Posts Tagged ‘running’

What is an Estes Park Snow Day?

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

What is an Estes Park Snow Day?  Here it means that we have a foot of snow on the ground,  it’s still snowing and quite possibly the weatherman is going to be wrong, but we aren’t sure which way.  Last Wednesday was our first day of canceled school for the year.  You can check your calendars again, yes it was October.  I can never get my kids up in the morning, but at 7:30 am they were outside with me shoveling snow and for the rest of the day sledding and building forts.  Fortunately it stopped snowing that evening so we missed the 3 feet that was forecast.  Across the rest of the state it continued to snow that night and the next day with up to 2.5+ feet in some areas.

In Estes, we have our own little micro-climate.  We are completely surrounded by mountains and usually that works in our favor.  When big storms come through we almost always get less snow than the Front Range.  It was a regular work day for me so I headed to the office, later at the grocery store it was a social occasion I saw so many people I knew.  The snow didn’t keep most folks home.  There was school on Thursday, all the roads and paths were cleared.  The park department is so great usually the walking paths are cleared before the roads are.

walking path

walking path

I could have gone snowshoeing or hiking, but decided since it was so pleasant on Thursday I was going to take Haley for a run and we ended up at the dog park.  She loves the dog park and pulled me the last quarter mile.  When we got there she was so sad, there were no other dogs there. She really didn’t know what to do with no dogs to chase.

She loves the snow and dove into a snowbank on our way back.

snowbank

snowbank

Mt. Olympus

Mt. Olympus

Elk on 18 hole golf course

Elk on 18 hole golf course

Well now as I write this almost a week later it was 60 degrees and breezy with beautiful blue skies. Other than the January winds there is not much that keeps us inside. Please visit us in the winter, you will be not be disappointed!

Lumpy Ridge Loop

Tuesday, March 10th, 2009

I am really behind on my trip reports and even more behind on getting out into the park. I am embarrassed to say how long it’s been since I hiked. That should tell you a lot right there because now snowshoes are required for most of RMNP. Well, here are some photos of a hike last fall in the Lumpy Ridge. I have a couple more to post today from last week.

lumpy trailhead

Lumpy Ridge trailhead

For a great hike deep into the Lumpy Ridge try the Lumpy Loop Hike starting at the Twin Owls trailhead off of Devils Gulch Road. It is an 11 mile loop connecting several trails and at the end taking you by Gem Lake and back down to the TH. There is elevation gain to work those legs and a lot of runnable trail if you like to trail run. The views are spectacular as you descend from Gem Lake, well at the start too.

Longs Peak and Divide Views

Longs Peak and Divide Views

Unique Rock Formations

Unique Rock Formations

This odd rock formation greets you right at the start.  We call it the Man Riding Dolphin.  I would love to hear what it looks like to you.  The day my husband and I went there was some snow through the trees on the Northern slopes of the Lumpy Ridge but mostly it was clear.

Snowy Trails

Snowy Trails

It is kind of a long hike and is perfect if you want some solitude.  I hardly ever see more than a handful of people on the trail (aside from Gem Lake-sometimes its busy).  See you on the trails.