Tuesday 17 July 2018
Alas, I cannot hike today. I ran for cover from the rain on Sunday and irritated a tendon in my right leg. Yesterday’s hike seems to have aggravated things. So today, I stay behind while 11 of the 15 group members hike up to Black Lake. I drive into Estes Park so I can take care of some administrative details for which I need cell phone reception. While there, I buy two more pieces of pie from You Need Pie for tomorrow’s breakfast and enjoy a good cup of coffee. I also restock our yogurt supply. Then I return to the Y, print out and fax some forms, and proceed to our room for some leg elevation, hot packs and reading. It’s a very restful day for me, but I’d rather be hiking.
O, meanwhile, heads out with the group. They drive to the same Park and Ride lot as yesterday and take the crowded shuttle to the Glacier Gorge trailhead. After a short walk up the trail, John, our co-leader, ducks off the main path onto “the secret ranger trail.” This trail is a rangers’ fire trail which cuts about a half mile off the usual hike and avoids the crowds.
The group rejoins the main trail a bit before Mills Lake. They stop here for a snack break, enjoying the morning sunshine. O’s photo shows Mills Lake (named after Enos Mills, considered the father of Rocky Mountain National Park) with the long valley ahead, at the end of which is Black Lake, their destination. The hike proceeds through lush, green meadows sporting a profusion of wildflowers and then climbs along a picturesque mountain stream. O passes a few waterfalls along the way. The falls spilling from Black Lake cascade over flat rocks, reminding O of Toboggan Falls at Mt. Robson Provincial Park in Canada. Shortly after the falls everyone arrives at Black Lake and breaks out their lunches. There are more wildflowers to admire here. Soon after starting to eat, thunder rumbles from behind the ridge. Sprinkles turn into a persistent shower accompanied by lightning. Everyone hastily dons rain gear and descends below treeline. O does not have time to finish his sandwich.
It rains harder as the group treks downward. Soon there is hail along with the rain. Once below treeline O manages to get his rain pants and pack cover on, but soon the sun is out. The hail and the rain stop. Everyone is getting rather warm so off comes the rain gear. Needless to say, the rain then returns. O has his rain jacket on and off at least four times. The party stops once more at Mills Lake (in the sunshine) for a group photo taken by a passer-by. As they proceed back down the valley the clouds come and go. They finally arrive at the shuttle stop to begin the drive back to Longs Peak Lodge.