24.09 Ice Lakes Basin, Silverton, Colorado (jumping the queue)
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...