11 replies to this topic

[Lynette]

We been hiking in RMNP 3 summers now. Every summer we've been there, I've had Mt. Ida on my list of hikes to do. For one reason or another.. snow... time... logistics.. other hikes taking priority.. we haven't gotten it done. Last summer we went hiking in Glacier, and, as much as I enjoyed it, I really missed Rocky. So, we're making a quick trip to Rocky in July, and Mt. Ida is on the short. What I'd like to do is do a through hike from Milner Pass to Timber Lake Trailhead. I've read a couple reports... especially John's from his hike with Diane and Bill... and Sandy and Bill's (although that one was Mt. Ida and back).... Both mention a few route finding difficulties. I am nervous.. VERY nervous.

What advice can I get from Mt. Ida experts? Would it be easier to do from the other direction? Where is the most difficulty finding the trail? Would a GPS be more of a help or a hindrance?

Thanks for any help you can give... besides being there to carry me out.

[John]

The route finding is only a problem between Ida and Timber Lake. And it is not a problem of getting lost. It's an issue of finding a safe way down to Timber Lake. I only fell once and I am prone to falling! It is not as bad as getting to Shelf Lake which I know you have done. The key is to "stay left." The temptation is to take a straight line from Ida to Timber Lake but that is the steep route. Instead aim for the drainage that leads down to Timber Lake (to the far left of the lake) and you will have a safe and fun descent!

[dianeh85]

Lynette, on 05 February 2011 - 10:47 AM, said:

We been hiking in RMNP 3 summers now. Every summer we've been there, I've had Mt. Ida on my list of hikes to do. For one reason or another.. snow... time... logistics.. other hikes taking priority.. we haven't gotten it done. Last summer we went hiking in Glacier, and, as much as I enjoyed it, I really missed Rocky. So, we're making a quick trip to Rocky in July, and Mt. Ida is on the short. What I'd like to do is do a through hike from Milner Pass to Timber Lake Trailhead. I've read a couple reports... especially John's from his hike with Diane and Bill... and Sandy and Bill's (although that one was Mt. Ida and back).... Both mention a few route finding difficulties. I am nervous.. VERY nervous.

What advice can I get from Mt. Ida experts? Would it be easier to do from the other direction? Where is the most difficulty finding the trail? Would a GPS be more of a help or a hindrance?

Thanks for any help you can give... besides being there to carry me out.

Scott O has the route down. He can give you some great advice. If I had it to do all over again I would go from Timber Lake to Mt Ida. That way the last part of the trip would be nothing but gorgeous. Going from Ida to Timber the last 4 ish miles of the trail are through the woods with no vistas.

Edited by dianeh85, 05 February 2011 - 09:19 PM.

[dianeh85]

The little "smile" to the south west of Ida indicates where you should detour from this route that John and I took. My detour is exxagerated, but you get the idea. I would definately bring a GPS. You won't get lost but it is so much fun to play with once you get home.

The elevation profile gives you an idea of how long the hike through the woods is from Timber lake to the trailhead.

Have fun, it is a great hike!! Bring bug repellent. Don't do like Bill and at the start of the hike and think, ahh it will be too windy up on Ida, we don't need it. Big mistake.

I reread your post, You can see Timber from the Ida terraine. It is always in sight. You really can't get lost. The only off trail is between Timber and Ida, (as John stated also) but you are above tree line and you can't miss Ida or Timber lake, so going either way is really not difficult. I am reluctant to say that because you seem so nervous. I am not an off trail hiker, and I understand your fear totally. Definately bring your GPS to keep you at a comfort level. The trail is always on there as is the Continental Divide. Go EARLY in the morning to avoid the thunderstorms, rain showers.

Edited by dianeh85, 05 February 2011 - 09:38 PM.

[renate1]

Here's a few pics from the trail from Milner Pass to Mt. Ida Summit to wet your whistle til your trip.

[rcw]

Has anyone here summitted Mt. Ida after starting out from the Alpine Center on the Ute trail and finished up at the Milner Pass trailhead?

[dianeh85]

Staci, those are some awsome pictures!! Very nice!

