Ouzel Lake, July 2010

Our most adventurous hikers set out for yet another new destination:  Ouzel Lake.  This Lake is in the southeastern corner of RMNP, the Wild Basin area.  There are many secluded mountain lakes and wonderful waterfalls, as well as rugged high peaks.   The lakes are, in general, very good for fishing and Ouzel is, in particular, filled with hungry Greenback Cutthroats.

The hike to Ouzel Lake begins at the Wild Basin Trailhead which can be found by driving 12.5 miles south of Estes Park on CO 7 to Wild Basin Road and then turning west on Wild Basin Road for another 2.5 miles where there is parking for the Trailhead.  At the Wild Basin Trailhead, the hiker chooses Thunder Head Trail.  The climb to Ouzel Lake is approximately 5.5 miles (one way) with an altitude gain of 1,520' to an elevation of 10,020'.

The hiker quickly reaches Lower

and Upper Copeland Falls.

The trail continues through the subalpine forest along Cony Creek to Calypso Cascades, named for the delicate pink orchids that bloom nearby in June.

Leaving Calypso Cascades, the trail travels through part of the prominent burned-out area from the 1978 Ouzel Fire,  the most wide-spread burn in RMNP's history.  The Fire destroyed so many of the trees that now the hiker enjoys amazing views of Mt. Meeker and Long's Peak.

Ouzel Falls is the most popular destination in Wild Basin.  It is a 40' cascade in Ouzel Creek that plunges dramatically over a small granite cliff through a deep rock cut into a beautiful pool.  Enos Mills is credited with naming Ouzel Creek ....

.....  in honor of the chunky but swift, gray water Ouzel, or American Dipper.  These birds are commonly seen along Ouzel Creek; they bob up and down on the rocks before diving completely under water to catch food.

The pretty Ouzel Lake sits snugly against Mt. Copeland's northern face.  The striking peak is craggy and provides an imposing backdrop to the serenity of the calm waters.  Ouzel and Manaha Peaks  are also seen from the Lake and are perhaps the most photogenic.

Worship in the Rockies (and Breakfast too!)

The Highlander Clan has experienced many firsts in visiting the Y lately.  Not surprising, considering our many additions.  Organized Sunday Worship for the Clan has always taken place at the Y's Hyde Chapel.

It's been wonderful seeing the attendance steadily increase over the years.  Seating has gone from wooden benches scattered around and partitions to block unused areas to very comfortable chairs pushed together for maximum occupancy.  No partitions are needed; in fact, standing room only is to be expected.

This year, however, found some of the Clan venturing out to another House of Worship.  We visited St. Bart's - St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, that is. We could not have been more enthusiastically and sincerely welcomed.  Even our toddler was treated as an honored guest with her own special bag full of activities.  The Church is the people and the people definitely make this church!  But, I must admit, I might not have noticed if the people hadn't been so warm and friendly because the building and surroundings are so beautiful!

We were extraordinarily blessed to find a House of Worship that suited our little group's needs so well on the first try and without prior recommendation, but Emily hadn't left anything to chance!  She had carefully orchestrated our morning so that no matter what we found in our first church visit, we would have a wonderful experience.  Emily saw to it that we began our morning with cinnamon rolls from the General Store in Glen Haven!  (This picture from a previous visit.)

The Glen Haven Store in 1920!  Check out that car!

And a view of the inside of the General Store.  Notice the loaves of Cinnamon Bread on the shelves in front of the counter; I've decided these loaves of Cinnamon Bread are even better than the famous Cinnamon Rolls.  Heresy, I know!  But, try the loaves sometime.



The Horses of the YMCA

The horses of the Y always play an important part of any visit to the Rockies.  Most recently it's been the ponies (Nibbles, Strawberry, Shortcake --- why, yes!  we're on first name basis) and the gorgeous teams of Belgian horses (Hanz and Franz are among the faves!) that pull the Hay Wagons for a Marshmallow Roast.

We never tire of the marshmallow roasts even though we know the program by heart!  The wranglers are very entertaining while they get the fires and roasting sticks ready.  The sticks used to be willow from the surrounding trees but then we were consuming the resources (Leave No Trace?), so now they are metal, the manufacturing of which pollutes the atmostphere.  It's so, so hard to be eco-friendly!!!  After the hilarity of the wranglers, visiting with the horses and the other roasters, and chasing the little ones away from the fire,

We roast those marshmallows .....

then proceed to get the sticky stuff all over ourselves .....

while proud parents look on.