PEAK 1 TO PEAK 6 TRAVERSE

Frisco

Not YET Completed

 

Welllllll, this day didn't actually work out like I wanted it to, but I will come back for it later this summer.....

Cause it looks AWESOME!!!!! 

I started from the Rainbow Lake parking lot outside of Frisco. My intention was to head up to the ridge line passing over Peaks 1 - 6.  Somehow I missed the clearing to take me up to the ridge.....There was still a lot of snow down low and up high.....so maybe not the best day to tackle this one!

I made the most of it and headed up the Colorado Trail for a ways.....Looking back gave me a good view of the ridge and the decent.  Maybe next time I'll just go all the way to Peak 10!!

Yet another beautiful day in Colorado!

 

always be swooping

CHRIS & NANCY ROGGE'S COLORADO VACATION

I really had intended to do a full post with lots of pictures from our time together, but really there were just toooo  many good times, and too many pictures to show for it.....So I'll just leave it at that.....I truly am very lucky to have such amazing parents in my life!  I know our journey together has not always been a perfect one, but please know I truly love and appreciate your love, patience, and support over the years!!  Love you guys!!!

Ok, I had to add one photo of the train ride down from Pikes!  I just really liked the photo!!!



 

always be swooping



PIKES PEAK -- 1/2 COMPLETE

Manitou Springs

One Way Distance: 11.8 miles (Barr Trail)

Total Elevation Gain:7,900 ft

Highest Elevation: 14,115 ft



I don't think I can actually count this as a completed Colorado 14'er, as I took the train down!  The cool part of this trip was I had time to take the train down, meet my parents, take the train back up and then back down again.....(More on that to come!)  Maybe I get credit for doing a 14'er twice in one day!!  Enjoy the pics.  Not much beta here cause there is a ton already out there!!

 

This 60 year old man RUNNING up Pikes is truly my new motivation!

 

Thanks for the snacks Mom!!

 

 

Beautiful views from mid-mountain!

 

I loved these old school signs along the way!

 

Hail/snow to the north, blue skies to the south!

 

 

First 1/2 completed 14'er of the season!

THE INCLINE

Manitou Springs

Round Trip Distance: 3 miles-ish (if you take the Barr Trail down)

Total Elevation Gain: 2,000 ft in one mile....UGH!



 

 This "hike" was certainly a pretty cool one to do on the longest day of the year!! As usual these days, it was a little harder than I thought it was going to be.....but tons of fun nonetheless. 

 

 

 

 I went up the stairs, was pelted with hail, and then the sun came out!  I opted to take the Barr Trail down off the top.  Someone warned the stairs could be a bit slippery when wet.....!

 

 

 

 

 

It sounds like it might be closing for repairs soon, so check it out while you still can!!!!  And don't forget to head to the penny arcade afterwards!!

BEAR LAKE TO FERN LAKE

Rocky Mountain National Park

One Way Distance: 9.2 miles (if you don't get lost!)

Total Elevation Gain: 1,230 ft

Highest Elevation: 10,697 ft

 

 

Sooo, maybe this was one in which I should have listened to the Park Rangers just a little bit more,

as there was a TON of snow up there!!!

 

This was one that reminded me that I need to buy a GPS! 

And one I am very thankful for nice people on the trail who helped me find the trail!

And one I wished I had a mountaineering axe with me!

 

One that I was thankful that I didn't have to post-hole (b/c if I did I would have certainly turned around!) 

And one that, again, makes me very, very thankful to be in Colorado!

 

There is a ton of info out there on this hike, so I won't give to much beta here.....but you do need to do a car shuttle or take the NP shuttle bus back to the originating parking lot.  And I'll say this one is worth doing!!!

MT. EVANS

Front Range of Colorado

Highest Paved Road in North America

Elevation: 14,240

 

They recently opened the road to the top of Mt. Evans, and I couldn't wait to get up there and check it out!  They close the road during the winter.

My parents and I had a beautiful day exploring the area.....and we had our own little adventure.....note to self: the closest gas station is in Idaho Springs......good thing it is all down hill!!!

 

My favorite photo of the day, my parents on the summit!!!! 

Can't wait to come back and do some hiking!!

Happy Birthday to One of the Coolest EIGHT Year Old's I Know!!!

Suresh, thank you for all of the love, energy, and creativity you have brought to me and sooo many others!  We love you soooo very much!  Happy birthday little man!!!