RMNP Glacier Basin Web Cam

This web cam photo was taken at 2:30 MDT on June 30. The temperature is a cool, crisp 79. The web cam is located at the Glacier Basin camp ground (Kate and I stayed there in 2008). The web cam is focused on, from right to left, Flattop Mountain, Hallett Peak, and Otis Peak. We'll be hiking just to left of these mountains when we head up Glacier Basin to Mills Lake and The Loch.

Dreaming about FUDGE!

MMMMMM.....Laura's Fudge is just 7 days away!!! My favorite is Penuche Maple Nut...aaaaaaggggg I'd sell my soul for Laura's Penuche Maple Nut fudge:)

Now is the time to place your fudge orders for delivery once we come back (if we come back:)

Laura's has a new on-line store. Take a look at the menu and let us know what you want.

www.pioneercandy.com

Repeat Hikes- The Loch and Timberline Falls

The second re-do will be a hike to The Loch and Timberline Falls. We took this hike on the same day that we went to Mills Lake (thus the same clothes...we do actually change clothes each day:).

The Loch trail follows the Mills Lake trail for several miles then splits off to the right. The lake is nestled in another beautiful glacial valley (~8.0 miles roundtrip- elevation 10,180).

At the end of the lake, Timberline Falls tumbles into the The Loch (just above Timberline Falls is another lake, Glass Lake. To get to that lake, you must climb up the Timberline Falls rock wall that is constantly covered with moisture from the falls...not a climb I'm eager to make at this point)

Last year the snow cover was quite heavy from the end of the lake to the falls. That didn't deter me so I orginally went all the way to the falls by myself. Lo and behold, I turned around and saw Deb headed up the snow field!!!! She made it all the way too. We might need those crampons after all, Kate.

Repeat Hikes-Mills Lake

Yes, there are plans to take two repeat hikes. The first willl be on Deb's birthday, July 7, to one of her favorite places- Mills Lake- elevation 9,940. This is one of the best short hikes in the park (5.6 miles roundtrip) This is from last year. In the background is Long's Peak and the Keyboards of the Wind. A beautiful mountain valley!!

Getting Psyched

Getting psyched for the trip after looking at last year's pictures. Here we are on the first day of the 2009 RMNP Adventure. Bear Lake with Hallett Peak (12,713 ft) in the background- Flattop Mountain behind and to the right (12, 324 ft). Deb and I (2004) and Kate and I (2008)completed the Flattop Montain hike (~9 miles) to the contiential divide and back. What an awesome place!

Planning

We leave for Rocky Mountain National Park one week from tomorrow (Saturday, July 3, 2010)...Woo Woo!!

Over dinner we talked about what time we will leave on Saturday morning. First thought- 8:00 A.M. EDT (AIS) with arrival in Salina, Kansas around 7:00 P.M. CDT (AOOS). However, that might mean the final hours of driving would be looking into the setting sun directly ahead. So, maybe 7:00 (AIS) and arrive around 6:00. We finally decided that we would shoot for 7:00 and would be OK with leaving any time before 8:00. When I stated that I would probably be so excited that I would be awake at 4:00 A.M., the departure timeline discussion stopped. So much for the timeline. I'm sure we'll come come back to this later next week.