Hiking with ALL the family

My sister in law and her family came over on Saturday. We went hiking and had a picnic then came back to our place for a dinner grill out. Mmmm! Originally, they wanted to go up to the lake, but it's the weekend... and it was packed! So, we took them up to another area that should be less known. It was. This trail is short with a couple of steep spots. Quite a few old mine relics left. The girls liked to explore. went into an old shaft that was dug into the rock about ten feet. There was an old wooden door left ajar and then you squeeze past it and into the dark with in. The cave was about 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide. Apparently, they didn't find any gold or silver - because it was a dead end about 10 feet in. It was a good trail and even D & D's girls enjoyed it. the oldest one even stated at the end of the hike that she liked it and wanted to do it again sometime. Impressive considering at the beginning she was dragging behind and making it obvious she didn't want to be there, lol! Ha - Converted another one.

Herman Gulch Trl #98

The Herman Gulch Trail. #98. Hmm.. This is the only Trail I have seen with that Name. where is Herman Gulch #1? lol, just kiddin'. I know the Forest service numbers the trails. This was a good day yesterday. The sky was blue and the temperature was just right. Even when walking across the snowfields. Can't wait to try it again. I think we'll do it in July when the wild flowers are peak. I hear the lake is a beautiful green color like Hanging lake in Glenwood Springs

Herman Gulch trail #98

Distance one way: 3.5 miles
Elevation: Trailhead: 10,400' ; Herman Gulch Lake 12,000'

This trail has a couple of great "stair-master" hills. The trail starts off on the moderate side for about a quarter mile until the first split. The sign here says Watrous Gulch and Bard Creek trails to the right. Herman Lake and Jones Pass to the left. The sign says it's 3.75 miles to the lake from the trail split. I think the sign is old, because the Forest Service Web page said the entire hike to Herman Gulch is 3.5 miles each way. We turn to the left, the trail turns into an old sawmill road and it's steep. Let's just say when the road gets close to a stream with several cascades, I had no problem stopping to take an pictures and water breaks.

After the steady climb on the road, the trail enters a meadow with the stream on the left and a thick forest on the right. The trail "levels" out for a while now. just smaller hills. There are lots of rocks and tree roots. We have to be careful not to twist any ankles. There are some early spring wild flowers coming up. A hiking book I have says there is a riot of colors in July. I'm thinging we'll be back.

We take our lunch break at about the third meadow. Enjoying the views and pointing out different mountains. T was standing up and had a piece of granola bar in his hand; pointing at one of the mountains... When a bird flys down and tried to take the granola from his hand! He's standing right next to me, so I screamed. The bird flew away empty beaked. lol, I'm so jumpy! well, he came back and brought reenforcements. some other hikers passed by at this point. One guy stated that his friend was here last week and these birds landed on his backpack as he fed them pistacios. Looks like they are used to getting fed. He called them Camp robbers. They are a grey bird about the size of a blue jay. Same family I'd say! After they left P put a few Cherrios and peanuts in her hand to see if it would come to her. They did and even landed on her hand and ate. I have pictures...some of the best on this hike; if I don't say so myself! lol! After our lunch we found some sticks to use for walking, looks steep after this point. We continue on.

It's not so much steep, as there is still a lot of snow drifted up back here. The snow pack is getting soft in spots. You can see the footprints were people fall in! We try to stay on the hard pack trail. Some places the many springs are leaking from the ground and melting snow on the way to the creek. it's pretty muddy. already our boots are looking wet, and pant legs are wet. This continues on until the mountain range gets close and the trail starts to go up more. The snow trail starts to go more or less straight up at one point. I know this is not the real trail. In summer there will be more switchbacks. I think it would be easier. I love my walking stick now. We reach a level area and can see the summits ahead. looks like a couple more rises up and maybe there will be the lake. T encourages us to continue. P & I want to call it quits. But we go on. 15 minutes later we are at the lake. It is pretty. But snow covered. there is one small spot that is thawing. It's soo quiet up here. we stay for about twenty minutes before we notice grey clouds are starting to come over the mountains. Time to go. On our way back down, we notice a trail sign a little farther east of where we came up the hill... The real trail doesn't look as steep. But, Alas, it has a lot of snow on it and we don't want to get lost. We're careful on the way down. the snow is getting slushier. We do pretty good and my knees don't really hurt until that last steep part that is the old sawmill road by the waterfalls. A couple of tylenol and a few rest stops later - we're back at the jeep. I really like this trail. We'll do it again. and hey, it's also part of the Continental Divide Trail!

