itself since the year we got engaged, and with all that snow looking down at us, it was calling us back this year. Since there were people near it on our way in, we also stopped on the way to the glacier to take some pictures on “our rock”.

No digging for the ring in my backpack today – or “snacks” as I tried to convince Carly that day.

Where the magic happened!

We continued on around the lake to the side that resembles more of a beach setting, with a lot more people spread out. Today, there was even a group of paddle boarders exploring the lake and shouting “encouragement” at the cliff divers.

I don’t remember ever seeing this many people here, but we also don’t usually explore this side either

The crowds had arrived by this time, and we found the trail off the beaten path that we had taken 4 years ago for some peace and quiet away from everyone to enjoy ourselves. It proved just as peaceful this year.

After spending a few minutes in the quiet, we scurried our way back up to the main trail and made our way to the glacier itself. I climbed up as far as was necessary to get past the throngs of people having their snowball fights and sledding down the glacier. The view is incredible from up there, and it really is worth it to work your way past the people for a quick peek.

Looking like a tourist!

One day I’m going to have to join the skiers coming down this in July

As is the case every year, it was hard to eventually pull ourselves away from the peaceful lake and make our way back down to the parking lot. It’s easier knowing that we can come back anytime we want. It’s also easier knowing that there’s a 100% chance that we’ll be back again this same weekend next year for our 5th time!

Top 5 Hikes Near Denver – Way Too Early Edition

I’ve explored a number of different hikes in the front range near Denver, and I decided to put together my list of personal top 5 hikes – even though as the title suggests, there’s way too many more places to explore for this to be anything but a “way too early top 5”. I’ve had my share of hikes that have surprised when I wasn’t expecting much, but unfortunately there has to be some that disappoint, as well. In putting this list together, I’m hoping this could potentially help someone as they’re deciding what hike to take when visiting Denver the next time, or maybe a local will see it and feel inspired to try one of them they haven’t before. Or maybe someone can give me a suggestion on where to go for my next adventure! I fully expect that some on this list will be replaced as I go to new places and take in new sights, but for now, here goes!

5. Glacier Gorge to Loch Lake – RMNP

Number 5 on the list feels a little bit like cheating, because it’s in Rocky Mountain National Park, which is beautiful no matter where you look or where you go. It was a long hike made more difficult by the snow, but knowing that there was a payoff at the top kept us going. It certainly didn’t disappoint and made us feel like our efforts were well worth it.

This hike was one that I’ll never forget, and made the top 5 for a few reasons. To start us off, it was the first time that Carly or I had ever gone snowshoeing, which proved to be quite the adventure. We didn’t need them for most of the time, until the last half mile or so, which started to get deep, but we looked really cool carrying them on our backs!

Beginning of the hike, so we didn’t have our snowshoes on yet!

The next thing that made this an unforgettable journey for me was that my brother came to visit and went on this hike with us, which of course makes it more memorable for me.

And lastly, how can you beat these views?! I felt like I was on top of the world standing there on Loch Lake, with the majesty of the national park around me.

I could definitely see us coming back to snowshoe this one again, or maybe visit in the summertime to see what the lake actually looks like under all that snow and ice!

4. Adams Falls Trail – Grand Lake, Colorado

This hike will always hold a special place in my heart, as it was the hike that everyone took at our welcome picnic for our wedding. The hike to the falls is short and something that most everyone could do, and the waterfall didn’t disappoint, though it was a bit more impressive when we hiked it last weekend in July and there was more water flowing than there was in September for our wedding.

If you continue up the trail a little bit further, you’re presented with what I have called one of the most amazing views I’ve seen in Colorado, and it still holds true. There’s a meadow, with a creek flowing through it on its journey to Adams Falls, and huge mountains as your backdrop. It’s one that everyone should try to see. This spot is also special for me, as it brings back memories of being there with my friends and my fiancée just days before becoming a married man.

We’ve never gone too far down the trail, but there are camping sites further along and I’m sure some day we will have to check out what that has in store!

3. Chicago Lakes Trail – Mt Evans Wilderness

This is a hike that I did recently for the first time, and it was one of the hardest workouts I’ve done, but it made the list because of several different features that make it stick out to me. It all started very near the beginning of the trailhead, when I was met with the challenge of a steep dropoff and a very narrow trail. I turned around a few times due to my fear of heights, but finally was able to push past it and overcome the situation.

