28 replies to this topic

[NWA395]

NWA395, on 30 July 2011 - 09:41 AM, said:

Reading the reviews and trip reports, wondering which is the tougher route

Fern Lake TH going to Bear lake TH,

or

Bear Lake TH going to Fern Lake TH

Looking at elevation gain and distance, it appears that Bear Lake to Odessa to Fern Lake TH would be slightly easier and once you reach Odessa, down hill from that point vice beginning at FLTH and going to BLTH.. Is this correct?

[DeeCeeM]

Yes, that's correct.

[NWA395]

DeeCeeM, on 30 July 2011 - 09:57 AM, said:

Yes, that's correct.

Thank you. Appears we will make Bear Lake TH the starting point.....

Thanks again

[Igloo Ed]

NWA395, on 30 July 2011 - 10:01 AM, said:

Thank you. Appears we will make Bear Lake TH the starting point.....

Thanks again

That's the direction I like doing it and I love it when I round the corner by Lake Helene and head on down to Odessa, it is an area that gives one an appreciation for the work put into the trail. It sort of hits me all of a sudden as I start heading down the trail after the corner.

[NWA395]

Igloo Ed, on 30 July 2011 - 09:14 PM, said:

That's the direction I like doing it and I love it when I round the corner by Lake Helene and head on down to Odessa, it is an area that gives one an appreciation for the work put into the trail. It sort of hits me all of a sudden as I start heading down the trail after the corner.

We look forward to seeing and experiencing it for the 1st time...
Thank you

[skinnyindian]

hiking difficulty index

[DrCloud]

skinnyindian, on 31 July 2011 - 01:28 PM, said:

hiking difficulty index

Y'know, I looked at this when it was linked in another thread, and it sure looks awfully dated. 2004? Really? It would be far more credible if it were updated. HPH

[Becky J.]

In all reality, the difficulty will not change.
I think it is a good resource.

[mirak]

Not sure how many days you have in the park, but here's a few suggestions:
1. Are you planning on driving straight from Arkansas to Estes in one day, and then hiking to Emerald later that afternoon? Not a great idea for two reasons: you'll be pretty gassed because you won't be acclimated, and this hike is probably better in the morning. You might consider just taking a drive up TRR the first afternoon, or scrambling around the Alluvial Fan.
2. As others have mentioned, the Glacier gorge trail splits about 3/4 mile below Mills and the Loch. You can easily backtrack to do both. However, I would highly recommend taking two seperate hikes: one to Black Lake (past Mills), and a second hike to Sky Pond (past the Loch and Timberline Falls). The latter half of both of these hikes (Mills to Black and Loch to Sky Pond) are the best parts!
3. Bear Lake TH to Fern Lake TH is a great hike. Definitely start at Bear Lake.
4. Depending on how many days you have and how far you want to go, I can give you lo9ts of other hike ideas.

[NWA395]

mirak, on 04 August 2011 - 08:59 AM, said:

Not sure how many days you have in the park, but here's a few suggestions:
1. Are you planning on driving straight from Arkansas to Estes in one day, and then hiking to Emerald later that afternoon? Not a great idea for two reasons: you'll be pretty gassed because you won't be acclimated, and this hike is probably better in the morning. You might consider just taking a drive up TRR the first afternoon, or scrambling around the Alluvial Fan.
2. As others have mentioned, the Glacier gorge trail splits about 3/4 mile below Mills and the Loch. You can easily backtrack to do both. However, I would highly recommend taking two seperate hikes: one to Black Lake (past Mills), and a second hike to Sky Pond (past the Loch and Timberline Falls). The latter half of both of these hikes (Mills to Black and Loch to Sky Pond) are the best parts!
3. Bear Lake TH to Fern Lake TH is a great hike. Definitely start at Bear Lake.
4. Depending on how many days you have and how far you want to go, I can give you lo9ts of other hike ideas.

Mirak,
Yes we will be driving straight through. Leaving AR in the wee wee wee hours of the morning. Figure it will be about 13 hours and looking to arrive mid afternoon. Basically have about 3 and a half days in the park. This is our first trip and also our 27th anniversary. Spent the 25th anniversary camping in the Tetons so we are looking forward to this one. It was a memorable trip (Tetons). Wife aka "She who must be obeyed" broke her wrist in two places the 1st morning there, quick trip to the local ER , splinted her up and she wanted to go rafting that afternoon and . We camped for 6 more nights and it never slowed her down. Awesome lady!!!!


