Redlining the Rockies

It's been quite a while, but that doesn't mean I haven't been hiking!

I've recently learned the term redlining and that's exactly what I've been doing. I've been here over 8 years now and every weekend still brings a new trail to hike, believe it or not. I feel like I've been living in an amazing outdoor bubble. I don't take it for granted.

Redlining in hiking lingo means hiking every trail in a specific area. The two areas I've been redlining have been in Boulder and Rocky Mountain National Park. I've been tracking my lines in the Gaia app. I am pretty much finished with the main area of Boulder as of this summer aside from some neighborhood connector trails. RMNP is another beast. I've finished a lot of the trails with the exception of the hardest and longest ones. I'm not sure if I'll ever get to the hardest of the hardest, but if not, that's ok. My limits are my limits and I've accepted that. This past summer probably consisted more of the boring, less travelled trails to finish off some connecting lines, but they were still worthy of hiking.

I plan to update this with all of the area hikes this winter so stay tuned if you want to know my top rated trails!

 Boulder

 RMNP

Bluebird Lake - RMNP 9/7/2019

Location: Rocky Mountain National Park, Wild Basin Area
Mileage: 12.8 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,500 ft
Difficulty: Hard

The Rocky Mountains of Colorado transport a person to a majestic world seemingly imagined. The harder to reach places will bring more opportunities for solitude and respite from obligations and demands placed by your typical routine back at home and work. Both ways of hiking are enjoyable, but I feel most invigorated by solitude and silence. Rocky Mountain National Park contains some of the most astounding views of the Rocky Mountains. Despite the park’s high-volume crowds, if the timing is right and the distance is far enough, there is usually a location on every trail where you begin to reach this point of solitude.  

My most recent hike was up to an alpine lake called Bluebird Lake, in the Wild Basin area of Rocky Mountain National Park.  About 2.7 miles up the trail, after passing the popular Ouzel Falls, the hike begins to feel more like you have entered the wilderness. The Wild Basin area contains multiple waterfalls, a coniferous forest made up of lodgepole pines, spruce and firs mixed with aspens and scenic mountain vistas. The alpine lake is reached at roughly 6.4 miles in. Distractions are discarded and your senses can be given full attention. These senses are most appreciated when you allow yourself to slow down and take a moment to acknowledge where you really are. These are things you cannot attain in a car, a bike or a run. Listen to the decrescendo of the waterfalls as you hike farther away. When ponderosa pines hug the trail sides, stop and smell the bark for its delicious vanilla scent. Feel the warm air pockets radiating from the trees. Notice the quaking aspen created by whispering wind. Marvel at the blazing orange lichen gracing the steely rocks. Listen to the tree squirrels vocalizing warning calls. Say hello to the deer coming to a standstill upon your appearance. Munch on some wild raspberries and blueberries along the way. Take a moment to watch the butterflies flutter about. Stop and look at the wildflowers, with beauty in their perfect geometry and brightly colored petals. Blooming columbines, paintbrush and asters are fleeting.  There will be lingering snow, never melting all year, just a few feet from these magnificent flowers.  

As the lake gets closer, the trail begins to get steeper and you know you are almost there. Glance behind from where you’ve just climbed and immense gratitude for the opportunity of being in this place at that moment in time will enter. A few more steps and strong howling winds hit as you climb atop the open expanse just above the alpine lake. Sitting at an elevation of 10,978 ft, Bluebird Lake greets you. Serving as a scenic backdrop, Ouzel Peak which reaches an elevation of 12,716 ft, rises from the base of the lake. The lake’s water ripples from the wind. On a windless day, you may catch Ouzel Peak reflecting in Bluebird Lake’s still waters. Today however, the strong wind makes you grasp onto nearby large rocks to stay balanced. The momentary discomforts don’t matter though. They may even add to the feeling of aliveness that being surrounded by nature brings. You’ve made it and every step was worth it. 