From there it was an uphill battle, literally and figuratively. I passed the first lake and was underwhelmed with what I had found, so I continued on well past what I thought were my limits in terms of distance and elevation gain combination in a hike.

I eventually reached the second lake, and my legs were tired before I even started the descent. I took some time to enjoy the peacefulness of the surrounding landscape (and to give myself a rest) before starting on my trek back down.

This trail already would’ve been in my top 5 I think, but I had a lucky break on my way down when I ran into a couple of moose right off the trail! I stayed and watched them for quite a while, and it was honestly hard to walk away even when I did.

This is another highly recommended hike if you’re up for a challenge! The views are spectacular, and there’s even a third lake if you continue the hike past where I forced myself to turn around.

2. Mt. Bierstadt – Guanella Pass

There’s no way that I could put together a top 5 hikes without including the only fourteener that I’ve ever tried and completed. For anyone that doesn’t know, a fourteener is a 14,000 foot peak, of which there are quite a few in Colorado (58 to be exact). Mt. Bierstadt is generally considered to be one of the easier ones, though any time you’re hiking at 14,000 feet, it’s not going to be easy.

We were also treated to a couple of moose on this hike, thought we didn’t get nearly as close as I did on the Chicago Lakes hikes. There were also quite a few more people.

I was also confronted with my fear of heights when we got up to the top. There was a saddle with a little patch of snow right before the scramble to the top. I was fine all the way up to the saddle, but after it turned into a scramble with the multitudes of people crawling over the rocks like ants, it was enough to make me really nervous!

• 

• 

• 

• 

If you’re properly acclimated and in the right shape, I can’t recommend this hike enough. Not only can you say that you hiked to the top of a 14,000 foot peak, but the trail is nice the entire way and you truly feel like you’re on top of the world towering over the surrounding peaks.

1. St. Mary’s Glacier – Near Idaho Springs, CO

The number one hike on my list has the most meaning to me of any other hike in Colorado, but that doesn’t diminish the beauty that awaits everyone. This one is particularly special to me, because this is where I got engaged to my amazing and beautiful wife. I was so nervous that day, digging in my backpack for the ring alongside the lake and forgetting everything I was going to say. It was an even more beautiful setting than the pictures I had seen online, and it couldn’t have been more magical. We’ve made it a tradition to return and do this hike on the anniversary of our engagement every year, and we haven’t missed a year yet!

• 

• 

  Someone realized what was going on and snapped a picture for us! I’ll be forever grateful for this!!

• 

The hike up is rocky and steep, but it’s also short at under a mile to the lake. When we visited from Oklahoma and did the hike, we were definitely struggling for air, but now when we return, it’s no problem carrying up a picnic. We find a spot along the lake to relax and enjoy a lunch, while watching the crazy people jump into the ice cold water from the cliffs above.

• 

• 

• 

Even if you didn’t get engaged here, I think this is the best hike near Denver because of the combination of a short hike for a huge payoff, being able to touch snow year-round, and also for the ability to have a picnic and relax by the lake.

Many More To Come!

There are so many amazing hikes near Denver that it was hard to leave some of them off the list. What I love about Colorado is that there are still so many trails nearby that are on my “want to do” list, that this list will continue to be updated for years to come. There are some that will never be able to leave my top hikes because of the special meaning to me, but maybe it will have to expand to a top 10 soon, to capture all the incredible adventures that are in store! Also, if you have a favorite hike in Colorado that I should check out, definitely let me know!!

Chicago Lakes Trail – Mt. Evans Wilderness

There are certain hikes that I’ve done over the past couple of years that I’ll remember for a lifetime, and this turned into one of them. It may be because of a particularly impressive view the inspires awe, or potentially an encounter with wildlife that makes me appreciate the beauty around me. This hike would end up having more than one element of a truly unforgettable experience.

I decided on the Chicago Lakes Trail for Sunday’s hike, despite the fact that it was a heavily trafficked trail (something I tend to try to avoid), mostly because I really wanted to do a hike with a mountain lake payoff. Since I knew I needed to beat the crowds, I left the house around 5:30 and arrived at the trailhead at almost exactly 6:30, greeted by quite a few cars in the parking lot – certainly more than I expected arriving that early. There were a few people casting out their lures, but overall, Echo lake was serene and peaceful.

