Fog and low-lying mist is very common in the Southern Appalachians. It is a product of the rainforest effect. Fog is highly unusual in the Rocky Mountains, but that’s what greeted Dave and I as we hit the trailhead to climb Shrine Ridge. It was somewhat of a dreary, forlorn scene as we walked from mountain bog to spruce forest to high meadow on our way to the ridgeline. Shrine Ridge has wide open vistas of three mountain ranges including Sawatch, Tenmile, and Gore… but not on this day. We visited Shrine Ridge Trail on Friday, September 30, 2016 beginning at 9:30AM and ending about 12:00PM. Our plan was to climb to the crest of Shrine Ridge. When we saw it was socked in fog, we decided to cut the hike short at the meadow below the ridge.

It was 35°F. when we arrived at the trailhead, and it remained there pretty much through the entire morning as we hiked. A light drizzle was settling on the willows and spruce as we walked, and it too would persist for the duration. Not what you hope for when you visit the Colorado Rockies, but rain is needed everywhere. That’s why we carry rain gear, right?

There is a pit toilet available at the Shrine Ridge parking if you need some last minute relief. The Shrine Ridge trailhead is perhaps 50 yards up the gravel road from the parking area. The first quarter mile of the trail is built up with mounded dirt and gravel. This is a mountain bog area, so perhaps the old trail occasionally got inundated with seasonal wetness.

Look for willows along the trail side. They were in catkins phase as we passed in late September. Earlier in the month, these willows would have been displaying bright yellow on their leaves. Mostly brown this day. You reach the bottom of a little drop in the trail and come upon one of the beaver ponds. There are several in the open meadow, but this one is the closest.

After passing 1 Beaver Lane, the mounded trail resorts to traditional tread and begins its climb up and into the spruce/fir forest. This is a very popular trail, so the tread is quite worn, and exposed roots can be a problem. Just keep one eye on the ground so you won’t trip or slip.

The spruce trees are magnificent, 50-60 feet tall, they remind me of the ones you see brought to the White House lawn for Christmas each year. When the rain would come down a little harder, Dave and I would find a seat on a log beneath the heavy boughs of the spruce waiting for it to abate somewhat.

There were more people on the trail here than our previous hike on the day before. We weren’t the only crazy ones out in the cold and rain. One time when we were huddled under a spruce grove, we remained quiet and still as a group of three other hikers passed by. They never had a clue we were there. Makes me wonder how much wildlife I miss on my weekly hiking excursions by simply not being aware of my surroundings.

Here we are, comfortable and dry beneath a giant spruce grove protected from the elements.

About a mile and a half up the trail, perhaps a little farther, you break the forest and walk into a large mountain meadow beneath the imposing form of Shrine Ridge. The trail continues to the right and then makes a steady climb approximately 2-300 feet to the ridge line. Having been there years ago, I can report that the vistas are remarkable from the crest of Shrine Ridge.

From the ridge you can see the Gore Range to the north, the Sawatch Range and Holy Cross Wilderness to the southwest, the Tenmile Range and Copper Mountain ski area to the southeast, and the Flat Top Mountains to the west. It is a wonderful viewpoint.

Not so on this day however. The entire length of the ridge was shrouded in fog. We knew it would be futile to climb up there hoping for some views. In fact, the clouds totally enveloped us in every direction, completely unusual for the Rocky Mountains.

So we decided to explore the meadow instead. At least a hundred acres in size, the meadow was covered in shin-high (wet) grass. It sits in a bowl beneath the curved wall of Shrine Ridge. This would be a great place to bring your family in summer. Let the dog run free. Throw the frisbee. Put down a picnic blanket. If you come real early in the morning you are likely to see elk or deer grazing in the field.

We weren’t grazing in the field, but we did stop long enough to pose for a selfie.

On the way back, we decided to walk through the spruce forest rather than make another pass through the wet grass. We found an ideal log beneath the canopy and enjoyed our sandwiches. The forest floor was alive with a bright green ground cover that was even turning red near the edges of the meadow.

Once we got back to the Shrine Ridge Trail, it became immediately evident that several more hikers had joined the fray. We continued to see groups of 2-3 the rest of the way back to the car. There was still no evidence of sunshine, or the clouds trying to lift, so our decision to forego Shrine Ridge remained a good one.