*This is actually a writing assignment from grad school. Decided to put it up here for a change of writing perspective.

You belong amongst the wildflowers...

The month of July brings with it beautiful wildflowers. Here are some I captured on a few hikes so far this summer.

White Ranch, Golden

White Ranch, Golden

Indian Paintbrush
Walker Ranch, Boulder

Walker Ranch, Boulder

Walker Ranch, Boulder

Poppies
Shanahan Ridge, Boulder

Horsetooth Falls, Fort Collins

Indian Paintbrush
Bridal Veil Falls, Rocky Mountain National Park

Pasque
MacGregor Falls, Rocky Mountain National Park

Why did you come if you can't stay forever?....
Perhaps the love you give is like these flowers, a fleeting beauty, for which it is better to bear the loss than to have never known it at all.

Berthoud Pass, CO

October 2013

My first view of real mountains. I was post-holing and had no idea where the trail was, but it was like seeing the world for the first time. I wonder if people who see the ocean for the first time feel the same way. It's been awhile and I think it's time to re-visit soon.

Garden of the Gods - Colorado Springs, CO

Where: Garden of the Gods
Difficulty: Easy
Mileage: lots of short trails to choose from

I finally made the 1.75 hour trip down to Garden of the Gods, albeit, half the reason for the trip was for a visit to pick up a new camera lens at the only store that had it in stock. Maybe I have been avoiding it because of all the hype. BUT, I discovered that it definitely lives up to it's expectations. See below for proof of what makes a person question the wonder of life.

The view from the visitor center across the street from the park entrance.

The Entrance

What I was most excited for on this trip, was getting to see Pike's Peak for the first time. This mountain is a 14er, just like Longs Peak in my town. It has similar qualities, but I think everyone knows that Longs Peak is my mountain crush. The views of Pike's Peak were all from a distance and I can't wait to see it up close on a future summertime trip. Seeing Pike's Peak from within Garden of the Gods adds another whole dimension that is hard to rival. Also, a sunny and 50 degree day in January?

Despite all the red rocks in the park, I still love the classic mountain and tree pose.

The park has many short trails. I did just two that I most wanted to see for this time. Starting in the Central Garden, there was plenty to see from a paved trail. I walked the whole paved loop and then went back to meander on some unpaved side trails that I had passed. The upper loop was breathtaking and I'm glad I ventured back to explore it.

January 2019

When I'm hiking sometimes there is a rare moment of heightened gratitude in a particularly beautiful place when I look up and can hardly believe the place I've just stepped into. This was one of those places. Colorado, why are you so beautiful?

After exploring the most popular trail, I ventured to my next sights. The Siamese Twins.

Nature astounding once again.

Close Up

But wait there's more.

There's a perfect sized window that gives you a view of Pikes Peak. What more could you wish for?

A last view of Pikes Peak

Quote of the Day:

"No why. Just here."

~John Cage

Golden Ponds - Longmont, CO

Where: Golden Ponds
Difficulty: Walk in the park
Distance: Short

Golden Ponds is the neighborhood friend, frequently visited, seen in many seasons. A simple place, yet beautiful in seemingly subtle ways. I have been here a few years now, and I never tire of catching a glimpse of Long's Peak from anywhere I stand.

October 2018

October 2018

My latest visit this past fall, I tried to catch the peak of the fall colors. We had a day of a good amount of snow and the chance of colors appeared to vanish overnight. I went twice in one week. The first was too early for peak. Snow arrived. The next day fall disappeared. That's how it goes sometimes. The views were still splendid none the less.

November 2018

Fresh snow coated the park. Hardly anyone ventured out this day and all I had was a quiet blanket of snow surrounding me.

October 2017

A Golden Tree for Golden Ponds.

Quote of the day: 

"Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen." 

