18 replies to this topic

[renate1]

On Wednesday Aug 31st, I was scheduled for a Lawn Lake campsite. I started on trail around 9am and headed on my way to Lawn Lake. After stopping beneath Lawn Lake to pump water from the outlet, I continued on up to the campsite areas. #3 was already taken so I chose site #2. It was a nice level site and had a good view of Longs so I was stoked. I set up my tent and hung some line for hanging my backpack and put most of my food and smelly items in my Bear Vault. After a little water and some lunch & my camp all set up, I headed up towards Crystal Lakes around 2pm. The area up above Lawn Lake was absolutely beautiful with wildflowers, streams, waterfalls and Fairchild, Hauges and Mummy rising above. I was scouting out the trail as I was considering an attempt on the Mummy summit for the following day.

After arriving at Crystal Lakes I spent some time just soaking in the views, enjoying the solitude and fresh mountain air and thinking about my adventures for the next day. With a few clouds building around me I decided it was time to head back to camp for the day. I arrived back at my campsite a little after 4pm and went to get my leatherman out of the tent so I could eat my supper and put the rest of my stuff in the Bear Vault for the evening. Well my leatherman wasn't in my tent - which was where I remembered putting it so I decided to check my backpack - went through every pocket, zippered area not once but three times with no success at locating the leatherman. I tried a pair of keys I had with me to open the canister, but they were too fat to fit in the slots and with nighttime quickly approaching, I decided the safest thing to do would be to pack up my camp and slog it out to the trailhead. I was so disappointed I almost started to cry but gave myself a little kick in the butt, sucked it up and preceded with tearing down my camp.

I had everything packed up and was ready to roll at 6pm and on down the trail I headed. I was frustrated with the situation and the thunder was starting around me so I made pretty good time down the mountain. In just under 2 hours I was back to my car and heading into Estes. With being rained on and a long day in the mountains, I was wet, smelly and a little ruffled so I decided to just run through McDonalds and grab a cheeseburger. I ordered my cheeseburger plain and an orange hi-c, well the guy at the window couldn't understand I wanted the hi-c and kept saying "you want unsweetened tea?" finally I just said "yes I want tea" at the window he asked me 3 different times if I wanted my cheesburger plain to which I said yes.....well I should have checked but didn't and got back to my room, opened up my sandwich.....yep everything on it......at this point I just burst out laughing, scraped the stuff off and enjoyed my somewhat plain cheeseburger

All in all it was a good experience. I learned I can set up a camp on my own - and tear it down as well so that made me happy as this was my first solo attempt. I also learned I need to keep my leatherman exactly in the same spot in my backpack so that I know where it's at - I'm embarrassed to say that when I got home I did find it stuck behind one of the interior pockets in my backpack - dont know how I missed it on my searches at camp but I did - lesson learned and I will be even better prepared on my next outing.

According to ProTrails.com the hike to Crystal Lakes is 16.1 miles roundtrip and 3108ft of total elevation gain

Roaring River


Area just below Lawn Lake


Lawn Lake


Another view of Lawn Lake


My campsite


View from my campsite


Wildflowers above Lawn Lake


Mummy and wildflowers


I think this is Mt Tileston


Looking upstream towards Hagues

[renate1]

The Crystal Lakes and Saddle Junction


More Wildflowers


Small tarn below Little Crystal Lake


Little Crystal Lake


Crystal Lake


Mummy from Crystal


Hagues from Crystal


Lawn from Crystal Lake Trail


Mr. Marmot


My campsite from the trail

[wherigo]

And after all that you still posted pictures, thank you

great views !

As a note you are not the only one who misplaced something while backpacking so join the club, conside adding a pocket knife (I know it seems excess) but I always have both.

[jflo]

Awesome!!! Sorry for your mishap, but, after all, you're still in the mountains!!!

[foxfire]

Thanks for report / pix! Bummer problem but a good hike anywho!

Fox

[DeeCeeM]

Oh, wow, that's heartbreaking! Still, those are gorgeous photos.

[Rhonda]

Bummeroo! Can't believe you found the Leatherman after all. That is double bummer. But the pictures are gorgeous and you did have a good lesson in what to do and not to do in the future.

[ScottO]

Nice report Stacy; the Lawn Lake area is always a favorite of mine.

I always figure the mountain - or whatever destination - will be waiting for me next time.

ScottO

[John]

Gosh! I've had days like that. I've lost my compass, my bandana, my water filter. Last week my friend forgot to bring a spoon. So after I ate, we used hand sanitizer on my spoon and then he ate his meal. You covered a lot of ground, and took great pictures!

[Rhonda]

And John, you've also lost your way many times.

[renate1]

Rhonda, on 10 September 2011 - 09:17 PM, said:

And John, you've also lost your way many times.

But he's never lost his ability to "block"

Yep definitely learned alot of good lessons on this hike - probably the most important was that I could cover this area as a dayhike - start a few hours earlier and book it on the way down. It definitely is an area that warrants another visit.....or more

[mwilson]

I'm impressed with your adventure even though it didn't turn out the way you wanted it to and especially impressed that you could still laugh at the end! Your photos are awesome. I've heard that the flowers above Lawn Lake are spectacular and your pics certainly are evidence of that. We've been to Lawn Lake but never above. I'm guessing that a 16+ mile is not something I'll be able to do again, but it sure is fun to see and hear about it from those who are able to accomplish it. I hope next time you'll be able to actually stay overnight in your campsite and I commend you for putting safety first.

[HighPlainsMedic]

Last time I was at Lawn. was about a week before the flood.. I haven't been back since.. However some of the fondest memories of Dad are from Lawn Lake and Crystal,
We would catch tons of brook trout, catch two at a time on 2 fly leaders.. pick huckleberries, and one time on the way to Crystal, Dad and I would spy on the cutthroat trout in the pools between Lawn and Crystal Lake and I fell in..

Memories of boyscout trips, hot rocks, "Bernie,, our tent fell down" and 10 below..
The shortcut and corduroy road,

Thank you for the pictures!

[Scrapinator]

Great report. It looks like it was a beautiful day with a frustrating ending. The flowers are incredible. Nice job on the pictures.

[renate1]

HighPlainsMedic, on 10 September 2011 - 09:51 PM, said:

Last time I was at Lawn. was about a week before the flood.. I haven't been back since.. However some of the fondest memories of Dad are from Lawn Lake and Crystal,
We would catch tons of brook trout, catch two at a time on 2 fly leaders.. pick huckleberries, and one time on the way to Crystal, Dad and I would spy on the cutthroat trout in the pools between Lawn and Crystal Lake and I fell in..

Memories of boyscout trips, hot rocks, "Bernie,, our tent fell down" and 10 below..
The shortcut and corduroy road,

Thank you for the pictures!

Those are some good memories - thanks for sharing.