2010 July 29 Sky Pond

2010 July 29 Sky Pond


We went to bed last night at 7 got up this morning by 6:15 refreshed and ready to begin another day of adventure. There was a heck of a storm last night which we both soundly slept through. A storm cell got “stuck” over Boulder County and in some places it hailed for an hour. One small town had 8 inches of hail. I’m guessing their flowers and crops are done. Longs Peak is in Boulder County. People camping overnight in the rocks craters up at Boulder Filed campground must have had a really memorable time during the storm!

The skies are overcast and grey this morning with brighter patches of hopeful spots. We leave for the park and ride. When we get to the Park and Ride, it is like the park is closed, there are only 10 or so cars in the lot. We actually got to sit down on the shuttle bus for the first time since we got here. Such a delightful ride up to Bear Lake when you don’t have to try to stay balanced on your feet hanging onto a little yellow bar that runs down the alley all while your nose is in a taller persons arm pit!

Today we are going to hike along an old favorite trail back around some wonderful lakes, past a number of beautiful vistas and then around to a new and improved section of trail. We take the trail past Bear Lake, Dream Lake and Nymph Lake. Then we’ll head up to the unimproved Trail turnoff up by Haiyaha Lake. I named off those lakes fast. Each one holds its own beauty and they are all so close together. You certainly find yourself stopping to take in each lakes splendor. If I try to think about how many times I have been past these lakes I think perhaps 7 times on three different hiking trips to the RMNP. I still stop to breath in their grandness.

We take the unimproved trail from Lake Haiyaha down to a trail junction to Loch Lake then back up to Loch Lake. The sun is getting ready to peak out and all is well with the world. We go back up to Loch Lake and find a nice quite rock out cropping to have a snack. No wild children arguing about peanut butter sandwiches today! We notice the rock the fly fisherman was standing on during ‘our rest day’ is almost submerged into the lake. I guess the water table is up a bit from all of this rain. In fact we had heard on the local news channel that it is Monsoon season in the Mountains. Being Midwesterners we had never imagined there was a Monsoon season in the Mountains. I am here to tell you our rain gear almost got worn out on this trip! There is in fact a Monsoon season! One should remember to put two coats of water repellency on your hiking boots!

We head on back past the rough trail back up to Andrew’s Glacier and continue on around Loch Lake on a very nicely improved trail back to Timber line Falls. We had been up to this falls in 2005. You have to hike right up through the falls to get back to the two lakes which are beyond the falls. Last time through this I got soaking wet as I am only 5’6” and to make one of the steps without standing in the pouring waterfalls you needed to be taller than 5’6”! I was hoping the new trail improvement had placed a suitable rock or foot hold so that a person my height could clamor right up the falls without getting drenched.

Timberline Falls

Hey, can you take these while I do some gymnsatics?

Kathi wishing me Good Luck with that!

There were many 100’s of feet of new trail, but it all stopped right at the base of the falls. Ok, so the trail personnel have a sense of humor. Either that or they like to discriminate against 5’6” and shorter people. Kathi being 5’8” scampers right up and over the one spot. I am not going to get soaked this time. This time I do some sort or gymnastic contortion and yoga’d my way past the discriminating section. Ha, I will not be segregrated by height! I came through with only a few sprinkles from the falls

Lake of the Clouds

Lake of the Clouds is right at the top of Timberline Falls. We shoot a few pictures and pick up the trail to Sky Pond. We find ourselves a really nice rock and sit down for lunch. Skies are sunny and we talk about staying for about a half hour. What a wonderful scène, the Lake was glimmering, skies sunny, clouds puffy and white. Peaceful! In fact for lunch we had some salmon tomato pesto on Rosemary crackers. Ahhh

We sat for 20 minutes eating and just being at peace. Within 20 minutes of our arrival the clouds begin to build and are turning dark fast. We pack up and head back towards Timber Falls. We want to get down through the falls before the rain starts. Remember it is Monsoon season!

Lunch at Sky Pond

Just tell me it is really going to get nasty in 20 miniutes...

We get past the falls and about a half mile further before the first sprinkles start. Since it is rumbling with thunder we get all geared up. We are three miles from the trailhead bus stop. We were dressed in our rain gear, but there were many people who did not have anything except their shorts and shirts. This was a good old thunder and lightning storm. Lucky for us the storms concentration was the next valley over. We just hiked down the trail in our nice rain gear and water proof boots!

A flower in the middle of the falls.  I think it is s primrose.

We made it back to the bus shuttle. The hoards of people had noticed that the park was indeed open today. The bus was standing room only. We are still wondering about tomorrow’s weather. Will we be able to take another shot at Longs Peak…

A good look at the falls.

We drive to the Safeway parking lot so we can call over to Longs Peak Ranger station and get an updated weather report. The report reads the same as todays. 40% chance of rain. It is the Monsoon season. I’m thinking 40 % chance of rain means it is going to rain for sure 40 % of the day. The only question is when the rain will begin…

Do we go for it and perhaps get to the keyhole again only to have to turn back?

What to do, what to do…

We make a choice to not try; it is just going to end in rain.

We drive silently back to the cabin, wondering if we have made the right choice.

Who ever heard of Monsoon Season in the Mountain…

5 hr 51 minutes, 1563 calories burned, 1525 feet of elevation gain, 10.5 miles, and Total miles hikes 128.8