9 replies to this topic

[cardinal]

I along with my son and good friend made a quick trip to the park this past Sept. We managed to get in five hikes, those being The Ute Trail, Balanced Rock, Emerald (the day off hike), Mt. Alice and Lake of the Clouds. This was a fairly easy hike with a mix of hikinig in the pines, then the boring Grand Ditch section and then progressing on up through the trees again until you get to within a little more than a half mile from the lake where the extra effort begins. Lots of lose mid sized boulders that always seem to move under foot. We had tried to do this hike last year but adverse weather conditions made us turn back. A few pictures of the hike for the last half mile are below (any picture before these were fairly non descript). It was a worthy hike but not one I would likely do again.



The picture below is a view after emerging from the trees looking up to where we were headed. The lake is above the distant waterfall. Once you get close to the waterfall you have to take a right.


The picture below attempts to show the mid sized boulders and the rleative steepness. Frankly, the Boulder Field is easier to negotiate than these.

The picture below is a closer view of the waterfall. From here you take a right and progress upward through a few ramps.

The picture below is of the lake.

The picture below is of Mt Richtofen (sp) . Someday I would lke to tackle that Mt.

Finally, the picture below is a view from the lake looking NE. we emerged from the trees at about right in the middle of this picture.

[soatley]

Great report. The best part for me would be the boulders. Too bad it's such a long drive to the trail head from Estes.

Sandy O

[John]

I got lost (no surprise) on my way to this lake. Ended up on Hart Ridge, summitted Mt. Cirrus, and then caught the lake on my way back to our campsite. Great shots! I'd love to get to the top of Richthofen too, but doubt I could make it.

[jflo]

Great Report!! I am hoping to do this sometime in the near future... (next couple years). Thanks for sharing!!

[Veik]

Thanks for the pictures. The ones showing the area around the waterfall are just what I needed to see.

[DeeCeeM]

Very nice. Those boulders look tough!

[iceberg]

John, on 24 November 2011 - 06:44 PM, said:

I got lost (no surprise) on my way to this lake. Ended up on Hart Ridge, summitted Mt. Cirrus, and then caught the lake on my way back to our campsite.

I love how you ended up summiting a mountain "on your way" to the lake.(Before or after you realized you were lost ? ) This is better than ending up on Meeker Ridge while attempting Lookout & Horsetooth, although I think you should have gone ahead & summited Meeker "on your way" to L & H

Very informative report & pics, I enjoyed it.

[dianeh85]

Great report and Pics!! I especially like this vantage point of Mt Richthofen.

[Mark Zemmin]

Those rocks look like a lot of fun. Great report and pictures.

[Allie]

Wonderful report and photos. Really like the one of the waterfall.