When we got back to the car, we continued about another two miles down Shrine Pass Road to a Forest Service pullout with a view platform of Mount of the Holy Cross. Unfortunately, on this day, it too was completely socked in clouds and fog. You can’t win ’em all. Later in the day, 4:00 turned out to be nice and sunny, so I snapped a picture of some cottonwood trees in peak autumn regalia.

Summarizing Shrine Ridge, this is an easy hike to do if you don’t go all the way to the top of the ridge. Even if you do, it is still only moderately hard. The meadow below the ridge is a great place for the whole family to spend a day recreating and relaxing. If you make it to the top on a clear day, the views in every direction are what you expect from high mountain hiking in the Rockies. Access is conveniently located no more than a half hour drive from Vail.

This post was created by Jeff Clark. Please feel free to use the sharing icons below, or add your thoughts to the comments. Pack it in, pack it out. Preserve the past. Respect other hikers. Let nature prevail. Leave no trace.

I went to the Colorado Rockies in late September-early October with the expressed intention of being there for the autumnal yellowing of the aspen trees. It’s a gorgeous sight, the leaves take on a golden glow that shimmers in the breeze. Well, mission accomplished. My brother saved East Lake Creek Trail for the last hike of my visit, one that walks for miles in and among both young and mature aspen forest. Most of the younger trees were revealing their peak shining moment, and the larger, older trees displayed that in-between green and yellow hue that is also quite striking. The trail wanders through White River National Forest and onward into Holy Cross Wilderness, but on this day we were merely out to enjoy the forest. Our hike occurred on Wednesday, October 2, 2013 from 8:45am to about 1:15pm. The plan was to take East Lake Creek Trail to East Lake Creek, then return.

Normally, I use this space to give you a trail report. This time I’m going to mix things up a bit and let the pictures tell the story. For example, the drive up West Lake Creek Road from Edwards to the trailhead passes through beautiful horse country. The East Lake Creek Trail itself is in excellent condition. Whoever the trail volunteers are do a remarkable job. Aside from that though, the trail is really unremarkable. It’s just a nice stroll through a spruce/aspen forest. Ah, but the time of year made all the difference on this particular hike for us.

About half an hour after we started we happened upon a grouse on the trail. Amazingly enough, the grouse didn’t take flight, it simply ran up the trail. Comically this continued for several minutes as the grouse would scurry a couple hundred feet up the trail, then turn to see if we were still following. Finally I suppose it realized we weren’t going away, so it did. Eventually the trail begins a downward trek through another magnificent aspen stand into the East Lake Creek Valley.

When you reach the valley level, you enter Holy Cross Wilderness. The terrain is more open in the valley, and the ground cover is more of a scrub. There is a rocky outcropping in the middle of a large meadow that is a great place for pictures, or a break, or whatever your little heart desires.

Not far past the outcropping you will reach East Lake Creek. That is where we had lunch by a pond along the creek. The East Lake Creek Trail continues into the backcountry wilderness for another four miles, but we ended our outward adventure here, and headed back.

By the time we finished lunch, took some panoramic photos and chatted with some other hikers, it was afternoon. With the sun now higher in the sky, the lighting for the photography on the way back was completely different. We weren’t shooting directly into the sun like we were in the morning, and the sky was a brilliant royal blue that is one of the enjoyments of high altitude hiking. Some of the scenes along the way were exactly what I was hoping for when I planned this early fall trip to the Rockies. If you should find yourself in Central Colorado in early October in the future, treat yourself to East Lake Creek Trail.

This post was created by Jeff Clark. Please feel free to use the sharing icons below, or add your thoughts to the comments. Pack it in, pack it out. Preserve the past. Respect other hikers. Let nature prevail. Leave no trace.

One of the things I miss about the Blue Ridge and Smokies is mountain lakes. The Rocky Mountains are adorned with memorable alpine lakes, usually surrounded by majestic peaks and bountiful evergreen forest. All you need is an input and output source, like Fall Creek in the case of Lake Constantine, and a bowl between mountains to collect the water. Fall Creek Trail climbs 1,700 feet through spruce and pine forest to Lake Constantine at 11,370 feet. Fall Creek spills into the alpine lake not far below its headwaters. Include fabulous views of the Gore Range and the Vail ski mountain, and you have a very nice 9-mile round trip. This hike occurred on Wednesday, September 25, 2013 from 8:00am to about 3:30pm. Our plan was a simple up and back hike from the Fall Creek Trailhead to Lake Constantine.

