Summer Hikes Part 2

We started off July with one of the most amazing hikes I have ever done. It was not hard but Crater Lake in The Maroon Bells Recreation area was spectacular. It was the kind of place I hope our whole family will someday backpack to so we can see it at all times of day and night. Put it on your bucket list! Better yet- this picture was taken near the parking lot so anyone can get to see this beauty.

What better way to celebrate the 4th of July than with a spectacular hike? Today Justin, Branden, Katie, Willow and I trekked up Mt. Flora. For Willow and I it marked our first 13er and I felt every bit of it. But it was worth it- incredible views made only better with wildflowers.

Crater lakes Rollinsville is a six mile hike that starts at the East Portal Trailhead. Willow was happy to be invited to go along. Afterwards we enjoyed our lunch at Stage Stop.

Diamond Lake, 4th of July Trailhead: I really enjoyed this trail even though the road leading to the trailhead felt like it went on forever and at times seemed more like a dried up creek then an actually road....guess I still have a ways to go before I can feel like a real Coloradan! One of my favorite parts was when we actually walked across the waterfall. I think we may have arrived a little too early for the wildflowers but there were still a few to enjoy. There was still plenty of snow even though we did this mid- July.

Lily mountain is a nice trail close to Lily Lake but since it is forest land rather than national park land, Willow was allowed. Even though this is only four miles round trip with about 1000 feet of elevation, it felt like more than that. I think it was because most of the gain happened at the end. My preferred hikes get the hard part over with right at the start.

This was my second time trying Twin Sisters. In November Justin and I took the trail but the snow and wind made it a much more tiring hike that day and I did not complete the summit. This time Katie and I headed out early to beat the storms. The area across the land slide that occurred during the 2013 flood had a much better path. But three switchbacks were still cut off which meant a very steep grade for that part. Being forced to skip switchbacks was a good reminder of how necessary they are. The main reason I wanted to summit twin sisters was so that when I am walking around Lake McIntosh I can look up and know that I have been on top of the twin sisters.

Blue Lake, Ridgway
This hike was possibly the most beautiful hike I have ever done. It was about seven miles round trip with 1600 feet of elevation gain. Since it was a family hike it was a little challenging for L & O. But they pushed through and we all were rewarded with true paradise. Unlike some of our other hikes, we timed the wildflowers perfectly without even trying. This hike was so spectacular I had to post two photos instead of one.

Estes Cone felt like more of a workout then a hike. The weather was cloudy at the start and the rain came in by 10:00. The advantage of this weather was that the trailhead (which is the same as if you hike Longs Peak) was not as packed as usual. We met a group warming up for Longs by doing this hike. We also saw some Longs Peak summiteers celebrating in the parking lot after a successful attempt. It was a fun vibe to be around. Can't help but wonder if I will ever be ready for Longs myself.