[dianeh85]

rcw, on 07 February 2011 - 04:33 PM, said:

Has anyone here summitted Mt. Ida after starting out from the Alpine Center on the Ute trail and finished up at the Milner Pass trailhead?

That would be the Looong way to do Ida :).

[Adventurist]

Has anybody hiked Mt Ida recently? I was wondering how the conditions were along that trail.

[mathguy]

Lynette, on 05 February 2011 - 10:47 AM, said:

We been hiking in RMNP 3 summers now. Every summer we've been there, I've had Mt. Ida on my list of hikes to do. For one reason or another.. snow... time... logistics.. other hikes taking priority.. we haven't gotten it done. Last summer we went hiking in Glacier, and, as much as I enjoyed it, I really missed Rocky. So, we're making a quick trip to Rocky in July, and Mt. Ida is on the short. What I'd like to do is do a through hike from Milner Pass to Timber Lake Trailhead. I've read a couple reports... especially John's from his hike with Diane and Bill... and Sandy and Bill's (although that one was Mt. Ida and back).... Both mention a few route finding difficulties. I am nervous.. VERY nervous.

What advice can I get from Mt. Ida experts? Would it be easier to do from the other direction? Where is the most difficulty finding the trail? Would a GPS be more of a help or a hindrance?

Thanks for any help you can give... besides being there to carry me out.

I'm not sure if I read it correctly or not, but the Park's web site (under "Trail Conditions") says that
the Timber Lake Trail is closed due to a landslide and it is unknown when it will re-open. Might want
to check that out before hiking in that area.

[staffaction]

Lynette, on 05 February 2011 - 10:47 AM, said:

We been hiking in RMNP 3 summers now. Every summer we've been there, I've had Mt. Ida on my list of hikes to do. For one reason or another.. snow... time... logistics.. other hikes taking priority.. we haven't gotten it done. Last summer we went hiking in Glacier, and, as much as I enjoyed it, I really missed Rocky. So, we're making a quick trip to Rocky in July, and Mt. Ida is on the short. What I'd like to do is do a through hike from Milner Pass to Timber Lake Trailhead. I've read a couple reports... especially John's from his hike with Diane and Bill... and Sandy and Bill's (although that one was Mt. Ida and back).... Both mention a few route finding difficulties. I am nervous.. VERY nervous.

What advice can I get from Mt. Ida experts? Would it be easier to do from the other direction? Where is the most difficulty finding the trail? Would a GPS be more of a help or a hindrance?

Thanks for any help you can give... besides being there to carry me out.

I wish I could remember the route we took...twinebender or Monica would know. It was from the parking lot where there's a continental divide sign. not sure if that is milner pass or timber lake...come to think of it, there is a lake there... Obviously, I'm a newbie to the area :-)

*But* when you talk about the trail being difficult to find, that makes me think of near the top where the ground is quite rocky, not much grass...There's a picture above in renate1's post of a trail you can see through the hillside. That fades out when you get up nearer to the summit and it is very rocky. Perhaps that's not what you are referring to though. Anyway, it really isn't much problem. The trail is extremely faint and you can tell where it is by looking carefully. Not many cairns were there when we hiked it (Sept 2010). You can't really miss the summit because eventually it's the highest point you go get to. I remember a point where we thought we were there, but we actually weren't...twinebender pointed out higher elevation so alas, we kept trudging on. But anyways, once you're there you'll know. Enjoy the amazing view. When we were there it was quite windy up high, and even started to rain and hail a bit when we were at the summit!

See this mount Ida Trip report by a friend who was with me on the hike: http://www.cagrimmett.com/blog/?p=1673

"We started from Poudre Lake at Milner Pass". There ya have it :-) Seeing the pics ahead of time should be helpful. With the Author's permission I'll see if I can repost his material here on the forum.


It's definitely a good hike and I hope you enjoy!

[iceberg]

mathguy, on 06 July 2011 - 03:06 PM, said:

I'm not sure if I read it correctly or not, but the Park's web site (under "Trail Conditions") says that
the Timber Lake Trail is closed due to a landslide and it is unknown when it will re-open. Might want
to check that out before hiking in that area.

Yes, you read that correctly. I was checking the trail conditions yesterday at nps.gov & they did in fact say that the Timber Lake trail was closed due to a landslide.