The Pool: Colors, Boulders, & Rivers (con't)

In sharp contrast to the Big Thompson gurgling along on the hiker's left and the gorgeous mountains off in the distance, granite cliffs soar high on the hiker's right side.

The crazy colors continue ...

even on the boulders ...

which become larger and more plentiful.

Insert here the most famous of the large boulder formations:  The Arch which was presumably formed when a large boulder fell from the cliffs above and split into half.  Unfortunately, this is only one of the landmarks that I failed to photograph!

Does the photo below remind anyone else of the favorite fishing and picture taking spot of some of our clan?  Remember its name?  I blogged about it here.

After a most enjoyable stroll (1.7 mi.), the hiker reaches The Pool

which is a turbulent water pocket formed below the merger of Fern and Spruce Creeks with the Big Thompson River.

Unfortunately, (again!)  I failed to photograph the very picturesque bridge that crosses The Pool and (once again!) I failed to climb the boulder on the other side of The Pool for an even more dramatic view.  My serious omissions on this hike will hopefully create interest in what you have missed in the post!  One should plan this hike for the early morn in the summer; the trail receives more sun than many of the RMNP hikes and so can become hot as the day progresses.  Also, the Fern Lake Trailhead parking fills quickly, as do many to the trailheads' parking.

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!

Sprague Lake

October 2, 2009

Our Fall Trip to RMNP began with the traditional "altitude acclimation"  hike around Sprague Lake which was created when Abner Sprague dammed up a stream to create a trout pond for the guests at his lodge.  The lodge stood

approximately where the Sprague Lake parking lot is now and was operated from 1910 - 1940.  The Lake is still an excellent source of trout and is often fished by groups led by our Sasquatch Fly Fishing Guides.  Hikers can usually get really good views of the beautiful fish from the bridge that leads to the path around Sprague Lake. 

Certainly the breath taking views of the Continental Divide from Sprague Lake did not go unappreciated by Abner Sprague and his guests!  And I obviously never tire of photographing it.  These are some of our clan's favorite summits:  Otis, Hallett, and Flattop.

Thankfully, RMNP even provides benches for us to view the Continental Divide.

Two things, besides fewer pine trees, were notably different from our 2008 Fall Hike around Sprague Lake. There were no beautiful yellow Aspen leaves because they had already fallen, but to take their place was pristine white ice beginning to form around the edges of the Lake. 

 

No!  I didn't mention the pine trees and their beetles because I don't try not to complain about God's Plan.  Besides, when we do get to Sprague Lake while the Aspen leaves are yellow and still on the trees, there'll likely be a lot more Aspens (replacing the Pines) to enjoy!  For more views of the gorgeous scenery surrounding Sprague Lake, see the 2008 slide show entitled, "A Walk in September - around Sprague Lake".  It's near the bottom of the right side of this blog.

Shadow Mountain Fire Lookout - RMNP

SHADOW MOUNTAIN FIRE LOOKOUT

National Registry of Historic Places

Rocky Mountain National Park

Elevation: 9923

Status: Standing

Year built: 1933

Structure type: Three-story, square plan, stone and frame building

Shadow Mountain Lookout is the only remaining fire detection tower in Rocky Mountain National Park. Last staffed in the 1968 season, it was rehabilitated in 1982 and again in 1994-96. This building represents the type of rustic design advocated by Park Service administrators and designers.

The Shadow Mountain Lookout Trail begins just outside Grand Lake, CO on the western side of RMNP.   It is a 4.8 mile hike (one way) of moderate difficulty with a 1533' gain to the Lookout which is near the summit of Shadow Mountain.  The 360 degree view from the third story of the Lookout is gorgeous and makes the approximately 4 hour round trip hike worth every step!

Who Knew? Golfing in Moraine Park?!

Richard Hahn posted this entry in Rocky Mountain National Park Forums on July 10, 2009. The Forums are a huge wealth of information about RMNP.

No one has golfed in Moraine Park for 46 years, but the outline of the old nine-hole course stood out, weeds against native grass.  Last fall, park crews began lowering the abandoned greens and trees to their natural grade as part of a plan to restore native wetlands and grasses.  Today, park crews continued their restoration process by placing native grass plants in the restored soils at the natural grade.  This was a very good thing to see.  Thanks park crews for your good work.

Incidentally, Richard Hahn is an awesome photographer and has a gallery in Estes Park.  Several of his photographs are on my "must have" list.