Still slightly groggy from the early morning and the drive up, I was confident in the trek ahead of me, and my adventure began. The trail was very nice and well defined, following the lake for the first stretch, with signs pointing me in the right direction. It was chilly – about 45 – and I was grateful for the trees surrounding me that offered a little bit of solace from the wind.

The beautiful mountain trail that I was so peacefully enjoying quickly turned into a terrifying ordeal for me, as someone who is absurdly scared of heights, when I was confronted with a narrow, rocky, uneven trail, with a steep drop off on one side.

I had a lot of time on my hike to think about how to present this part of my hike. I thought about acting like I was perfectly confident and conquered my fears. I thought about acting like I was nervous, but continued to press forward despite my trepidation. The truth is, I turned around and headed back towards my car the first time I got to this part. I decided this wasn’t something I was prepared for, nor something I could do mentally.

As I headed back to the trailhead, I passed a few groups of people that looked like they should be more scared than they were, and it honestly gave me a little bit of confidence. I turned around to actually conquer my fears, only to reach the same exact point and decide a second time that this maybe wasn’t worth it.

It wasn’t until I was heading back a second time and passed a family with a small child that I decided maybe I was a little more scared than I should be. So I turned around once again and started out a third time. As they say, the third time was a charm. I think I was just a little bit more awake and my legs were just a little bit more warmed up, allowing me to navigate through. The sketchy terrain continued for maybe a mile, and there was nowhere to hide as the mountain forced you forward. I kept my head down, looking down at my feet and every step I took, and I eventually made it through. I decided to tell the full story to hopefully inspire someone else to push themselves past their boundaries and conquer their fears. It certainly was a good feeling getting through there though and descending further into the trees, where I felt much more comfortable. I had added probably a mile to my hike that I would come to regret fairly quickly, though.

It’s not often that hikes start off going downhill, but it was nice coming down from the heights into a valley of sorts. There was a small stream to cross and the wind was almost nonexistent, allowing me to finally relax for the first time in a while.

The hike went quickly going downhill and it was no time before I was turning the corner to start heading back up to the first lake. This part was a workout, with a seemingly never ending steady incline. The trail was wide and allowed faster people to pass easily, but this definitely got the heart pumping for me.

In all honesty, reaching this lake was the goal for my hike when I left this house this morning, but there was at least a small part of me that thought maybe I could keep going. Upon reaching the lake, though, I have to say that I was at least a little bit underwhelmed. I think it was the fact that the lake was manmade via a dam, when I envisioned a natural mountain lake. It was still beautiful, don’t get me wrong, and I could see myself returning here for a picnic. You can walk all the way around the lake and find a place all to yourself to relax.

This wasn’t what I was hoping for, though, and especially after pushing myself through the beginning, I wanted to make this hike count. I knew from my map that it was going to add a lot of mileage to my journey, and my stutter at the beginning had already added enough, but I decided to see what I could do.

As you move past the first lake, you’re greeted with two cabins, and I honestly couldn’t be more jealous of the people that own them. Although a ton of foot traffic passes by their quiet cabins every day, they seemed friendly to the hikers and even had a labyrinth set up to break up the hike.

I moved passed the two cabins and the incline started yet again. I wasn’t sure how long I could endure this, but as I’ve said before, sometimes I don’t know when to stop when I’m by myself – especially when I know there’s something more to see if I just keep going a little further.

The views were spectacular as I climbed higher and higher, alternating between wooded forest with stream crossings, and open meadows that offered wide panoramas of the surrounding mountains.

I couldn’t believe that I had pushed myself so far, but I finally reached the second lake after what seemed like an eternity of steady incline, and I was glad that I did. This was the payoff that I was looking for! There was the natural mountain lake that I set out to find, fed by the still melting snow, that gave way to the sheer cliffs of the peaks all around. I felt such a sense of awe at the scene around me that I found a large rock upon which I could sit to take it all in for a while. It was really cold at this point, probably in the low 40s with a strong wind and no protection around, but I sat on that rock for about 20 minutes taking in the scene. It was truly incredible.

There was at least a little part of me again that wanted to keep going to the next lake, but my ankles and knees were hurting already and I hadn’t even started the trek back yet. I knew it was time to turn around and hope that I could actually make it. I hadn’t done a hike this long in a really long time and was again kicking myself for adding an extra mile.

I’m glad that I headed back when I did though, because I timed it perfectly for running into a couple of moose right off the trail! This is what I hope for every time I go out, and they were right there, so close to us. I felt so lucky to have this encounter.