My brother has lived in Vail, Colorado for the past 35 years. Every couple years I make a visit for some great Rocky Mountain hiking and general sight-seeing. This year I went in late September hoping to catch the bright golden hue of the aspen forests in fall. In the coming days and weeks I will be detailing a myriad of hikes enjoyed by the Internet Brothers on this most recent foray into the high mountain air.

The Fall Creek Trail to Lake Constantine was to be our first hike after my arrival the day before. Although the lake is above 11,000 feet, by Rocky Mountain standards that is still 3,000 feet lower than the highest peaks. The thought was it would be a good starter hike to help me acclimate to the altitude gradually. It is, after all, still 9,000 feet higher than my home in Western North Carolina. I had hiked some of the 6,000 footers in WNC in recent weeks to help with the elevation adjustment, but it’s still not the same as being there. Altitude sickness is no fun.

On the drive up Tigiwon Road from Minturn, some of the aspen were just beginning a slow change from green to yellow. The transformation was underway. Yay! By the end of the week, the mountainsides should be displaying their most resplendent regalia. Tigiwon Road climbs more than 2,000 feet in its 8-mile meander through White River National Forest. The higher we got, the brighter the golden glistening. It’s an awesome sight when the breeze hits the aspen leaves. They literally shimmer as they flutter and dance.

Tigiwon Road doesn’t require an all-wheel drive vehicle, but it is very rough from pot holes and washboarding. If you have a low clearance vehicle, take it really slow and easy. Six miles up you’ll pass a mountain cabin that is quite popular as a wedding location. Just a couple miles beyond you’ll reach the dead end of Tigiwon Road and the parking area at Half Moon Trail and Campground.

There are two trails here. Don’t be fooled by the Half Moon Trailhead, unless you want to go over Half Moon Pass toward the base of Mount of the Holy Cross. The Fall Creek Trailhead is located left of the parking area, in the direction toward the campground.

There had been a pretty hefty early-season snow in Eagle County just a few days before my arrival, so we were met immediately with snow on the side of the trail. Not much on the trail tread, but enough to enhance the scene in the evergreen forest.

A half mile up, there is an opening on the right into a lovely mountain meadow, nourished by a babbling mountain stream, and overlooked by the craggy Notch Mountain. Soon after, the trail passes through a boulder field left by a long-ago glacier that created this valley.

Climbing in earnest now, the best views are behind you, so be sure to turn around. As you continue to gain elevation, the back bowls of the nearby Vail Ski Resort come into view, then with a few hundred more feet, the rugged peaks of the Gore Range dot the horizon. My brother gave me a topology and geography lesson pointing to the named peaks, as each would be visible from any number of different angles from trails we planned to hike later in the week. Even my addled brain remembered a few.

At 2.5 miles the Fall Creek Trail reaches a junction. Turn right and head to Notch Mountain, or turn left to Lake Constantine. We were after the alpine lake this go ’round.

After the junction, the trail gets a lot more difficult, even treacherous. The terrain is considerably more rugged and hugs the side of a very steep precipice. Believe me, you don’t want to slip and go over the side, you wouldn’t stop tumbling for quite some time. There were two spots that were especially dicey. One that was covered with ice (you should have seen me tippy-toe across), and another that is quite a steep rock scramble over wet shale. It’s even harder on the way down (I had to scooch on my butt). It wouldn’t be the Rocky Mountains if there wasn’t at least some trail excitement.

When you reach an area with a large rock wall on your left that runs for about 100 yards, know that you are getting reasonably close to the lake. The trail begins roller-coastering, going up, then down, then up again. Remember that on the way back when your legs and lungs are tired and you wish it was all downhill.

Finally the lake comes into view from a few hundred yards away. It is surrounded by marshy grassland, so be careful to stay on trail. There are plenty of rocky outcroppings to climb atop for photo ops or simply to sit, rest, and enjoy lunch like we did. It was an especially windy day when we were there, and not particularly warm, so we were looking for a wind break just to avoid the chill while re-nourishing.

