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For years I had dreamed of a cross Continental Divide trek. We decided on a thirty-five mile trek from Green Mountain Trailhead near Grand Lake, Co., to Longs Peak Trailhead near Estes Park. We got started early Tuesday morning. We took pictures of the remains of old barns near Big Meadows and later of Granite Falls. It took more than five hours to reach Renegade campsite, 7.3 miles and 1,706' elevation gain from the trailhead. After setting up camp, we took a 1.6 mile hike to Haynach Lake (11,040').
Wanting to get over the Continental Divide before noon, we got up early the next day and headed toward Flattop Mountain (12,342'). Shortly after climbing above treeline, we ran into a huge bull elk. Near the summit we enjoyed views of Odessa Gorge and noted the location of our next camp far below. The 9.3 mile hike combined with more than 2,500' of elevation gain made this day the hardest of the trip. We arrived at camp Sourdough (10,600') at 3:30 p.m.
On Thursday, we made an early morning visit to Joe Mills Mountain overlook. What a view! Flattop, Notchtop, and Gabletop, Mountains, as well as Grace Falls and Odessa Lake make this one of the most beautiful places in the park. By 10 a.m. we were headed to Bear Lake where we unloaded our trash and refilled our water bottles before heading on to Glacier Gorge Trailhead. After passing Alberta Falls, we headed up the North Longs Peak trail and looked back with amazement toward Flattop Mountain where we had stood the day before. By 3 p.m. we arrived at Boulder Brook camp. That evening a foreigner who apparently understood no English except the words "Bear Lake" wandered into camp quite panicked and we gave him one of our maps in hopes it would help him find his way back. During our 6.6 mile hike, we gained just over 1000' in altitude.
Friday morning we set out for the only campsite above treeline in RMNP: Boulderfield (12,760'). A volunteer Ranger at Granite Pass took our picture and told us that a significant storm was likely before midnight. We were setting up our tents by 3:00 p.m. and stowing our food in a Marmot proof ammunition box. Around 8 p.m. the storm arrived and gave us a frightful night. In addition to hail, sleet, and snow, high velocity winds ripped through camp straining our tent poles and causing the tent fabric to flap wildly. The temperature dropped to the mid thirties.
When we emerged the next morning we found ourselves above the clouds. The dusting of snow didn't prevent us from climbing Mt. Lady Washington, where we watched the sun light up Long's east face. By mid morning we were headed down into the clouds for a 3,360' descent to Longs Peak Trailhead where our van was waiting. It was a foggy, rainy, long walk but we finally reached our destination about 2 p.m. completing our 35 mile journey.
