35 replies to this topic

[dennis]

Igloo Ed, on 26 February 2011 - 05:52 AM, said:

I am not sure, Dennis. Big Al's trip report made it sound just short of technical and he is not one to dramatize..

Thanks, Ed. I can believe that. I haven't done any technical stuff. If I do Powell I think I'll go via Flattop. Hope to meet up with you again this summer.

[cardinal]

mathguy, on 26 February 2011 - 01:17 PM, said:

I did that too a couple of years ago and it was a VERY long day. I find the northeast ridge of Otis
to be a killer going up or down. Couldn't imagine going on to Powell
and then having to backtrack to Andrews Pass to hike out! Honestly if I ever do Taylor again or
try for Powell, I'll just hike up via Flattop!

It was a long day. I think I started around 5 and didn't get back until around 3. And, I agree with you - if I do Powell I would go up Flattop. No more Otis!

[smudge]

Eagles Beak! Been on the list for like 3 years... never made it that way...

And flattop, hallett, otis, taylor, powell, mchenry's, chiefs head, pagoda, longs, storm, half... that should be a long day! we did a similar route this summer...

http://michael-hodges.com/blog/?p=267

Igloo Ed, on 25 February 2011 - 10:06 PM, said:

We ought to con Big Al into leading us up Thatchtop, Powell and then Taylor.

It is definitely a hairy route... I know Alan was on the limit of being comfortable on the terrain. But he also thinks he was off route and in some 5.+ terrain with some pretty extreme exposure. The route is officially 4+, so it's definitely going to require ones full attention...

Edited by smudge, 28 February 2011 - 12:35 PM.

[mathguy]

smudge, on 28 February 2011 - 12:33 PM, said:

Eagles Beak! Been on the list for like 3 years... never made it that way...

And flattop, hallett, otis, taylor, powell, mchenry's, chiefs head, pagoda, longs, storm, half... that should be a long day! we did a similar route this summer...

http://michael-hodges.com/blog/?p=267

Wow! You guys were very close to doing the entire Glacier Gorge traverse! Truly amazing!

[Bruce]

I'm not sure we will get to the park this summer, but here are some destinations on my list for future trips:

1. Lakes Nokoni and Nanita
2. Specimen Mountain (The Crater)
3. Bear Lake-Joe Mills Mountain-Hollowell Park loop
4. Longs Peak via Mount Meeker (with someone who has done this route previously)

Edited by Bruce, 09 March 2011 - 11:23 AM.

[zzcoop]

I'm not much of a goal-setter when it comes to stuff like this (I'm more of a make it up as I go type.) If anything, I just dig out the guide the night before and head out to wherever Lisa Foster tells me to go the next day. And I'd be more than happy simply repeating any of the previous hikes I've done in the past. I'm also an unadventurous wiener, but that's beside the point. A few of the destinations on my short list, not necessarily all for 2011 and in no particular order, are:

- Flattop (and possibly Hallett, if I'm not already a quivering heap of goo by that point.)
- Mills, Black and possibly a few of its neighbors
- Shelf and Solitude
- Anything in Wild Basin beyond Calypso Cascades
- Odessa Loop
- Ute Crossing to UBM
- CCY
- Gorge Lakes
- Bench Lake and "The Wonderland"

Some of these are admittedly quite a stretch, but a man can dream.

I know for a fact that we'll be making our annual family trip out in June, so I don't know how many (if any) of the destinations on that list will be doable with Ally bringing up the rear. But as far as our family trips are concerned, just being there is the only goal we need. The hiking is great, but that's not what it's about for us. We're there. That's all that counts. But some of the 'family-friendly' destinations I'd like to check out are Big Meadows, Toll Memorial, The Crater, etc.

But last year's 'mom and dad only' Labor Day adventure was one of the greatest things Jen and I have ever done as a couple, so I'm hoping to be able to make similar trips out in the future. This year, if possible. And in those cases, the hiking will take center stage. And as much as I enjoy hiking with the family, I'd love to be able to do a lot more solo than I'm able to do right now. Short sunrise hikes are about all I've got time for in that regard. But I've already been told that when I FINALLY pick up an extra week of vacation next year that I'm more than welcome to spend it on a solo trip to RMNP. It may sound awfully selfish on my part, but I can't WAIT for that to happen!

John, on 31 January 2011 - 08:53 PM, said:

Just got a pm from Randyman who is hoping that this is the year he will make it all the way around Sprague Lake.

I made it all the way around last year. It was quite a trek. I'm hoping to do the same thing this year, only CLOCKWISE. Oh yeah. I'm the real deal.