Mt Ida stands at 13,000 feet, and is approached from the Milner Pass trailhead, the same beginning as our hike to the Alpine Visitor's Center. The trail quickly ascends a steep grade, and winds around cliff edges, and into a spruce forest, as it rises to the tree line, and out on to the tundra, where the trail follows a four and a half mile climb to the peak of Mt. Ida. Behind us is this incredible view of the Never Summer range.
The trail winds through the tundra, where there is just low ground covering plants and mosses.
On the far right, you can see the trail in this picture, below. It more resembles a goat path, and provides no protection from the elements as we climb along. If you let your eye follow the trail in this picture, the snow covered peak at the top center is where we are heading.
The trail ends about a half mile before hitting the summit, and we have to scramble up a boulder field,
keeping our eyes out for small cairns that hikers have created, marking the direction. We came across a flock of ptarmagans that were so perfectly camouflaged, we thought they were rocks, until they ruffled their feathers.
From the edge of the cliff, we viewed spectacular lakes, hundreds of feet below, and then, one of the few glaciers still in RMNP, complete with frozen, turquoise pools.
We finally reached the summit, and the views took our breath away. And Dave, we missed you!
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