This hike runs north to south, so after lunch we decided to see what was at the south end of the lake. We found where Fall Creek enters the lake, as well as a small waterfall on the creek just a short way above the lake. I took the opportunity to pull out my filter and refill the water bladder in my pack from a cold Rocky Mountain stream. There’s no better water anywhere. We frankly hated to leave, but it was already afternoon and we still had a 4.5 mile return.

About the time we started back up the trail from the lake (remember the roller-coaster?), the altitude hit me. My body simply wasn’t used to 11,400′, and my breathing became quite labored whenever going uphill. Fortunately it never got worse than that. I didn’t get ill. I took lots of breaks and breathers for the next hour until we finally reached the point where it really was all downhill from here.

On the way down, the sun had moved to the other side of the ridge, so the lighting perspective was entirely different. It was a beautiful cloudless day that made for lots of pictures, including that shot of Vail’s back bowls with the Gore Range in the background. The time just zipped by and we were back at the trailhead before we knew it.

To summarize, this is a truly scenic hike to a beautiful alpine lake. It is somewhat difficult, with more than 1,700 feet of elevation gain, most of it over 10,700 feet. If you’re a flat-lander, you might not want to make this your first hike upon arriving in the Rocky Mountains. Try something a little easier first, then work into this one after you’ve had a few days to acclimatize. Take a lunch and feel the ambiance at the lake, and take your time. Enjoy the sights and sounds. There’s not much better than simply being there.

This post was created by Jeff Clark. Please feel free to use the sharing icons below, or add your thoughts to the comments. Pack it in, pack it out. Preserve the past. Respect other hikers. Let nature prevail. Leave no trace.

Perhaps one of the reasons you head for the Colorado Rockies is the wealth of national parks and monuments. Maybe you enjoy the amazing increase in distance from high altitude golf. If you are a hiker, perhaps you welcome the opportunity to climb one of Colorado’s famous fourteeners. If that’s the case then this hike up Clear Creek County’s 13,234 foot Mt. Sniktau is an excellent warmup. The entire hike occurs above 12,000 feet. You will find out quickly if your lungs and legs are acclimated to the thin and dry air that comes with high altitude hiking. It isn’t a long hike, but it’s a tester. This hike occurred on Sunday, July 24, 2011 from 7:40am to about 12:10pm. The Mt. Snitkau trail begins at Loveland Pass on Colorado State Highway 6 just east of the Arapahoe Basin Ski Area. It’s climbing all the way, with alternative trails to Grizzly Peak and beyond to Torreys Peak.

View Hiking Mt. Sniktau from Loveland Pass in a larger map

SAFETY WARNINGWhen hiking above treeline it is very important to be cognizant of the surrounding weather conditions. Rocky Mountain weather can change very quickly, especially above 12,000 feet. Those massive mountain peaks are natural magnets for summer afternoon thunderstorms and their accompanying lightning, wind, rain and hail. You do not want to get caught on a summit in a lightning storm! You should always get an early start, and it’s a good rule of thumb to be off the mountain by noon. Equally important is bad weather gear. The environment can go from 80° to 40mph wind and a 25 degree drop in temperature almost before you can pull everything out of your pack. When hiking above 12,000′ you should store in your pack a warm baselayer, a rain jacket and rain pants, a rain outer shell if possible, a dry pair of socks, gloves and a knit cap or balaclava. Additionally, be aware of the harm that beautiful sunny weather can cause as well. There isn’t as much atmosphere to block harmful UV rays, so lather up with sunscreen and wear a cap and sunglasses at all times.

With all that said, being a Meanderthal, I forgot my cap. As I was doing a last minute spot check of my gear before hitting the trail at Loveland Pass, I realized I had left both my caps back at my brother’s studio. I paid for it later when I had a bad sunburn on my nose despite layers of sunblock. The high country sun is fierce. Wouldn’t you know it, the trail starts heading due east, so directly into the early morning sun we went.

