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re: Colorado vacation suggestions (late July)
Posted on 4/18/15 at 4:25 pm to bayoubengals88
Posted on 4/18/15 at 4:25 pm to bayoubengals88
quote:
within an hour of Grand Lake?
I've stayed in Estes Park and hiked RMNP for more than 20 summers. Used to go every summer but not a lot in the last decade. First point - I don't think any east side hikes are within an hour of Grand Lake. Maybe barely. But I'd mostly stick to stuff on the west side of the divide.
Consider doing Mount Ida instead of Flattop/Hallets. That's a nice hike too but Ida is much closer, you start higher, the crowds are less, and the views are great too. Mt. Ypsilon is another great one that goes higher than Hallets but is probably a bit easier since you start higher, and it is closer to Grand Lake.
Start your hikes as early as you can. The number one reason is lightning and rain in the afternoon. It happens most days. We got stuck in a lightning storm on Mt. Ida because my brother's bitch of a wife refused to leave early for that one. Someone a few miles away was killed by lightning in that one. Seriously, get on the trail as early as you can. For Flattop/Hallets we used to start before sunrise and use flashlights.
Don't do any strenuous/long hikes for the first 3 days or so to give yourself time to get used to the altitude. Any hikes well above timberline ought to be at the end of the week.
Take rain gear, sunscreen, aspirin, and water (don't drink from the streams).
The drive over Trail Ridge Road is incredible. It's also long and slow and you will have to do it every time you hike east of the divide. The views are awesome, though, and I love making that drive.
Colorado in late July is heaven after a summer in the humid south.
1
Posted on 4/18/15 at 5:20 pm to Tigris
I should update, but Grand Lake fell through. We have reservations in Estes Park.
Love the Ypsilon and Ida suggestions. I looked at both last week and I'm still considering them.
Love the Ypsilon and Ida suggestions. I looked at both last week and I'm still considering them.
This post was edited on 4/18/15 at 5:46 pm
Posted on 4/18/15 at 5:24 pm to Prosecuted Collins
Wilco fricking blows.
Posted on 4/19/15 at 8:34 am to bayoubengals88
Estes Park will be better for the hiking that Grand Lake. On the west side of the divide the mountains have a much more gentle slope so the views generally are not as nice.
For Ypsilon you want to take Fall River Road up to the trailhead which is a bit short of Trail Ridge Road. If it is open. Fall River Road is the original road over the divide and is rougher but still fun to do.
Dream/Nymph/Emerald is the classic hike but it is also very crowded. Personally, I prefer parking at Glacier Gorge Junction (small lot so you have to get there very early) and hiking up to Mills Lake and then on to Black Lake. Another nice hike is to have a group start at Bear Lake parking lot and hike to Odessa Lake. Then have one volunteer hike back to the car and drive down to the Fern Lake trailhead to meet the rest of the group who continue on to Fern Lake and then to the trailhead. It makes a nice loop and it's one of the least crowded trails, at least until you get to Fern Lake.
For Ypsilon you want to take Fall River Road up to the trailhead which is a bit short of Trail Ridge Road. If it is open. Fall River Road is the original road over the divide and is rougher but still fun to do.
Dream/Nymph/Emerald is the classic hike but it is also very crowded. Personally, I prefer parking at Glacier Gorge Junction (small lot so you have to get there very early) and hiking up to Mills Lake and then on to Black Lake. Another nice hike is to have a group start at Bear Lake parking lot and hike to Odessa Lake. Then have one volunteer hike back to the car and drive down to the Fern Lake trailhead to meet the rest of the group who continue on to Fern Lake and then to the trailhead. It makes a nice loop and it's one of the least crowded trails, at least until you get to Fern Lake.
Posted on 4/19/15 at 9:35 am to Tigris
[quote]Mills Lake
Black Lake
Odessa and Fern Lake[quote]
These could be an option for our first day.
I've just got to decide between, Mt. Ida, Ypsilon, and Hallett's Peak.
How unclear are the "trails" up to Ida and Ypsilon?
Black Lake
Odessa and Fern Lake[quote]
These could be an option for our first day.
I've just got to decide between, Mt. Ida, Ypsilon, and Hallett's Peak.
How unclear are the "trails" up to Ida and Ypsilon?
Posted on 4/19/15 at 9:51 am to bayoubengals88
I've spent many a day and night hiking and camping in rmnp out of Estes park. Saturday hike: start at bear lake trailhead, hike to "the loch" and if time get up to timberline falls and sky pond. You're welcome.
Posted on 4/19/15 at 10:49 am to bayoubengals88
The trail up Ida is pretty clear.
The mount Ypsilon trail is clear to above timberline, then eventually becomes somewhat of a rock scramble without a clear trail. But you can see where the peak is, it would be hard to fack it up. With Ypsilon you can do Mt. Chiquita as well and bag two 13'ers.
Of the three hikes Hallett's is probably the most scenic and you may be able to slide down Andrew's Glacier and come down via the Loch. Last time I did it though was late in the year and the glacier was hard ice rather than snow and I slid down way too fast and nearly broke a leg on some rocks at the end. The rest of the group turned back. So be careful if you do Andrews Glacier. Hallett's also gives you a chance to to Otis and Taylor, you had better be in very good shape if you go as far as Taylor. Hallett's is also the most crowded.
Ypsilon is probably the easiest as you start just below timberline so it has the least vertical gain. Ida starts fairly high too and you gain altitude fast so you get above timberline fairly quickly. Ypsilon and Ida have much better odds of seeing wildlife like elk, deer, sheep. With those two you come back over the top of Trail Ridge Road which I always enjoy. You definitely should make that drive at some point in the trip.
The mount Ypsilon trail is clear to above timberline, then eventually becomes somewhat of a rock scramble without a clear trail. But you can see where the peak is, it would be hard to fack it up. With Ypsilon you can do Mt. Chiquita as well and bag two 13'ers.
Of the three hikes Hallett's is probably the most scenic and you may be able to slide down Andrew's Glacier and come down via the Loch. Last time I did it though was late in the year and the glacier was hard ice rather than snow and I slid down way too fast and nearly broke a leg on some rocks at the end. The rest of the group turned back. So be careful if you do Andrews Glacier. Hallett's also gives you a chance to to Otis and Taylor, you had better be in very good shape if you go as far as Taylor. Hallett's is also the most crowded.
Ypsilon is probably the easiest as you start just below timberline so it has the least vertical gain. Ida starts fairly high too and you gain altitude fast so you get above timberline fairly quickly. Ypsilon and Ida have much better odds of seeing wildlife like elk, deer, sheep. With those two you come back over the top of Trail Ridge Road which I always enjoy. You definitely should make that drive at some point in the trip.
Posted on 4/19/15 at 1:31 pm to GRIZZ
quote:
Fly into Montrose. Drive and Stay in Ouray. Rent jeep. Take Durango-Silverton train ride. Horseback. Pan for gold. Flyfish. Did this about 3 years ago and enjoyed every minute.
Best part of the state without question.
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