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ypsilon Lake, RMNP - August 11, 2018

Destination: Ypsilon Lake
Mileage: 9 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,300
Wildlife: Chipmunks, Butterflies, Dragonflies, Trout
Trailhead: Lawn Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park

Ypsilon Lake

It's been almost a whole year since I've added a new post! Grad school has taken over my life in the past year, and making the time to blog about my hikes has taken a back seat for now. Hiking and exploring new places has still been a priority though. To keep up to date on my hikes follow me on instagram at angela.marie.o up at some future date.

For now, here is the most recent hike I did at Rocky Mountain National Park. It's amazing that each summer always brings a new trail to hike. I think there are enough trails here that it could possibly be impossible to hike them all even if you lived here your whole life.

I chose Ypsilon Lake, because
1- I like the name
2- It's shorter than the hike to Lawn Lake
3 - I've been wanting to explore the Mummy Range some more

It's 4.5 miles one way to reach Ypsilon Lake. I arrived at the parking lot, which is quite small, at 7 am and there were only two spots left. There are other areas to park down the road, it just means some extra walking. I am still surprised every time I arrive at a trailhead to see how many people wake up early here.

The uphill hiking begins right away and it will be a climb for the majority of the way up.

As you begin, you can see out in the distance through the trees.

I stopped along the way to capture photos of the wildflowers that are fleeting.

I noticed these berry plants, prime food for the bears.

I love these purple fireweed flowers. I saw these at Lake Isabelle as well.

As you get closer to the junction where the trails for Lawn Lake and Ypsilon Lake split, you'll see the water way down below to the left of you.

Which way shall we go!

The route all the way to Chipmunk Lake is entirely in the trees. You'll have some nice shade and the scent of a Ponderosa forest to bathe in.

I did not take too many photos of the forest here. I stopped plenty of times because the trail was continuously steep going up. I think that the majority of the cars in the parking lot must have had people going to Lawn Lake as I didn't see a single soul after the junction until I got to Chipmunk Lake. It really was nice, to have that solitude and just the sounds of silence.

Ponderosas

 The trail will start to level out (after ~3.5 miles of uphill) and then decline a short ways to Chipmunk Lake. It's a small lake, and also very serene.

Chipmunk Lake

 I took a break here, sitting for a bit. Blue dragonflies zoomed by. Two pairs of hikers eventually passed through.

I move on and continue towards Ypsilon Lake, which is only another half a mile away. The trail descends some more.

A first view of the lake.

There is a trail that goes in either direction of the lake. I picked left first. This leads to falling water and appears to go up. I was curious about Spectacle Lakes which I read are a climb up somewhere in this area. I am pretty beat from the uphill that I've already done, and decide to skip the Spectacle Lakes.

I head to the right of the lake and get a more open view looking out. I watch some trout swim through the water. It looks calm.

I take a snack break, sitting near the lake's edge.

I then say good-bye to Ypsilon Lake and head back the way I came.

On my way back, a butterfly landed on my shirt and then on my hand! They never choose to land on me, so I loved that moment not captured in a photo.

I arrive back at Chipmunk Lake in what seems like a short time. Before leaving I check out the other side of the lake and can see a nice view of Ypsilon mountain in the background.

Close up of Ypsilon Mountain

Hey, look it's a mouse!?...or a baby chipmunk!

 Looking back, a view of Ypsilon Mountain is seen just before Chipmunk Lake is reached.

The way down is quicker. A lot more people have arrived coming up the trail and the feeling of solitude is gone. Some people stop and ask me how much further they have to go to reach the lake. I sympathize, remembering the never-ending incline.

Before I know it, I'm back near the junction. I didn't notice this view of Long's Peak on my way up before.  So beautiful.

 I'll put my stats, even though they show my slow pace ... as long as I get there.

All in all, this was a nice hike to do once you've already explored other areas of the park. If you're more interested in just the lake part, I might recommend Gem Lake or Bierstadt Lake which are shorter hikes and easier. You really can't go wrong anywhere in this park.