Lost in the Lakes of the Rockies

"Then something Tookish woke up inside him, and he wished to go and see the great mountains, and hear the pine-trees and the waterfalls, and explore the caves, and wear a sword instead of a walking-stick" - JRR Tolkien

The early September morning sun poured into our room, awaking us from a wondrous slumber. Our journey was taking us north, toward the Rockies. We ate a breakfast of mini wheaties, boiled eggs, and milk before packing up Ren and heading toward the town of Boulder. I had ordered us a few Nalgenes from the Boulder REI (buy 1, get 1 FREE!!) and we wanted to explore the mountain town at the foot of the Flatirons. For a bird's eye view of the community, we drove up the winding road toward Boulder Mountain Parks. Hundreds of hiking trails saturated with health conscious Coloradans decorated the Boulder locale. The world stretched out toward the horizon, dappled with greenery and homes. Pine needles and rocks covered the outlook area of Panorama Point, blanketing the ground, adorned by purple wildflowers.

We headed toward downtown Pearl Street, a pedestrian walkway attraction featuring local unique eateries, shops, and breweries. Masked shoppers walked along the walkway, peering into the store fronts and tented front doors. We grabbed an afternoon iced Golden Milk Latte at Boxcar Coffee Roasters to boost our energy levels. Next door at Cured, a local meat and cheese deli-type shop, we ordered a Peach Caprese sandwich and a giant Pretzel. We bit into the sandwich: sweet palisade peaches, salty prosciutto, fresh mozzarella & basil leaves, doused in balsamic and olive oil, on a crispy roasted Baguette. It was so refreshing! And the Pretzel, almost as big as a head, was covered in crunchy Gruyere cheese. After mostly eating from our packed goods, it felt good to grab a local meal.

The afternoon sun was pushing to the west as we continued north, toward Estes Park and the Rocky Mountains. Our first adventure began at the 'motor nature trail' of Old Fall River Road. This gravel road opened in 1920 and was the first auto route in the Rocky Mountain National Park, peppered by switchbacks and forested byways. After 11 miles of slow going 4x4 driving, we made it to the barren, rocky tundra landscape of the Alpine Visitors Center.

Ready to stretch our legs, we made our way to the Bear Lake Trailhead for a hike to visit the infamous, magical lochs of the Rockies. Equipped with our masks, hiking packs, and sun glasses, we hit the trail. Tall conifers lined the rocky trail, layered with lush grass and shrubbery. The nymph lake, camouflaged by green lily pads, greeted us behind the shadow of the peaks. Small streams babbled past the trail. Beyond the opening of the Ponderosa pines, Dream Lake winked a coy greeting as the sunlight blinked across the undulating surface. Friendly chipmunks again searched our hands for a treat. Along the trail, tiny wildflowers painted the trail way, echoing the beauty of Mother Nature. We made it to our final location for the evening as the sun was setting behind Flattop Mountain. Emerald Lake, a deep verdant green, sat over 10,000 feet above sea level, as a true precious stone nestled between the rocky peaks. We rested at the lake for awhile, watching the water turn a deeper green as the light faded slowly. Peace among the mountains. Finally, we set off back to the trailhead and Ren.

Though a short 3.3 miles, the hike boasted an elevation gain of 1138 feet and more beautiful vistas than some of our longer hikes in the past. Rocky Mountain National Park did not disappoint. In 2018 we had experienced the dazzling winter wonderland of Estes Park and the Rockies. But summer here was another beauty to behold. And the wildlife of Colorado was abundant. A black bear, sheltering near the road as we left the park for the night, make an appearance, capturing the attention of many park visitors. We were lucky enough to nab a photo of her poking her head above the shrubbery as we drove by the crowds. We make our way back to our lodge that overlooked the Rockies, ready for a much needed siesta before another day of adventuring tomorrow.