8 replies to this topic

[Martin]

Recently, we made a 4-day trip to the Gorge Lakes area. We considered three routes to get to the Little Rock campground: the Rock cut descent, through the continental divide, and along its slope to reduce altitude gain/loss. Eventually, we decided to test the first two options and avoid the slope route because it looked too swampy.

We started our trip from the Rock cut. The slope is steep, but it's not too bad even if you have heavy backpacks as long as your knees are OK. Avalanches partly decimated the forest at the base of the slope, which made it easier to hike. We didn't have a problem finding natural bridge (fallen tree) to cross the Big Thompson rive. So everything was absolutely cool until we started ascending on the opposite slope. I've been through some difficult bushwhacking/dense forest hikes, e.g. on the way to the Andrews peak, lake Solitude, etc, but this one is probably the worst I've seen, especially if you have to carry a heavy backpack. So it was interesting to try, but I won't do it again. The Gorge Lakes are beautiful of course and worth every effort.

Our way back was through the Continental divide. I just have a couple comments about it. First, I highly recommend avoiding the L. Rock-to-Amore Lake route suggested in Lisa Foster's book; we realized how bad it was while hiking it without backpacks and eventually found a better more gradual slope to the east from it (going north-north-west from the Little Rock Lake instead of hiking along the Rock Lake shore etc.). My second point is that it makes much more sense to stay at the Amore or Love Lake and not to descend to L.R.L. at all. These upper lakes are beautiful, easier to reach from the divide, and all Gorge Lakes gems are more accessible from them. Too bad these areas are outside of camping permits.

[HighPlainsMedic]

My dad did the Rock Cut route one time .. back in the 60's, His trip report was exactly the same as yours.. he would do day hikes, and didn't come back until well after dark..(he came back the same way he went down cuz that's where his truck was) didn't show up home until 1:00 am or so.. Mom was pretty worried.. So with that lesson passed on to me, I have never tried it.

Dad and I would leave from Milner pass drop down the slope from Ida.. pick our way around the corner and go back up the Gorge.. One time we left up a coular alongside Inkwell.. that's where the photo in my signature was taken..

It's a fantastic area of the park.. your trip brought back some fond memories.. Thank you!!

Edited by HighPlainsMedic, 29 July 2011 - 05:02 PM.

[dianeh85]

Thanks so much for posting this report!! Pictures would be most welcome!

[Martin]

dianeh85, on 29 July 2011 - 07:49 PM, said:

Thanks so much for posting this report!! Pictures would be most welcome!

These are the Arrowhead and Inkwell lakes:

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[DeeCeeM]

I enjoyed the report and the pictures - thanks for posting.

[rcw]

Nice!

[soatley]

What do you think, Ed and Kristin?

[Igloo Ed]

soatley, on 30 July 2011 - 01:18 PM, said:

What do you think, Ed and Kristin?

I know the route from the river to the Rock lakes. The water was down some more today. It's a go with me.

[iceberg]

Igloo Ed, on 30 July 2011 - 06:17 PM, said:

I know the route from the river to the Rock lakes. The water was down some more today. It's a go with me.

I'm up for anything.....except maybe snowfields.