The Pool - Hike of Crazy Colors, Big Boulders, & Rushing Rivers

The Pool in the Fall is a glorious hike!  It begins at the Fern Lake Trailhead which is on the west end of Moraine Park.

This "Christmas" tree and lichen-colored boulder stand as Sentinels to the 1.7 mile path and foretell what is to come.  Remember, most of the Aspens have already lost their bright yellow Fall leaves!

Yet, there are many beautiful Fall colors along this trail which is relatively flat, climbing only 245 feet.

Below the trail and to the left flows the Big Thompson River.  It is generally not readily visible from the trail because of  the luxuriant vegetation, but it provides the lovely sound of  river - rushing in the Spring, I'm sure, but gurgling in the Fall.  The moist environment supports a large variety of wild flowers along the trail in the Summer, providing a whole new palette of colors.

Looking beyond the Big Thompson, the hiker has beautiful views of the mountains.  I was disappointed not to know which they were but hope to discover their names on our next trip.  Does anyone think that one could be Ypsilon?

Yet to come:  more Color, the Big Boulders, and ....... The Pool!

Highlander Picture Day

Installing Highlander's new photographs by Richard Hahn of Estes Park became an all day affair!  At least, it required us to be inside all day.  There were many things we could do there, though, so it was a different kind of fun day.  The photos didn't all fit on one wall as we'd planned, but I think we found a suitable solution.  The pictures are awesome: a bear which was caught in the act of charging the photographer, a majestic elk, the often searched for big horn sheep, and twin owls for our own twin owls - he he.   One thing we might need to do is change the glass for non-glare glass.  The reason is obvious in these photos of the photos!  (Molly reports the holes in the wall have been repaired.)

After being inside all day, we decided going out to dinner was in order.  So, we added another first!  We went to The Rock Inn which had been recommended by a long time Y family.  It is just down the road from the Y and Dunraven and has been there as long as we can remember.  Our first memory of The Rock Inn was as a bar but its use has changed several times over the years.  We went there once  when it was a "cook your own steak" place.  Now, it's a laid back full service steak place with live music every Friday night.  Our food was really good!

First Visit to Hollowell Park

October 2, 2009

The entrance to Hollowell Park can be found just as Bear Lake Road starts to climb from Moraine Park.  There are picnic tables and restrooms ...

as well as parking for the many hikes one can take from this location.  We hiked the Hollowell Park Trail which rolled gently for several hundred yards through a pleasant meadow dotted with Aspen trees.  Unfortunately, we weren't aware that the Mill Creek Basin Trail would have taken us to active beaver ponds!  The main beaver pond's dam is about 6' high with a very large lodge in the center of the pond.  Maybe the Summer of 2010 will be the summer we actually find beavers!

The views fron Hollowell Park were gorgeous.  We were especially excited to find this one of Long's Peak, though; we think it is the exact view, with much superior photograpy,  that is now hanging in Highlander!  Can't wait to see if you all agree!