The Mt. Sniktau Ridge Trail doesn’t waste any time heading up. It gets steep right away, and stays that way for the first mile up the mountain. The trail itself is very rocky and rutted and wide because of extreme overuse. Thousands of tourists each month, with no intention of going all the way, will climb a couple hundred feet to get a better view of the surrounding mountain ranges. Many don’t know trail management skills like experienced hikers and trample the very delicate tundra that is abundant on Mt. Sniktau. Erosion does the rest. Please, please, please stay on the trails to minimize the impact of foot traffic in this fragile area. If snow is present, use it to walk on whenever possible. The good news, though, is the scenery. As we got higher and higher we could see Arapahoe Ski Area to the west, then a little bit higher brought Keystone Ski Resort into view, and more climbing showed Breckenridge Ski Mountain in the distance. Lined up in succession were three of Colorado winter tourism’s finest.

It’s about a mile from the trailhead and 925 feet up to the ridge point (12,915 ft). There is another trail that heads to Grizzly Peak and beyond, but our destination was Mt. Sniktau. As we reached the point we could really begin to see the magnificence of the Continental Divide and the western slope beyond. To the southwest we caught our first glimpse of Grizzly Peak and fourteener Torreys Peak, with Grays Peak peeking out behind. Peak, peek, peak. To the far west are the fourteeners of the Mosquito Range: left to right are Mt. Bross, Mt. Lincoln, North Star Peak and Quandary Peak. Panning northwest reveals the Sawatch Range and the Holy Cross Wilderness and further to the north is Mt. Powell and the Gore Range that dominates the Vail Valley. Our trail continued up the ridge to the east.

From the point, the climbing isn’t quite as steep. The bulk of the up was behind us now. It’s only a couple hundred feet more to the false summit. Yes you heard me right, the false summit. This is one of those mountains that will tease you into thinking you’re almost there, only to leave your resolve in tatters. But from the false summit there is good news and bad news. We could finally see our goal — the top of Mt. Sniktau, but to get there we had to go down 150 feet into a saddle, then reclimb that elevation we had already done once — all above 13,000 feet. Did I mention it’s not as easy to breathe up there? See what I mean about testing your resolve?

From the false summit we could now see the mountains in the far distance to the north and northeast including Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park, at least 70 miles away. To the east are Mt. Evans and Mt. Bierstadt, like Longs, two more fourteeners. I’m told you can see Pikes Peak to the southeast on a clear day (this day was certainly clear enough), but we didn’t really know what we were looking for. I was simply in awe of the great distances I could see in every direction. Torreys and Grays seemed tantalizingly close enough to reach out and touch.

My brother and I are both in our fifties, and although we are in good hiking shape, we don’t climb particularly fast, especially at 13,000 feet. So the young studs were passing us on their way to the top. When we reached the summit, there were a handful of other hikers who were there ahead of us. Like everyone else, we pulled up a comfortable boulder, munched on a revitalizing snack, and surveyed the scene around us. Directly below, to our north, was Interstate 70 and the Eisenhower Tunnel that carried it beneath the Continental Divide. Then in the other direction, after curving through the pass, the interstate headed east on its way to Denver. One other thing we noticed in that direction — dark clouds and rain about 25 miles away.

While enjoying the beauty that surrounded us, we also kept one eye on that storm to follow its movement. It didn’t appear to be moving directly toward us, at least not quickly, so we didn’t feel a need to abandon the summit immediately. Below us to the south, between Mt. Sniktau and Torreys Peak is a beautiful, still partially frozen, alpine pond. The vegetation and ice gave it a penetrating teal coloring. There is quite a bit of glacial breakdown at the summit, as well as along the trail. But the lasting image is the amazing alpine tundra, in full summer glory, bursting with wildflowers; yellow, blue and red. We chatted with a couple fellow hikers for a few minutes. It was interesting to learn their trail stories from all the peaks we could see around us.

We looked over the Continental Divide, past the tunnel, and my brother said, “let’s go there.” So our afternoon hike was planned, and we picked up our packs to head back down the mountain. The storm was getting a little bit closer, so we left with a mild sense of urgency. There were considerably more hikers coming up as we started going down, and the further down we went, the more the count increased. Eventually as we got within 500 feet of Loveland Pass, we could begin to tell the tourists from the hikers. Totally unprepared — no water, no pack, just the clothes on their backs and the flip-flops on their feet. We did manage to get back to the car before any kind of stormage.

Mt. Sniktau is a hard, but short, acclimatizing hike for those who want to tackle some of the tough 14,000′ mountains in Colorado. That’s exactly what we did, as we ventured up Mt. Sherman a few days later. It can be hiked year ’round, but is especially windy in winter, so be prepared with super-duper cold weather gear.

