Chasm lake8/7/2023 ![]() ![]() I took to hustling back, hoping things wouldn’t get postholey. View of Twin Sisters Peaks as I headed back down. Snowfield crossing on the way back The snow softened a lot, and I postholed a bit through the krummholz. The glissade chute off the lake was solid and a bit of fun! It has a solid run out, so probably can send it without any means of controlling speed, but this was a chance for me to practice some skills with my ice axe. I arrived about 7:15am in mid-May, and was able to get a spot, but things looked pretty full by the time I finished in the afternoon. Considering I just got back from spending eleven days at sea level, I must admit I was feeling the thin oxygen by the time I hit 11,000 feet by the lake! This trailhead is extremely popular, and will fill incredibly early in the summer months (most hikers begin a Longs Peak summit attempt at 2 or 3am). The hike begins at the Longs Peak Trailhead, which is at 9400 feet in elevation. This would also give me a little bit of a chance to practice with my crampons and ice axe – yes, the crampons were overkill (I’d argue an ice axe is very smart for the final snowfield crossing to the lake), but practice makes perfect!Ĭhasm Lake sits at the base of Longs Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park’s highest peak and one of Colorado’s iconic “14ers.” This hike is classified as strenuous by the park service, as it is 8.6 miles long and climbs over 2500 feet, much of it above treeline. With the impending start to summer and timed entry reservation season at RMNP, I decided to squeeze in one last adventure before the hoards of tourists arrive and do the very popular hike to Chasm Lake. Difficulty: Easy/Moderate - Notes: Don’t get too distracted by the Crags Hotel Ruins and forget to keep going! The best views are at the Continental Divide Overlook about a 10 minutes past the ruins.If there’s one thing I’ve done in the last six months, it has been exploring Rocky Mountain National Park and area surrounding Estes Park more than I ever had. ☀️ Rattlesnake Gulch - Location: Eldorado Canyon State Park - Distance: 2.9 miles - Elevation Gain: 728 ft. ![]() If the parking lot is full, park at the Park & Ride satellite lot and take the shuttle in. It’s best to start as early as possible to avoid the crowds. Difficulty: Easy/Moderate (out-of-towners might rate this as moderate because of the high altitude) - Notes: This trail takes you alongside 3 beautiful lakes (Nymph, Dream, & Emerald) You can easily add on a 4th (Bear Lake) by just making a right turn at the trailhead! Also note, this trail is extremely popular especially in the summer. There’s a very small section of scrambling, but there are footholds carved into the rock so it’s very doable! ☀️ Emerald Lake Trail - Location: Rocky Mountain National Park - Distance: 3 miles - Elevation Gain: 682 ft. You get to climb up between the famous Flatirons. Difficulty: Hard (a lot of stairs) - Notes: This is an awesome little hike in Boulder. Make sure to bring spikes and poles if attempting in the winter! ☀️ First and Second Flatiron Loop - Location: Boulder, CO - Distance: 2.7 - Elevation Gain: 1,427 ft. Difficulty: Hard (lots of e elation gain and you start out at a high altitude) - Notes: This is my favorite hike if all time! The best time to gon on this hike is July-October when the snow has melted! In winter, one section of the hike can get pretty slippery and dangerous. Details below!□Save for trip-planning later! ☀️ Chasm Lake - Location: Rocky Mountain National Park - Distance: 8.8 miles - Elevation Gain: 2,542 ft. ![]()
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