Planned Rocky Mountain National Park hike becomes a Nordic Walk much of the way
My husband, Ral, our friend Dave and I set out yesterday for a 9-mile (plus or minus) hike with significant a elevation gain and several steep, rocky sections in
Rocky Mountain National Park. I took my robust hiking poles and hiking boots, but part-way there, Dave realized that he had forgotten
his boots.
Rather than turning back, we scaled back our plan and decided to hike to Loch Vale, passing Alberta Falls, a popular sightseeing destination. The falls' popularity means a smooth trail that, in contrast with many others in RMNP, is boulevard-smooth and wide, and therefore quite appropriate for river sandals. "Wrong" footwear and poles notwithstanding, I found myself shifting into Nordic Walking mode.
Late summer is monsoon season in the high country -- not monsoons on the order of, say, those that have tragically flooded Pakistan, but almost daily quick afternoon downpours that keep some of the pretty steams like Glacier Creek, flowing late in summer.
Alberta Falls is (are?) about 6/10 mile from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. Click on the video below to hear them roar.
Still, the signs of fall were evident too. Late-season wildflowers, brilliant berries and the very first aspen leaves that turned to autumn gold.
The bears will soon be coming after berries, and the elk will be more evident in (relatively) low-lying valleys and in the town of Estes Park on the park's east side. The chipmunks are busy. Most of them are hoarding seeds, nuts and tidbits that visitors should not give them but too often do. We watched one trailside chipper who was working on a large mushroom. When I first stopped to look, the 'shroom seemed half the animal's size, but he whittled it down very quickly, undeterred by the people walking by.
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The trail provides one visual blast after another, including grandiose panorama.and dramatic cliffs and peaks.
Loch Vale is one of RMNP's loveliest alpine lakes, a worthy destination 2.7 or so miles from and about 1,200 feet higher than the trailhead..
When we were only about1/3 mile from the trailhead, the monsoon clouds began loosening up, and we were sprinkled upon -- not enough even to pull out raingear. However, by the time we got off the bus that shuttled us back to the intercept parking lot, the sprinkles had become a downpour. Had we followed our original plan, we would have been slogging down a steep trail at the end of a longer hike. We were all glad that Dave had forgotten his boots.