14 replies to this topic

[soatley]

After our prior day's hike to Mt Ida from Timber Lake TH, some of our group wanted an easier day. Four of us decided on a quick hike to Sandbeach Lake. The weather was nice, and we planned to spend some time at the lake soaking up the view.

The trail is modestly rugged, and includes some steep switchbacks and steps. There are also several sections with gentler slopes for recovery. It's wooded along most of the route, but quite thin in many places, so it can get quite hot later in the day. Plenty of parking if you're there before 7:00am. With a good pace, you can be at the lake in less than 2 hours.

I think the trail emerges at the north end of the lake. Anyway, if you continue around the left side, the is a small peninsula jutting into the lake. From there, or anywhere further along that side of the lake, you will have great views of Pagoda, Longs, and Meeker.

A couple of snapshots of Meeker. It's huge from this side, similar to the view from the road to Longs TH, and Wild Basin entrance. The wooded hill on the left of the photo is the lower shoulder of Mt Orton. Upon emerging from the trail at the lake, continue along to the right side toward the hill. Near where you cross the inlet creek, you'll find a narrow trail that leads up to Orton. It's tricky to follow because there are several trails in there all crossing each other. If you find the right one, it will eventually get quite steep, and lead you up to an open rocky area with a few cairns. From there you can continue up slopes to Orton, and the back side route up Chiefs Head.



And one of Pagoda.


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Edited by soatley, 09 August 2006 - 06:41 PM.

[soatley]

With a nice pair of 8x to 10x binoculars, you can view people traversing the Narrows, and climbing the Homestretch on Longs. We spent a little time watching a steady stream of climbers passing a very slow person in a neon green jacket on their way up the Homestretch.

Sorry, didn't get any pictures zoomed in enough to see hikers.

Good view of the Narrows and the Homestretch.


A little closer.


If you climb up to and beyond Orton, onto the North Ridge below Chiefs Head, you can get much closer views of the climbers on Longs. Chiefs Head's summit also offers great views of these, in addition to views of people along the Ledges.

Scott
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[Bill 007]

We spent a little time watching a steady stream of climbers passing a very slow person in a neon green jacket on their way up the Homestretch.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Say-y-y-y, doesn't Druw wear a neon green jacket??

Bill
( Great shots Soatley!)

[bpv_UW]

Great pics, soatley. I especially like the b/w one. Sandbeach/Orton/Chiefs Head is at the top of my RMNP "to do" list!

-Brandon

[Veik]

With a nice pair of 8x to 10x binoculars, you can view people traversing the Narrows, and climbing the Homestretch on Longs. We spent a little time watching a steady stream of climbers passing a very slow person in a neon green jacket on their way up the Homestretch.

Interesting! One of my web pages has pictures of Longs Peak with peoples thoughts of where the trail is. Could you mark up a picture of where the trail is?

Longs Peak's Last Mile

[weatherbe]

Very nice pics! Thanks for sharing!

Weather

[weatherbe]

Very cool link and pics! Thanks!

Weather

Interesting!  One of my web pages has pictures of Longs Peak with peoples thoughts of where the trail is.  Could you mark up a picture of where the trail is?

Longs Peak's Last Mile

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[soatley]

Interesting!  One of my web pages has pictures of Longs Peak with peoples thoughts of where the trail is.  Could you mark up a picture of where the trail is?

Longs Peak's Last Mile

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree with your original mark up (#2 in your link). Here's my picture from a similar angle compared to yours. I've put my marks on both.

1. transition from Trough to Narrows
2. transition from Narrows to Homestretch
3. rock outcropping to right of Homestretch
4. Homestretch route





Sandy mentioned to me that when you cross the crest from the Homestretch onto the summit, you are very close to the summit cairn and the overlook of Chasm. This supports the above Homestretch route, as it ascends to the right towards that same area of the summit.

Unfortunately, the combination of distance from Sandbeach Lake and my zoom level don't allow us to clearly see people on the route to the Homestretch. In the next post, I've included a couple of pictures from last year's Chiefs Head climb that do include people starting the HS.

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[soatley]

These two pictures are from somewhere on the North Ridge approaching Chief Head. The numbers correspond to those in the previous post. Note the extreme distortion of the Homestretch due to my angle of view and the level of zoom. That's why I marked the distinctive rock outcropping that's to the right of the Homestretch route.



In this photo, the yellow ticks mark people on the climb. The top tick on the right is someone just starting at the base of the Homestretch. It's clearer in my original, but had to crunch it down to fit in the post.



Maybe next year I can get up on Mt Orton and capture some definitive photos of people on the Homestretch.

Scott
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Edited by soatley, 10 August 2006 - 08:05 AM.

[BukElgle]

Verrryyyy Nice.... Thanks!

Rick

[junkie]

Great thread guys. nice work.

Soatley -great posts of your trip.

[druwdowns]

Say-y-y-y, doesn't Druw wear a neon green jacket??

Bill
( Great shots Soatley!)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah, Bill. It's kind of a redish neon green.

Redish Jacket

The above link shows the homestretch from near the bottom of the cracks looking down.

~Druw~

[Veik]

Excellent soatley, thanks!

[misssilly]

Nice pictures - and good mapping. Long's still scares me.

Jen

(in this case, I'd rather be a live chicken than a dead hero)

[weatherbe]

Way cool Soatley! Thanks!

Weather