Lots of moose footage in the video below!!

It was hard to pull myself away, but after watching them for probably 10-15 minutes, they started to walk away and so did I, continuing on down the trail.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Obligatory wildflower pictures! I wish I could tell you what each kind was

It seemed so long ago already, but when I reached the part that was the descent at the beginning, suddenly I was faced with a steep final climb back to the trailhead. This time, though, there was a steady stream of traffic coming the other way, and the two way traffic on such a narrow trail made the steep cliffs even worse. My legs were wobbly now too, which also didn’t help.

Somehow I eventually made it back to the trailhead, and honestly felt better than I would’ve expected after such a long hike. Maybe I should’ve kept going to the last lake! Next time..

This was another classic example of me thinking that the parking lot was full when I arrived, but was then greeted by more people than I could’ve ever imagined. Echo Lake is apparently pretty popular for picnics and fishing, and there were cars all up and down the road when I got back. I was thankful for being able to enjoy the calm of the lake when I was heading up, and was happy to get out of there quickly on my way out, to let someone else have my spot.

Anytime I see moose, the trail is going to rate at the top of my list, but I truly think this was one of the best trails I’ve been on in Colorado. I would highly recommend it, but just make sure you go to the second lake at least!

Traversing the Twin Sisters Peak

Having the ability to escape to the mountains in less than an hour is one of the main reasons that we moved to Colorado, and the current pandemic has made us appreciate that quick escape even more. I personally can’t imagine being stuck in a place where there isn’t nature around to explore during these times, where the feeling of being cooped up is amplified. The playground that is the Rocky Mountains offers endless socially distanced adventures, and I’m certainly grateful for the beautiful state we now call home.

As I scanned the AllTrails map on Friday, the goal for my hike this weekend was fairly specific in what I was looking for, but not necessarily specific about where. I wanted to find a lightly trafficked trail that offered good views of the front range, a challenging hike, all while avoiding the trails still covered in snow this early into the summer. Given my affinity for the Nederland/Boulder area, it’s not surprising that I found what I was looking for not that far from where we were last weekend. I promise I tried to look elsewhere!

I woke up and gathered the necessities as quickly as I could, packed up, and set out, arriving at the trailhead just before 8am. There were maybe 10 cars in the parking lot and plenty of open parking spots, which was something I was grateful for, and was glad that I set out as early as I had. From the parking lot, you are presented with a beautiful vista of Gross Reservoir below, and I immediately wanted to go towards it. It probably didn’t help that the only other people I saw setting out for the day were taking the trail going towards it.

I didn’t make it too far before realizing that I was already off the trail I intended to be on and hadn’t paid close enough attention to the map. Despite going the wrong direction, it wasn’t a total loss, as it afforded me some pictures of the lake and gave me an idea of what the trail down was like.

I hiked back up to the parking and realized the trail that I actually wanted went beyond the restrooms, more or less along the road. I set out for the second time, glad that it was early and not too hot, and walked past several fairly private picnic tables that all had gorgeous views of the lake.

I didn’t take a picture (for obvious reasons), but, about a half mile in, I passed a deer leg that had clearly been eaten by something, reminding me that there are in fact large predators in the mountains – something I take for granted all too often on our hikes. It wasn’t long, though, until I was walking along a dirt road that was, in fact, the trail, which allowed me to relax a little. It felt like deja vu from the hike last week, although it was significantly more “interesting” from the standpoint that it wasn’t a perfectly flat road. I guess it made me feel like I was hiking a little bit still, even though I was clearly on a road.

“No soccer mom SUVs” Definitely true!!

I don’t think the Subby would do too well on this, and this wasn’t even the worst of it

Once again, I passed my turn off, but realized quickly yet again that I was going the wrong direction, turned around, and got back on my way. With all the private property on either side of the road, I was expecting something more well defined for the trailhead turn off, but it was just a gap in a fence. The trail quickly narrowed and steepened slightly. After this point, I didn’t see a single other person until I was at the top. I never saw any wildlife other than birds and chipmunks, but I certainly was keeping an eye out after my grisly discovery earlier, and I kept thinking to myself that I wish I wasn’t hiking alone. The trail was very narrow in spots and the trees thick on either side, adding to the feeling that I wasn’t in my natural terrain anymore.

This is me coming back to the turnoff for the trail. It’ll normally be on your right and you just scoot through the fence to continue on your way!