Chicago Lakes Trail

Distance: About 7 miles to lower lake, 8 miles to upper lake, depending on the book/web site you read

Elevation Gain: Trail gains 200 feet, then drops 400 feet, then gains 1,400 feet to the upper lake

We went up to Echo Lake on Sunday. The weather is iffy.. scattered sun and grey clouds. But, we want to hike. So the three of us park near the lake... and head out to a trail we haven't finished yet. we started it in December, but well... there was a lot of snow piled up. lol. Anyway - to the trailhead -- This is where the Chicago Lakes trail gets interesting. You'll climb about 200 feet in elevation, then drop down about 400 feet to Chicago Creek. The trail follows a shelf along the hillside. While there's a major drop-off on the side, there is also a beautiful view of the valley ahead. We stop and take a few pictures where the trees open up. We enjoyed guessing where we were going from here. The hike to Chicago creek at the bottom is steady up's and down's. Can you say nature's stair master! But you'll know when you're near; you'll hear the rushing water.

There's a creek crossing on a couple wooden planks. Hike a few more yards and you'll come to a road. Follow it up the hill about a mile. You'll pass next to the Idaho Springs Reservoir, then two cabins before the Chicago Lakes trail becomes single track again. There is a sign at this junction with permit forms, even for day hikers. We filled one out, while other hikers just past by looking at us. Well, if a bear eats us... I want the rangers to know who we were.

Catch our breath here, because the trail is about to start climbing. The trail climbs a couple hundred feet, then evens out, then climbs again, then evens out. the flats are such a tease! You'll be doing this for the next 1.5 miles. While it can be tough at times, the scenery is great. We found lots of wildflowers and beautiful views. did a bit of splash hiking. all the rain has given way for lots of little creeks. A wildfire burned 400 acres in this area in 1978. With so many trees gone, you get amazing views of the peaks around the valley.
At about 3.5 miles into the hike, you get your first view of Lower Chicago Lake. The trail is actually above the lake, so you'll have to hike down on one of the many social/goat trails in the area to reach the shoreline. The upper lake is on a shelf higher than the lower. We tried to go on to it --- but the trail was so flooded and the brush was very unfriendly. We climbed up on a rockslide... but we could see no way around. Found a waterfall chugging down. sounded very nice. Then we hear nearby thunder... and it starts to hail. What luck. T says we should take a short cut down to the lake. ( short cuts are never a good idea). needless to say.. it was no trail.. not even for deer. We fight through the brush... and finally find the main trail. It rained the whole way back to the Jeep. Hot showers, coffee/tea & camp pies await at home.. Mmmm! It was a good hike. we want to go again when it's dry to see the top lake.

a hiking we will go!

hiked to a lake on Thursday. it was foggy at our house but as we went up in elevation the warm sun came out. Got to the park... a balmy 48 degrees up here. Hey, it's warmer up here than at my house! Guess heat does rise! We go into the park and go to our selected area to hike. T's not feeling up to a long monster of a hike so we pick a shorter one. It ends up being good. as we started in on our hike, the wind picks up and the storm clouds blow over the mtns. we get to the lake and have lunch. as we sit there watching the clouds race over the jagged peak in front of us. We notice snow flakes starting to fall. we sit for a few more minutes talking about how easy it looks to just zig zag up the mountain this way and that and we can be at the top no problem... yeah, sure. we know it's a lot farther when you get up in there! well, time to walk back down the hill.