I imagine we may be "very gassed" Perhaps Emerald is a bit ambitious. I like your suggestion of TRR and or AV. It is always difficult to try and plan a flexible itinerary without having been there. Wherever the wind blows us I am sure it will be beautiful and many pictures will be taken...

Thank you
Geoff

[Scrapinator]

I would definitely say Bear to Fern is the easier route.

[Mark Zemmin]

Igloo Ed, on 30 July 2011 - 09:14 PM, said:

That's the direction I like doing it and I love it when I round the corner by Lake Helene and head on down to Odessa, it is an area that gives one an appreciation for the work put into the trail. It sort of hits me all of a sudden as I start heading down the trail after the corner.

I have done this hike 3 times and I agree with Ed. The spot he is talking about when you round that corner is spectacular. My family stopped here, had a snack and just soaked in the beauty. Definitely do it Bear Lake to Fern.

[mirak]

NWA395, on 04 August 2011 - 08:14 PM, said:

Mirak,
Yes we will be driving straight through. Leaving AR in the wee wee wee hours of the morning. Figure it will be about 13 hours and looking to arrive mid afternoon. Basically have about 3 and a half days in the park. This is our first trip and also our 27th anniversary. Spent the 25th anniversary camping in the Tetons so we are looking forward to this one. It was a memorable trip (Tetons). Wife aka "She who must be obeyed" broke her wrist in two places the 1st morning there, quick trip to the local ER , splinted her up and she wanted to go rafting that afternoon and . We camped for 6 more nights and it never slowed her down. Awesome lady!!!!


I imagine we may be "very gassed" Perhaps Emerald is a bit ambitious. I like your suggestion of TRR and or AV. It is always difficult to try and plan a flexible itinerary without having been there. Wherever the wind blows us I am sure it will be beautiful and many pictures will be taken...

Thank you
Geoff

It all depends on how much you want to try to cram in, but here are my suggested hikes:
1. Dream/Emerald. 3.6 miles RT. This is a a must for first-time visitors. Its short enough that you could squeeze it in that first afternoon, if you want to spend your full days doing longer hikes.
2. Sky Pond. 9 miles RT. Also pretty much a must do hike. Takes you past Alberta Falls, the Loch, Timberline Falls (you climb it!), Lake of Glass, and Sky Pond. Arrive early (by about 7 a.m.) so you snag a spot at the much smaller Glacier Gorge TH, or plan on taking the park&ride shuttle. No sense in parking at the Bear Lake TH and tacking on an extra half-mile each way.

After that, you've got some choices to make.
3. Black Lake. 10 miles RT. A tremendous hike into the prettiest part of Glacier Gorge, but the first 2.5 miles is the same trail to Sky Pond, so you might not want to do both. Alternatively, you could tack Mills Lake onto your Sky Pond hike (an extra .6 each way). Mills Lake is really beautiful, with Longs and the Keyboard in the background, but the best stretch of trail is from Mills to Black.
4. Chasm Lake. 9.5 miles RT. The second half of this hike, from just before treeline, is fantastic. You have to drive about 15 minutes south of Estes to get to the Longs Peak TH. Chasm Lake is probably the most impressively situated lake, right at the base of Longs Peak's east face (the Diamond). You'll also pass by Peacock Pool and Columbine Falls (both aptly named).
5. Ouzel Falls. 5.4 miles RT. Wild Basin, to the south, may be the prettiest area of the park, and it certainly has the most impressive water features. Some truly amazing lakes are nestled deep in the basin, but you can get a good taste just hiking to Ouzel Falls. Ouzel is probably the best waterfall in the park, and you'll pass the nearly as impressive Calypso Cascades along the way.

you cannot go wrong with the above hikes.

Here are the trail maps:
- http://www.nps.gov/r...mmer_trails.pdf
- http://www.nps.gov/r...peak_trails.pdf
- http://www.nps.gov/r...mmer_trails.pdf

[AtHomeUpHigh]

NWA395, on 29 July 2011 - 05:14 PM, said:

Odessa sounds like an excellent idea. In looking at the map, we may just decide to do a loop from Fern Lake TH (leave the truck here) , to Fern, Odessa and cut over to Lake Helene then to Bear Lake or Bierstadt. Logistics of getting back to the truck may be a challenge but there is always the thumb..

Logistical suggestion: the shuttle bus stops at lots of points along Bear Lake Road and goes over to Fern Lake TH as well! It will make your proposed loop hike a reality, without the need for a thumb!