Imagine me scanning for bears and mountain lions through this!

It did eventually open up into a magnificent meadow, filled with wildflowers, aspens, and pines. The wind was whipping through the trees at a decent pace today, and the leaves of the aspens let you know it.

Pine trees on the left giving way to an Aspen grove on the right. I thought it made for a cool picture!

Don’t miss the turnoff when you see this pile of rocks. It’s hard to see to the left, and easy to keep going past the Twin Sisters peak.

It was a fairly gradual climb to the top once you turn off the road and it made for a good workout on the legs. I reached the top and had the place all to myself. It felt like I was the only one taking the trail today and the mountain was mine to enjoy. I took several pictures and videos, which don’t really do it justice due to my irrationally strong fear of heights, but it was an amazing feel standing on top, looking out over the mountains in the distance, with the wind blowing harder than ever.

If you can’t tell, that’s a cliff… I know it looks like I’m a long ways away from the edge, but I wasn’t about to get any closer!

Another drop off on the other side of these rocks too. Maybe one day I won’t be so scared to go look over the edge..

Trying to not look nervous with my back to the cliff and the wind blowing!

I spent maybe 20 minutes sitting on a rock at the top (sufficiently away from the edge), enjoying the sounds all around me and rehydrating, before the people started to show up. Apparently I wasn’t the only one to take the trail today, but it appeared that I was perhaps the first. I was thankful for the time and solitude that I was able to enjoy on top, but it was time to start heading back down. That’s when I realized that this was far from a “lightly trafficked” trail, as AllTrails had indicated. I started running into groups of people what seemed like around every turn. After not seeing anyone else on the way up, I saw probably 10-15 groups of people on my way down. It made me wonder if it would even be worth it at top with all of those people crawling the rocks all around you. I’m sure it would be, but still wouldn’t be the same as it was being up there alone. This made me even more thankful for the peace and quiet I was able to enjoy.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

I guess people mountain bike this trail? I can’t imagine riding up, but maybe if you walked it over the more rough parts.

Once I got back to the dirt “road”, I started to run into large off-road rigs taking the OHV trail and determined that it probably wasn’t initially designed for both hikers and those kinds of vehicles. I had to step off the road to let them pass a couple of times, and it made me nervous every time I heard someone coming up around a corner that they would be going too fast to see me.

Once last lake picture on my hike back!

I made it back to the parking lot around 11:30, and realized just how good of a decision I had made arriving as early as I had. I didn’t even know you could park on the other side of the parking lot, but now both sides were completely full, and there was a sheriff at the entrance to the parking lot turning people away. It became apparent that this parking lot was popular for folks hiking down to enjoy the lake, many with kayaks in tow. I would highly recommend arriving as early as I did.

All in all, I would definitely do this hike again, but would absolutely keep in mind to arrive early to avoid the crowds, find a parking spot, and not have to dodge cars. I honestly just wish so much of it wasn’t on a dirt road, but I’m starting to discover that that’s a thing.. Once I took the turn-off, it was an incredibly rewarding hike and rates highly for views and solitude. We’re going to have to come back and check out the lake next time too – I never did get any closer than I did taking the wrong trail at the beginning.

Becoming Mr. and Mrs. Keller: Part 2

Friday, September 15th

Friday morning we woke up after an amazing night with our friends, and it was time for our welcome picnic. Carly, my mom, Aunt Robin, Matt, Heather and I set up an assembly line in the kitchen to make the sandwiches for everyone. It didn’t take long before I didn’t have a job, because I couldn’t get anything to work. I was particularly bad at trying to get the cheese slices apart (don’t ask). While last minute preparations were being made, I took a drive over to the picnic spot we had picked out. It looked perfect on Google Maps, but we figured we better go check it out quick before everyone else showed up.

Some friends I met along the way

The spot was absolutely breathtaking and everything that we had hoped for!

We had hoped that this would be a fun activity for everyone that was in town, but with the wind coming off the lake, it was a little chilly, especially for the grandparents. We decided to take the hike to the falls before we ate lunch, just to give ourselves a little warm up. It wasn’t a particularly difficult hike, and I would recommend it for most people because of the pay off once you reach the falls! 

Taking pictures by Adams Falls! The Aspens changing color were incredible

The views were surreal!

With the wind blocked by the trees and the sun shining, it was a beautiful day outside, and it made for a very enjoyable hike. Once we trekked back down to the lake, we hung out around the picnic area a little while longer as we ate our sandwiches, but I think everyone was ready to get somewhere warmer before too long.

