My gal & I returned Sunday from a three-day vacation to the Denver, CO area. We stayed with my very hospitable Aunt & Uncle in Fort Collins.
I have to say that the highlight of the trip was the hike we went on Friday afternoon. We started at the bottom of
Lumpy Ridge trail in
Rocky Mountain National Park, where we were approximately 7,500 feet above sea level. By the time we completed the 1.7 mile trek up to Gem Lake, we were up to about 8,800 feet! Granted the hike wasn’t that long distance-wise but the steep incline resulted in a rather rigorous excursion.
Below are some photos we took along the way.
Soaking in a terrific view!! You probably can't see it but "The Stanley Hotel" is located at the bottom of the hill and to the right. That is the very hotel where author Stephen King penned "The Shining".
Here I got a little adventurous by climbing up some rocks. I mildly sprained my foot jumping down from there.
My gal and I on one of our many rest stops. While I gasp for air she smiles nicely for the camera. Over my right shoulder and in the background is a nice view of Long's Peak.
An unobstructed view of Long's Peak.
Here we are after our hike back down the hill. By the time we were done, the temperature was in the mid-60s, which meant I could unzip my jacket.----------------------------------------------
Welcome back, Brad & Jen! Thanks for posting photos! Was any of the Rocky Mountain "high" due to the asphyxiation buzz from the thin air? I remember being surprised how winded I got hiking to "Bible Point" in Estes Park in 1985. I'm glad you had a great day in the mountains, fantastic weather in a magnificent setting. As an aside, I'm surprised a place like this would have inspired King to write a psycho-thriller instead of a hymn. Must be the thin air again.
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