Last Friday, I told our son, Gavin, that our first hike in Colorado was superb—Blue Lakes in Ridgway. He makes fun
of me because rumor has it that I tend to have fifty hiking experiences rated in our top ten. Jenni, of course,
is far more even and balanced than me—how boring! I'll pay dearly for that comment but sometimes it's fun to live
dangerously. The following Sunday, we undertook the Ice Lakes Basin hike which was nothing short of spectacular.
After the preamble, you might wish to take the comment with a pinch of salt, perhaps even some snow from the trail.
There is a subjective aspect to hiking as well. Besides the energy expended, beauty absorbed, a lot depends on
the mood of a person, health, weather, favorite scenes, track style and underfoot to mention a few aspects. We
left the trailhead in weather below 40 degrees, warmed ourselves quickly on the climb, crossed streams, broke
the tree line and then reached snow level all within two hours. This hike had it all. Rather than offer additional
comments on the hike, they say that a good picture should tell the story. So here goes:
'Is there a way to avoid this slope?' "Yes! The elevator is on your far right."
This picture epitomizes the hike for us. Commencing the return as near white-out conditions
appear to be approaching. We headed for lower elevation after a short stop at the top.
You never want to develop 'cold feet'.
Can a mountain be beautiful?
Light blocked: The color of water changed and reflections disappeared.
We woke early in Ouray, completed packing the car and waited a little for the weather to clear. We stopped
in Silverton for refreshments, patiently providing the weather more time to behave or at least to be reasonably
dull rather than wet and windy.
We became impatient, drove to the trailhead and headed into the mountains seeking a lake of which we had read much.
We'd been warned that it's a popular trail so expect crowds. The first time we saw another person was when we were
half-way back from the peak, probably after four hours. I wonder what we could expect to notice during a quiet
period. We experienced only light rain, little wind, some snow flurries at the higher elevations while reaching
12,300 feet (2,870 feet elevation gain), and sporadic sunshine. Friday's hike, when we reached a slightly
lesser altitude of 12,000 feet, took the breath away literally. We could be getting stronger again after illness.
Reflections before disappearing light...and editor. Once again, editor dresses to match surroundings.
Meantime, boy has to release some energy while action occurring in background.
Editor calls lunch after searching backpack fruitlessly for tablecloth and missing apples.
Jenni comes over the rise, one of many. We thought the lakes had disappeared or evaporated in the 'heat'.
'Are you absorbed by such beauty? No! Not him. The lake, mountains and covering, plus tranquility
thrown into the mix.'
'Call of the wild'.
The consequences of instant relief a few minutes earlier upstream.
Steaming. "Is it time to panic yet?" I asked Jen.
"Let's decide after we've had lunch," she replied. Priorities?
How about some, "Autumn Leaves"?
Near the beginning of the hike.
One more look at the scene.
Cheers,
Jenni and Jeffrey
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