Bowen Pass Revisited

Last summer, you may recall, Michael and I ended up at Bowen Pass by mistake and were nearly struck by lightning. We've been wanting to get back there and last week, a guy working at the hiking store in town told us how to reach the pass from the other side of the Never Summer Mountains. It involved an hour and a half drive to the trailhead, but from that point, the pass was only two miles away (as opposed to four hours and seven miles of hard slogging from the near side). We took Paul and Emma along, and although it was challenging for them, and we didn't quite make it to the very top of the pass, we nearly got there and finally were able to share with them the kind of long-distance alpine views Michael and I have been enjoying.












The trail was difficult to follow at times, and at one point we had to bushwhack uphill to find it again. We stopped below the pass for lunch and Paul and Emma agreed it was worth the effort.




















That turquoise speck up there is Paul, collapsing after climbing uphill, almost to the snow.




















Here's where we stopped, about a half an hour from the top of the pass. Later this summer, Michael and I will return and go all the way to the top. There's also a trail to the left which takes you up and over a different pass and down into Parika Lake. These pictures really don't do the views justice -- they were very long-range and exhilarating.

Emma Goes Kayaking

After making plans several times to go kayaking in the afternoon, only to have the wind come up, we decided to set out early on Friday when there was no wind and the lake was like glass. Emma and I took the Sea Eagles down to Shadow Mountain Lake, inflated them both in about 10 minutes and soon put in at Pine Beach. After several summers here at Grand Lake, and her week at Camp Cheerio in June, Emma now paddles like a pro.












The life jacket I ordered online supposedly ran small, so I bought Emma a medium -- not a great fit.












Emma made herself comfortable while we drifted between the islands in the bird sanctuary and played trivia games in the sun for nearly an hour.

Paul at Work

The day after Paul and Emma arrived, Paul returned to his summer job from last year, busing tables at Max & T's. He's working a full shift and making lots of tips. Here's a picture of Paul at work with one of the waitresses, and another of the front of the restaurant on the main street in Grand Lake.










We're proud of you, Paul!

"Please Sir, some s'mores."

The fire pit initiation!

Outdoor Fire Pit

Today, Joe and Emma completed work on a project they have been contemplating for some time: an outdoor fire pit. Work involved leveling the the ground with removal of large rocks and leftover construction debris, the creation of a stone border, placement of large rocks to create the ring (some might even consider them small boulders), and the digging down of the pit itself. Then, of course, there was the siting of the log seats. Now we're hoping for a still evening so we can make use of those graham crackers, chocolate bars and marshmallows we bought at the market yesterday.

The Dynamic Duo

Sue and Sherry arrived on Saturday. We made it an early evening, and Sunday, after reading the paper, headed out for our first hike. We decided to take them to Monarch Lake, a beautiful man made lake in the Arapaho National Park. This lake was originally created to allow the logging industry to move the trees down to the river, and is very serene , as no motorized boats are allowed. The hike is around 4 miles, and follows the perimeter of the lake. It is a fairly flat, but beautiful walk, as you enter forest, and cross several streams. Both Sue and Sherry passed that first test and asked for more. After lunch, we went into the RMNP, and drove up to an amazing scenic point,

took pictures, and headed down to the Timberlake trailhead, where we hiked about 20 minutes to one of our favorite waterfalls.

On Monday, our dynamic duo wanted more, and bravely hiked the Onahu to Green Mountain loop, the very first hike we described on the blog.

This is about 7 miles with over 1500 feet of elevation gain, and the girls have added C.M.G. to their signature. ( Certified Mountain Goat.)

Parika Lake At Last!

Last summer, on our last hike of the season, Michael and I set off for Parika Lake, took a wrong turn where the trail sign had been removed, and ended up four hours later at Bowen Pass instead, where lightning struck the mountaintop nearby and sent us scrambling for cover below the treeline. This summer, we have been waiting for the snows to melt and the waters to recede to complete that hike to Parika Lake; Saturday, we set off early because Sue and Sherry were due to arrive that afternoon. We were at the Bowen-Baker trailhead at 7:10 a.m. and a herd of elk awaited us in the Kawuneechee Valley -- auspicious beginning. The peak straight ahead is Parika Peak, below which lies Parika Lake, our destination, at 11,300 feet. The trail begins at 8,800.


