April 22, 2019

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Album Published April 22, 2019

Ruby Mountains Wilderness

Album Published April 22, 2019

Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument was established in 1982, two years after its famous eruption. Mount St. Helens is most notorious for its major eruption on May 18, 1980, the deadliest and most economically destructive volcanic event in U.S. history. I was there for one day, and it rained the whole time.

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Album Published April 22, 2019

Album Published April 22, 2019

Mt. Hood

Album Published April 22, 2019

Deschutes River

Album Published April 22, 2019

Devils Tower National Monument

Devils Tower (also known as Bear Lodge Butte) is a laccolithic butte composed of igneous rock in the Bear Lodge Mountains, part of the Black Hills. It rises 1,267 feet above the Belle Fourche River, standing 867 feet from summit to base. Devils Tower was the first United States National Monument, established on September 24, 1906, by President Theodore Roosevelt.

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Album Published April 22, 2019

Custer State Park

Established in 1912, Custer State Park is home to a famous herd of 1500 free roaming bison. Elk, coyotes, mule deer, white tailed deer, mountain goats, prairie dogs, bighorn sheep, river otters, pronghorn, cougars, and feral burros also inhabit the park. The park is famous for its scenery which can be seen in all its glory on Needles Highway and the wildlife loop.

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Album Published April 22, 2019

Mt. Rushmore National Memorial

Mount Rushmore National Memorial is centered around a sculpture carved by Gutzon Borglum into the granite face of Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills. The sculpture features the 60-foot heads of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. The four presidents were chosen, respectively, to represent the birth, the growth, the development, and the preservation of the United States. The Park was established in 1925, but the sculpture wasn't completed until 1941.

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Album Published April 22, 2019

Ypsilon Lake

Trailhead: Lawn Lake
Distance: 4.7 mi
Elevation Change: 2,000' From the trailhead, the trail climbs quickly to the top of the ridge where it then goes beside the flood damaged Roaring River. Shortly after the trail flattens out, take the trail to Ypsilon Lake and cross the river. The trail then goes along the top of a ridge through dark, dense forest. The trail descends a bit, reaching Chipmunk Lake and then Ypsilon Lake.

Album Published April 22, 2019

Mt. Chiquita

Trailhead: Chapin Pass
Via: Mt. Chapin
Distance: 3.0 mi
Elevation Change: 2,059' From the saddle betwee Mt Chapin and Mt Chiquita, head northeast across the tundra about .9 miles to the summit of Mt. Chiquita

Album Published April 22, 2019

Mt. Chapin

Trailhead: Chapin Pass
Distance: 2.4 mi
Elevation Change: 1,434' Follow the Chapin Creek trail for about a quarter mile to a spur trail that heads east. At about treeline the trail climbs gently to the saddle between Mt Chapin and Mt Chiquita. From here, hike south to the summit over tundra, about another quarter mile.

Album Published April 22, 2019

Mirror Lake

Trailhead: Corral Creek
Distance: 5.8 mi
Elevation Change: 1,000' The trail begins outside Park boundaries. Hike about a mile through broad valleys, losing 300' of elevation, before crossing the Cache la Poudre river to enter the Park. The middle section of the hike gains almost all the elevation of the hike. After reaching the outlet stream of Mirror Lake, the hike levels out, becoming vague, and passing through a series of meadows. After the third Mirror Lake campground, the trail climbs up some rocks and deposits you beside the lake.

Album Published April 22, 2019

Lost Lake, Lake Husted, and Lake Louise

Trailhead: Dunraven (North Fork)

Lost Lake
Distance: 9.7 mi
Elevation Change: 2,814' The trail starts outside the park, quickly arriving at the North Fork of the Big Thompson and passing by Camp Cheley. When you reach the Halfway sign, it gets steep: although six-tenths of the distance has been traversed, only half the altitude has been gained.

Lake Husted
Distance: 10.4 mi
Elevation Change: 3,188'
Foster recommends bushwhacking up the slope from the south side of Lost Lake, but I thought it was easier to take the grassy ramp from the north shore.

Lake Louise
Distance: 10.9 mi
Elevation Change: 3,120'
From Husted Lake, head across the tundra nearly due west a bit less than half a mile.

Album Published April 22, 2019

Lawn Lake

Trailhead: Lawn Lake
Distance: 6.3 mi
Elevation Change: 2,447' From the trailhead, the trail climbs quickly to the top of a ridge. From there it proceeds most of the way to Lawn Lake beside the flood scarred Roaring River. Most of the way it climbs gently, but a section that leaves the riverside climbs somewhat steeper. The ruins of the earthen dam come in to view immediately before arriving at the lake.

Album Published April 22, 2019

Gem Lake

Trailhead: Lumpy Ridge

Gem Lake
Distance: 1.7 mi
Elevation Change: 968' The first half mile from the trailhead to a trail junction climbs through switchbacks, rocks, and trees. At the junction, head east. The middle section of trail offers some nice vistas of Estes Park and the continental divide.

Balanced Rock
Distance: 4.2 mi
Elevation Change: 1,011'
After Gem Lake, the trail descends back into forest. After about a mile, turn to the left on the spur trail (that may be a bit harder to follow) and proceed another mile to Balanced Rock.

Album Published April 22, 2019

Fay Lakes

Trailhead: Lawn Lake
Via:Ypsilon Lake

Lower Fay Lake
Distance: 5.3 mi
Elevation Change: 2,200' Foster says to "bushwhack northeast through dense forest" to Lower Fay Lake, but that is easier said than done. Somebody has put a fair amount of effort into placing cairns along the route. Even so, it is challenging at times to follow.

Middle Fay Lake
Distance: 5.8 mi
Elevation Change: 2,480'
Between the lower and middle lakes there is a section of dense forest that was some slow going. Find the stream connecting the two lakes and follow it straight up, including one steep scramble.

Upper Fay Lake
Distance: 6.1 mi
Elevation Change: 2,680'
From Middle Fay Lake it’s a simple walk up the grassy ramp, about a quarter of a mile and two hundred feet of elevation, to reach Upper Fay Lake.

Album Published April 22, 2019

Crystal Lake and Little Crystal Lake

Trailhead: Lawn Lake
Via:Lawn Lake

Little Crystal Lake
Distance: 7.7 mi
Elevation Change: 2,960' From Lawn Lake, follow the trail toward The Saddle as it continues beyond treeline into an open vally. About a mile above Lawn Lake there's a spur trail off to the left that heads toward Fairchild Mtn. Follow this to Little Crystal Lake which sits surrounded by large boulders.

Crystal Lake
Distance: 7.9 mi
Elevation Change: 2,960'
Continue southwest a short distance past Little Crystal Lake to reach Crystal Lake.