Pics from my long hike

Trail Log: Crystal Lake, from the Lawn Lake trailhead (15.4 miles round trip, 2,980 ft. elevation gain). My intention was to wake up at 2 am and check out the weather to see if I could do Long's Peak, but there was thunder past midnight and clouds at 2 am, so I figured I'd play it safe, pick a different trail, and maybe sleep in a little bit! I hit the trailhead around 9 am, which was later than I preferred - there were already dark clouds hoovering to the west of the Mummy Range. My guidebook says this is a strenuous hike, but I think that all comes from just the distance of the hike - the trail itself was not too steep, but a constant gradual uphill hike up a relatively smooth trail without many obstacles - rocks, roots, etc. More than halfway to Lawn Lake, it did get a bit rockier but still didnt' seem that tough. The trail follows the Roaring River, and you can still see the dramatic results of the 1982 Lawn Lake Flood, when the dam broke and water carved out the mountainside. There are still large boulders strewn about, but trees are moving in. It was a cooler day - mid to upper 60s - and it was pretty humid due to all the precipitation we've had lately. The trail was pretty wet too, with lots of small streams over the trail - but it also made for great wildflower displays!

Fortunately there weren't many others on the trail so I had plenty of solitude - but it certainly wasn't quiet due to the constant rushing and roaring of the river, streams and waterfalls along the way. I reached Lawn Lake (6.3 miles in) and felt pretty good and curious to see Crystal Lake, so I kept hiking. This took me above treeline and amongst alpine wildflowers, surrounded by rock and water. It was beautiful - probably one of my favorite hikes this year. I passed Little Crystal Lake and didn't linger long at Crystal Lake - ominous clouds hovered over Fairchild and I didn't want to be caught up there in a storm! It took me about 1 hr 45 mins to Lawn Lake, then an additional 30-40 minutes to reach Crystal Lake; and about 2 hours to get down from there. I was back at the trailhead around 2 pm. My legs are pretty sore and that was the longest hike I've done this year, but it felt good!

I also can't forget to add the trail I did with my stepdad and brother when they were here!

The Loch (5. 4 miles round trip). This was a beautiful hike that takes you past Alberta Falls. It wasn't particularly challenging but my stepdad wasn't quite used to the elevation so I was worried I was going to have to carry him down! We didn't hang out long though, because dark clouds and thunder closed in on us... Which we got dumped on of course. It was a little chilly and wet on the way back down, but it didn't bother me much! Anyway this is a great hike for anybody in halfway decent shape to see an apline lake. And if you're in good shape, it's well worth continuing on to Andrew's Glacier and the other alpine lakes past that!

I did call and complain to Budget about how horrible their truck was. They refunded 10% of my money, which really doesn't satisfy me but whatever. I'll go Penske next time! This weekend I am still thinking about all the stuff I need to do, but I'm just having so much fun that moving my crap is the last thing on my mind. I met up with Tim's housemate Dave last night at the Rock Inn to listen to Uncle Sq'Earl, an all-chick bluegrass band. I usually run into somebody I have not seen in a while, and this time it was Rachel, a girl that did interpretation for the Park back in '03. And whadda ya know, she lives in Lyons too! I am so excited to have somebody to hang out with down there.

Well I have a BBQ/horseshoes party to go to at Tim's neighbor's place, drink a few brews and grill venison and elk... Not a bad way to spend the weekend, eh? :)