The first hour or so of this hike is fairly uninteresting, within earshot of a stream coming down from the Never Summer Mountains to join the Colorado River. Then the terrain opens up and the views improve, with dramatic rocky crags rising out of subalpine meadows. We have never seen so many Columbines, with hundreds of them everywhere alongside the trail.


After two hours, we reach the Grand Ditch, a water diversion project built in the early 20th century to trap snow melt before it reached the Colorado River basin and thereby became subject to riparian law. The water is diverted to the front range and to thirsty Denver. The picture below shows Michael where Little Baker Creek feeds into the Grand Ditch, very near its beginning. Further on, it gets progressively wider and fuller.


The trail picks up on the other side of Grand Ditch Road and grows very steep. The views become more and more expansive, with the Never Summer Peaks rising all around us.


At this altitude, the snow has only recently melted, the ground is wet and the new growth prolific. On our Lake Verna hike, we were surprised and delighted to find one small patch of glacier lilies, but here there was meadow after meadow with HUNDREDS of flowers, and many more blooms not yet open. Just before the final climb to the lake, the terrain really opens out with spectacular views of Mount Baker to the right, and a valley with a trail leading to Baker Pass -- a hike we intend to take late this summer.


Here's a view of Michael climbing the last stretch of trail to the lake, with the headwaters of Baker Creek to his left.


We finally reach our destination, above tree line, with the Parika Lake in the cirque before us. I hope my video captures the drama of this beautiful landscape.





Here's another view of the entire cirque.



We stopped for lunch on a rock amidst the tundra, surrounding by Alpine Forget-me-Nots and in the company of a curious (as they usually are) marmot. For me, this hike was the most spectacular of all we've taken, and satisfied my craving for high altitude views and the exhilarating experience of being above the tree line.


We headed back down the trail with mixed emotions, sorry to leave this amazing place and eager to get home to greet Sue and Sherry.



The hike was about 10.6 miles roundtrip and 6 hours in length.

Odds and Ends

Over the weekend, we had the most beautiful foggy mornings, and I managed to capture the view from the deck, as it was lifting.

We have had a lot of excavation work done recently on the driveway, and all should be finished in the next day or so, but here's a picture of the new stone edges of the driveway.

We have also had stonework done on the exterior of the house, and a picture of some of the newly dressed columns.

And finally, a lot of people have been asking about Maddy. She is doing very well. All the steps and hills have been quite therapeutic for her leg, and she once again has a spring in her step.

July 4, 2009 Granite Falls

We're still at the mercy of snow melt, and our new hikes are limited. We decided to venture to Granite Falls. This is what we term a destination hike. The journey, itself, bows in comparison to the payoff. We start this hike at The Green Mountain trailhead, a very familiar starting place. The hike is about ten and a half miles round trip, but without a great deal of elevation gain. There is an initial ascent for about a mile and half, and then we are at the head of Big Meadows, as seen from our Onahu hike.

The trail then winds through the forest for about two and a half miles. The trial is not terribly interesting, although the forest is once again different. We have had more rain, and the trail is muddy. But, the forest floor is the most vibrant green, with mosses and ground covers more lush than we have ever seen. And the fragrance from the moist pine needles at times is intoxicating. We eventually find smaller meadows and streams bordering the route, and happen upon a young buck elk, having breakfast.

The trail soon begins to shadow the Tonahutu Creek, as we climb up to Granite Falls. As in most of our hikes, the sound of these rushing waters announces something ahead, and once again, we are not disappointed. The Granite Falls cascade over 75 feet down into the Tonahutu, as we stop, and have a picnic lunch, sitting right under the falls.