This post was created by Jeff Clark. Please feel free to use the sharing icons below, or add your thoughts to the comments. Pack it in, pack it out. Preserve the past. Respect other hikers. Let nature prevail. Leave no trace.

Be Brave, Be Strong: A Journey Across the Great Divide

Missouri Lakes Basin in the Holy Cross Wilderness is one of the most beautiful areas in Colorado for hiking and camping that I have experienced. It is an area of lakes and streams filled with trout and large glacial boulders, surrounded by lush forest and tundra, and the gnarly cliffs of the Sawatch Range in the Holy Cross Wilderness. There is some of just about every type of scenery for all hikers to enjoy. The trailhead starts at 10,050 feet and climbs gradually to nearly 12,000 in four miles. This is a popular area as you can imagine, so it is best to avoid weekends. This hike occurred on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 from 7:15am to about 3:00pm. Our plan was to take the Missouri Lakes Trail from the trailhead along Forest Road 704, and visit four lakes contained within the Missouri Lakes Basin. We would return along the same trail.

My brother and I started early in Vail. There’s a good bit of driving on dirt forest road to get to the Missouri Lakes trailhead, about 11 miles total. The Homestake Road (FR703) turns off Hwy 24 between Minturn and Leadville and travels 8 miles into the backcountry where it meets FR704, and another three miles to the trail. We had to stop about 1/2 mile short of the normal trailhead because the forest road was washed out. It was crisp and cool at 10,000 feet, and foggy, something you don’t see all that often in the Rocky Mountains. I’m quite used to morning fog in the Blue Ridge Mountains — not so much in the Rockies. It made a nice touch hovering among the tall spruce.

Back in the 1960s, Aurora and Colorado Springs won the rights to divert water from the Holy Cross Wilderness. You will know you are in the right place when you notice the diversion dams and massive water pipes alongside the trail for the first 10 minutes or so. Don’t fret however. It doesn’t last long. As the trail starts uphill, there is a very nice, small waterfall along Missouri Creek and the real scenery begins in earnest. Just past a mile, a bridge crosses Missouri Creek at the mouth of a small canyon, creating a roar of rushing water that drowns out all other sound. The trail follows this plunge of the creek for several minutes. There are a few spots where passage is a bit dangerous. Be careful not to slip into the creek.

The trail winds through stands of spruce and fir and crosses the creek several more times. One was especially dicey as there were about 10 saplings laid across the creek to form a makeshift bridge. There was a lump in my throat as I crossed, and a big gulp as I safely reached the other side. At about 10,800 feet we began to clear the treeline and could see the towering cliffs of the Sawatch Range that surrounded us on three sides. In particular, the 13,139 foot Savage Peak dominated the view to the west. It would remain in sight, watching over us, for the remainder of the day. We reached a lush meadow, and there were streams and small ponds everywhere. It is easy to see why the growing cities want this water. Let’s hope the state of Colorado will do the right thing and leave this wilderness pristine for future generations. The sight is simply beautiful.

There is another short, steep climb up to the basin that holds the Missouri Lakes. These lakes may have names, but they are not so designated on the topographic map we had. So I will call them lakes 1-4, in the order that we reached them on our hike. About three miles in we reached Lake 1, on the left of the trail. The water is crystal clear, casting reflections of the nearby mountaintops, and of us back to the sky. Soon after we left Lake 1, we had our first wildlife encounter of the day. A yellow-bellied marmot was watching us watching him, only 10 feet away. He popped in and out of his hole a few times as we futzed with our cameras. After a short 15-20 minutes we reached Lake 2, easily the largest of the Missouri Lakes. I also thought it to be the most beautiful. Nearing the center of the basin, it is surrounded by tall, rocky cliffs above, and fields of glorious wildflowers around its banks. We basked in the good fortune of our perfect seasonal timing as we saw paintbrush, buttercups, columbine, alpine avids and many others.

We noticed there was still quite a bit of snow up here above 11,500 feet. The farther into the basin we went, the more snow we encountered. On the north side of Lake 2 we had to cross a very large snow field for about 100 yards. As we neared some rocks jutting out from the snow, I turned to warn my brother not to sink near the rocks, just as I promptly proceeded to sink knee deep in the snow near the rocks. Kerplop! First my right leg went down, and as I struggled to pull it up, down went my left leg too. Now what to do? After a short struggle I was able to pull myself up onto a rock and survey my next solid step. Needless to say, I avoided that area on the way back later.

