Chapin Chiquita Ypsilon - July 2026

 While KD was at camp Kolby, Cami and I went for a 13er hike up in RMNP.  Kolby still has his free 4th grade National Parks pass, so we wanted to get some good use out of that.  We drove up the Fall River Road for the first time and, wow...that's the nicest dirt road I've ever been on in the mountains.  Once we start on the trailhead, we made quick work to treeline.

As we appraoched the saddle between Chapin and Chiquita, a couple passed us on their way down telling us to turn back because the winds were 70 miles per hour at the saddle.  Having been through nasty winds last year on Kolbys first failed attempt on a 14er, this concerned us a little.  Years of hiking experience have taught me never to listen to strangers for advice of this sort, so we decided to press on and judge for ourselves if we could handle it.  Before reaching the saddle we left the trail and hiked steeply up the tundra to the summit of Chapin, our first mountain of the day.

Looking at Chiquita from near Chapin's summit

Victory!

To our pleasant surprise, the winds were tame as we descended to the saddle.  The route up Chiquita was fairly steep and arduous, the crux of the day for sure.

Obligatory shot of Longs in the distance

Chiquita summit

Two mountains was enough for Cami and Kolby, so I gave myself a time limit to reach Ypsilon's summit and back.  The slope was gradual and very easy.  It took about half the time I expected.  The best views of the day were near the Ypsilon summit where you look down some very dramatic cliffs with jagged spires into Spectacle Lakes thousands of feet below. 

Looking toward Ypsilon from Chiquita 

Spectacle Lakes - Prints available

Fairchild and friends

On the descent we literally ran into some mule deer bucks that had little fear of humans in them.  This made for some nice photo oportunities.  The animals in these national parks are very used to peaple being up in their business.  Just this past week, some old guy got chased by and flipped into the air by a Bison in Yellowstone, though he was not provoking it at all!  It was all over the news/social media.  At first I thought it was AI, but turns out it was real:

Elk just chilling in the valley below us

Winter Hikes 2026

On our way back from visiting family in OK we took a route through New Mexico to visit the Capulin Volcano National Monument near Raton Pass.  We lingered too long at a few stops along the way which put us there close to sunset.  Just as we arrived, the park rangers closed the gate to the road that goes around the volcano to reach the top.  Bummer.  KD decided to be adventurous and hike up the entire road with me full well knowing that we would be hiking in the dark.  The sunset was stunning once we got higher up on the road before going around to the back side.  The winds really picked up making the hike quite cold and bitter.  It was fully dark by the time we reached the top, but with the bright moonlight we were able to see down into the crater.  It was a neat experience and a cool landmark to explore.  How many 12 year old girls can say they climbed a volcano in the dark in the middle of winter?

Capulin from a distance

Sunset on the way up

On MLK day, a group of us decided to take the boys winter hiking in RMNP.  This would be Kolby's first time trying out the snowshoes.  We started at Bear Lake and headed north to a junction where we gave the boys a choice.  They could go the short route to Bierstadt Lake or the long route to Two Rivers Lake.  Of course they chose the long route.  After a grueling windy adventure, lots of breaks for snacks and a stop to add extra socks for frozen toes, the boys finally reached  the lake.  We took a quick picture before our fingers froze then returned to find a good wind shelter to make some hot cocoa.  Kolby learned that sometimes adventures require a bit of suffering and discomfort, but in the end it's worth it!

Notchtop Mountain - Prints available

Hot Cocoa

Longs and friends

Twin Sisters - June, 2023

 

Needed a warmup hike before our backpack to Snowmass Lake next week so I did a quick hike up 11er Twin Sisters Peak.  Tried out a new backpack and got some elevation in.  I took hwy 7 (peak to peak) on the way up:

Well... Road closed.  (photo taken with Cami's camera that I don't know how to use).  I took 36 instead.  Here's another photo of the rock slide from CBS news later that day:

Photo dump from the rest of the hike:

Longs, Meeker and Mt. Lady Washington

The Mummy Range

Lake Estes

Freeloaders

Twins Sisters from back at the trailhead

Hiking Sky Pond, RMNP - June, 2020

Sky Pond, Rocky Mountain National Park - Prints available

This past weekend we did a "warm up" hike to Sky Pond in Rocky Mountain National Park.  This has got to be one of the best hikes in the whole Estes Park area.  The lake sits at the base of rugged spires known as the Sharkstooth and 13,000 ft. Taylor Peak.  In early June, there was plenty of snow to cross with an exciting scramble up a waterfall to reach this high glacial lake.  Marmots and other critters weren't afraid of people up here. One even walked right up to our feet!  A good day with great friends and a "manhandler" at Smokin' Daves for lunch is always a worthy prize for such a workout.

The Loch

Lake of Glass

The Sharkstooth

...And here's a relaxing set of video clips from the hike:

Mt. Ida - July, 2017

Cami with the Gore Range in the distance

Mt. Ida (12,880 ft.) is a fun, gentle mountain along the continental divide in Rocky Mountain National Park with great views all around.  There are many areas in RMNP that we have yet to explore.  This one was up on the western side of Trail Ridge Road starting at the Milner Pass trailhead. 

Mt. Ida (I think the one on the right) from Trail Ridge Road

The famous Rock Cut photography location

There was very little snow on the trail making this our first hike of the season with true summer conditions.

Our quick path to treeline was interrupted by a huge bull elk guarding the trail.  We tried to yell at him and spook him away, but he had no intention of leaving.  We decided it wise to leave the trail and hike around him through the trees.

Bull elk stand off

The entire hike above treeline follows a straight line along a long ridge to the summit.  The alpine wildflowers were beginning to bloom.

Alpine sunflowers

Looking north toward the Mummy Range

Cami hiking toward one of the false summits.  Cami loves false summits!

The Never Summer Range - Prints available

Marmot

Nearing the summit

Longs and friends to the south

Mt. Julian and Azure Lake from the summit - Prints available