Mags
07-26-2009, 19:30
By happenstance, I went on three seperate day hikes of various lengths to three alpine lakes.
Rather than give a blow-by-blow description, I'll just say that life ain't so bad when all these hikes are less than a one hour drive away.
The hikes are:
Diamond Lake (http://www.protrails.com/trail.php?trailID=102)- Approx 5 miles and 1200' gain - July 23rd
Skyscraper Res (http://www.protrails.com/trail.php?trailID=90) - Approx 10 miles and 2200' gain - July 24th
Bluebird Lake (http://www.protrails.com/trail.php?trailID=31) - Approx 14 miles and 3000' gain - July 25th
Diamond Lake is a great little hike for those who want to be back in Boulder by the early afternoon. What's not to like? In less than 3 miles you can be at a lake nestled below the Continental Divide with wildflowers along the way.
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs163.snc1/6089_1158960064782_1551189841_30409324_4652293_n.j pg
I joined Marni and Marie for the morning jaunt. Photo courtesy of Marni M.
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs183.snc1/6089_1158959984780_1551189841_30409322_2458758_n.j pg
Marni took this great photo of Diamond Lake
Skyscraper Res is another nice local hike. A bit more challenging but not too bad at all. I joined my friend Terry. He and I have this theory..any hike 10 miles or less is an easy outing. :)
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs121.snc1/5208_133711700020_563440020_3537344_6746807_n.jpg
Terry at Skyscraper Res
The whole day felt like a Saturday. Many people seemed to have the day off. The Hessie and Fourth of July trailheads are very popular. And why note? Any trail you take..be it 3 miles or 12 miles, will take you to an awesome area. We also saw a fair amount of people backpacking. A few did not quite subscribe to the lightweight backpacking philsophy. ;)
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs121.snc1/5208_133711710020_563440020_3537346_7997974_n.jpg
Bluebird Lake was yet another horrible, awful, terrible burdern to hike. A mountain lake, waterfall, wildflowers and good company. Man..life sucks! :banana
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs121.snc1/5208_134559770020_563440020_3552506_5341524_n.jpg
Columbine at Bluebird Lake
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs141.snc1/5208_134559785020_563440020_3552509_4462033_n.jpg
Artsy-Fartsy view of the lake
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs121.snc1/5208_134559800020_563440020_3552511_6241794_n.jpg
Ouzel Falls. In Greece, we'd have some ouzo falls....
(Note: If you haven't guessed it, my Canadian plans have been modified for various reasons. I am still going..but it is now next month..and it will be a climbing/backpacking trip. Deets to follow. :) )
My photos:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=138616&id=563440020&l=0e1e652e80
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=139105&id=563440020&l=54ffe078f4
Rather than give a blow-by-blow description, I'll just say that life ain't so bad when all these hikes are less than a one hour drive away.
The hikes are:
Diamond Lake (http://www.protrails.com/trail.php?trailID=102)- Approx 5 miles and 1200' gain - July 23rd
Skyscraper Res (http://www.protrails.com/trail.php?trailID=90) - Approx 10 miles and 2200' gain - July 24th
Bluebird Lake (http://www.protrails.com/trail.php?trailID=31) - Approx 14 miles and 3000' gain - July 25th
Diamond Lake is a great little hike for those who want to be back in Boulder by the early afternoon. What's not to like? In less than 3 miles you can be at a lake nestled below the Continental Divide with wildflowers along the way.
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs163.snc1/6089_1158960064782_1551189841_30409324_4652293_n.j pg
I joined Marni and Marie for the morning jaunt. Photo courtesy of Marni M.
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs183.snc1/6089_1158959984780_1551189841_30409322_2458758_n.j pg
Marni took this great photo of Diamond Lake
Skyscraper Res is another nice local hike. A bit more challenging but not too bad at all. I joined my friend Terry. He and I have this theory..any hike 10 miles or less is an easy outing. :)
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs121.snc1/5208_133711700020_563440020_3537344_6746807_n.jpg
Terry at Skyscraper Res
The whole day felt like a Saturday. Many people seemed to have the day off. The Hessie and Fourth of July trailheads are very popular. And why note? Any trail you take..be it 3 miles or 12 miles, will take you to an awesome area. We also saw a fair amount of people backpacking. A few did not quite subscribe to the lightweight backpacking philsophy. ;)
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs121.snc1/5208_133711710020_563440020_3537346_7997974_n.jpg
Bluebird Lake was yet another horrible, awful, terrible burdern to hike. A mountain lake, waterfall, wildflowers and good company. Man..life sucks! :banana
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs121.snc1/5208_134559770020_563440020_3552506_5341524_n.jpg
Columbine at Bluebird Lake
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs141.snc1/5208_134559785020_563440020_3552509_4462033_n.jpg
Artsy-Fartsy view of the lake
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs121.snc1/5208_134559800020_563440020_3552511_6241794_n.jpg
Ouzel Falls. In Greece, we'd have some ouzo falls....
(Note: If you haven't guessed it, my Canadian plans have been modified for various reasons. I am still going..but it is now next month..and it will be a climbing/backpacking trip. Deets to follow. :) )
My photos:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=138616&id=563440020&l=0e1e652e80
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=139105&id=563440020&l=54ffe078f4