Beyond the snow field, it’s a short climb of maybe 100 feet gain to the level of Lake 3. This is the smallest of the lakes, and nearest to Missouri Pass, the way to the Fancy Creek Trail. There were some large glacial boulders near the lake that were perfect for a picnic table as we enjoyed our lunch in the high alpine tundra. There was a group of five young people on the other side of the lake animating like they were thinking of sliding down the snow above the lake right into the frigid water. One brave (or maybe crazy) guy stripped down to his shorts, took a run and slid right in with a mighty splash. As he pulled himself up on the bank, we could hear his yelp all the way across the lake. Apparently he convinced his companions it wasn’t so bad, because for the next 15 minutes we were treated to a hilarious show, as one by one they stripped to their skivvies and acted like polar bears. Who knows? If I’d had some dry drawers in my pack, I might have given it a go. Naw, too dignified.

There was one more lake we wanted to visit on our way back down. We had to pass back by Lake 2 to get there, so we took a spur trail around a cove at the southern end. There we saw the most amazing snow overhangs right above the water. It was similar to a cornice on a mountain, but this was like a snow cave just above water level. With Missouri Pass and a threatening sky in the background, it made a remarkable sight. Don’t ask about the two campers we encountered who asked if we had seen a guy with a llama. From above Lake 4 there is no trail to it, only from below. We knew the general direction, southwest at the base of Savage Peak. So we headed out, off-trail. We had to practice our broad jumping skills a couple times as we leaped across streams, and weaved around boulders and trees. It was entirely worth the effort as Lake 4 was stunning. We found a spot on the south bank with a field of fuchsia wildflowers and just sat for 20 minutes soaking in the scene. The sky even cleared to reveal some royal Colorado blue with puffy white clouds hanging above Missouri Pass. That is the photo at the top of this post.

To get back to the main trail, we had to cross several streams and wetlands, as well as Missouri Creek. We new we wanted to be headed in a generally southeasterly direction, but being Meanderthals as we are, we proceeded with reckless abandon. There were a couple places we had to walk up and down the creek bank looking for a spot suitable and narrow enough to leap across. Amazingly, we managed to find the trail after about 20 minutes — not to mention injury free, and with dry feet. Not too shabby for a pair of 50-somethings. Once back on the Missouri Lakes Trail we retraced our steps down out of the basin. There was a spot we had only briefly noticed on the way up that caught our attention as we paused for a short break. There had obviously been an avalanche there in recent years as everything was simply tossed aside like toothpicks. Quite the devastation. We reached the trailhead after nearly 8 hours, and wouldn’t you know it, there was a guy with a couple llamas.

Best HikeI stopped at the trail sign to take note of everything that was said of this remarkable hike, because I absolutely loved it. I think I would like to return some day and cross Missouri Pass to the Fancy Creek Trail on the other side of the loop. It took us nearly 8 hours to do only an 8 mile hike. Why? Because we were in awe! We dawdled so much to look at scenery. I don’t know that I have ever been on a hike that combined great forest and meadows, streams, creeks, and lakes, and breathtaking mountains, all in one. This is a superb hike that isn’t especially difficult despite the elevation gain. Be sure to allocate a full day to be able to experience the wealth of sights and sounds found along the trail. I highly recommend the Missouri Lakes Basin hike and rate it as one of the best hikes I have done out west. I know you will enjoy it too.

Update July 17, 2017

Dave and I made another visit to Missouri Lakes nearly six years to the day since our previous one. The trail, the mountains, the lakes, the flowers, the creek, the snow… it was all just as beautiful as I remembered. The hiking seemed a bit harder, but I am six years older after all. We went on a Sunday and we stopped counting other hikers at 200. So keep that in mind when planning your own visit. In the summer, perhaps you want to go on a weekday. Here’s a new photo gallery from our most recent trip.

This post was created by Jeff Clark. Please feel free to use the sharing icons below, or add your thoughts to the comments. Pack it in, pack it out. Preserve the past. Respect other hikers. Let nature prevail. Leave no trace.