After the picnic, it was time for the rehearsal dinner. We practiced the ceremony with everyone that was involved and decided last minute details of how it was going to go. We wanted to keep the whole thing short and sweet, and my brother, Matt, was thoroughly prepared for the task. I felt confident that he would keep us on track and everything would go smoothly the next day.

Practicing the ceremony!!

We ordered barbecue from a local catering company in Grand Lake, and it was some of the best barbecue we have had, especially in Colorado. Almost everyone that was coming to the wedding was in town at that point, and it was awesome having all of the two families together. Steve started us a bonfire on the beach for the younger folks, while the grandparents and the rest of my family hung out around the gas fireplace.

We might’ve all smelled like campfire at the end of the night, but it was so much fun having all of our closest friends in one place with us. We knew from the beginning of the night that we didn’t really have any good ideas of what to do when it was time to put the fire out, but when the time came, we had to do something. The best that we came up with was grabbing the metal rake that was there and spreading coals out. Then, by some miracle, it started pouring rain right as we were spreading the coals out, and solved our problem! We decided that due to the campfire smoke smell, it was probably in our best interest to stay around the gas fire the next night in our wedding clothes.

Wedding Day!!

I woke up to some small flurries falling outside, and I’m not sure if that’s good luck on a wedding day or not, but it certainly wasn’t good luck for our round of golf that morning. While the girls were getting the venue ready with flowers and rearranging the bar, the guys went golfing at Grand Lake Golf Course.

I’m glad that I had thought to bring my flannel lined pants, otherwise I’m not sure I would’ve made it through the round. The few precious moments where we got some sunshine were the most incredible feelings ever. We would all stop to soak in what little sun we could.

I don’t even know what I shot that day, because it really didn’t matter to me, and the course was incredible. We grabbed a sandwich at Cy’s Deli in Grand Lake before they dropped me back off at the venue to get ready.

Anniversary Hike to St. Mary’s Glacier

​We decided almost as soon as we moved here that we needed to do the same hike to Saint Mary’s glacier on the anniversary of our engagement, so today had definitely been in the works for months. Just a couple of weeks ago we even made a new addition to our hiking repertoire in anticipation of this hike. We purchased a Columbia backpack cooler to carry our picnic in today, and I’m sure for many picnic hikes to come. We knew based on prior experience that the parking situation was a little slim at this trail head, so we knew we had to set out early. Also, as a word of caution, there is a $5 fee for the parking, so we made sure to stop at an ATM on our way out. It only takes approximately an hour from our place in Highlands Ranch to get here, and the drive seems to go by really quickly. I guess it’s all the traffic in Denver that makes it feel so smooth. We arrived around 11am, which was definitely after we wanted to, and the parking lot was already full with cars circling like sharks for any spot that opened up. This wasn’t our first rodeo, and we just stopped in the circle drive until someone was leaving, instead of continuing to make the circle of insanity. It only took us about 5 minutes to find a spot, so we counted ourselves lucky. Seems to be the theme lately, and I’ll definitely take it.

With the cooler backpack in tow and Carly carrying the water and picnic blanket with her backpack, we set out on our anniversary journey.

I have to say, there were much less nerves this time carrying a picnic as compared to a year ago carrying the engagement ring. As we started out, it became clear very quickly, that we were much more acclimated to the altitude and the hiking than we were a year ago too. We powered our way up the hike, which is fairly steep for how short of a hike it is, only taking a couple breaks to catch our breath. Last year, it was every hundred feet or so!

The feeling when we made it to the lake was just as exhilarating though. We found the spot where the magic happened last year, which looked just like we remembered; however, there were a few people sitting on our rock (yes, it’s OUR rock now!), so we made our way around the lake a bit in search of the perfect picnic spot. The spot we found was serene and peaceful, and even though there were a lot of people around the lake, we felt alone in our one little world. I was starving by the time we made it to the top, so we laid out the picnic blanket, and I promptly retrieved my turkey sandwich to start eating.

The day could not have been any more beautiful, with a few fluffy, white clouds floating lazily across the sky, which provided just enough cooling time to make the sunshine enjoyable when they floated on their way.

The relaxing sensation is a familiar one lately, with the couple of picnics that we’ve taken, and it’s something we plan to continue doing to take full advantage of the beautiful countryside that is our home now.