Rocky Mtn NP trip report - 5 brutal hikes, 3 with fish

[ColdWaterFshr]

Let me tell you.  Paul Dallas has some angry and weary knees, and mosquito bitten ankles.  But he sure is happy looking back on this trip

Day 1 - hike to Lake Haiyaha / Chaos Creek (10,240 ft elevation), 4.2 mile roundtrip

Day 2 - hike to Deer Mountain (10,013 ft elevation), 6 miles roundtrip - no creeks to fish, just suffering

Day 3 - hike to Mount Ida (12,874 ft. elevation), 9.4 miles roundtrip - no creeks to fish, just extreme suffering; 2,414 feet elevation gain, mostly above treeline; did not complete hike as steady winds around 40-50 mph finally blew us back down maybe a half mile from summit.

Day 4 - hike to Ouzel Falls, Copeland Falls, Calypso Cascades, Cony Creek (9,730 ft. elevation), 5.4 miles roundtrip

Day 5 - hike to Sky Pond, Loch Vale, Icy Brook (10,900 ft. elevation), 8.6 miles roundtrip; 1,800 feet elevation gain

Day 6 - mini golf and tourist stuff in Estes Park

 

 

Early morning start on our way up Mt. Ida.  Started at Milner Pass, well below treeline.  This trail follows the Continental Divide.  To my left is west coast drainage, and to my right is east coast drainage.

Trial up to Ida

trail up to Ida

Chaos Creek below Lake Haiyaha

Greenback from Chaos Creek

Lake Haiyaha.  Paul Dallas 

Just below Ouzel Falls

Loch Vale

Icy Brook above Loch

Icy Brook just below Timberline Falls on way up to Sky Pond

Sky Pond

Daughter standing next to snow block at Sky Pond

Icy Brook Cutt

 

Family selfie before we made the correct decision to quit the mountain.

[ness]

I love RMNP! Looks like a great trip. And, those are some great looking and good-sized fish!

Just had lunch Friday with a buddy of mine that has a second home just below McGregor Ranch who offered his place up to us. Not sure we'll get up there this fall, but I'm gonna take him up on it at some point. 

[ColdWaterFshr]

7 minutes ago, ness said:

I love RMNP! Looks like a great trip. And, those are some great looking and good-sized fish!

Just had lunch Friday with a buddy of mine that has a second home just below McGregor Ranch who offered his place up to us. Not sure we'll get up there this fall, but I'm gonna take him up on it at some point. 

Cool!  You should definitely get out there.  We almost did a hike over near McGregor on Lump Ridge trailhead.  You know, we've been out there 4 times now and we still have so much of the park left to explore.  Was sad to see all the Cascade Cottages boarded up just inside the Fall River entrance.  

[ness]

39 minutes ago, ColdWaterFshr said:

Was sad to see all the Cascade Cottages boarded up just inside the Fall River entrance.  

Yeah -- so many good memories from there. Too bad the next generation didn't want to keep it going. I wondered if they were still standing. 

 

Where'd you guys stay?

[ColdWaterFshr]

We found an airbnb on Fish Creek Rd, just east of town.  Overlooks Estes Golf course.  

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

Awesome pictures,  sorry you all had to turn back but glad you're OK.  Skybpomd looks amazing. I always pictured the trails to be much more rugged.  

[netboy]

Beautiful area. Great pics also.

[ColdWaterFshr]

52 minutes ago, Daryk Campbell Sr said:

Awesome pictures,  sorry you all had to turn back but glad you're OK.  Skybpomd looks amazing. I always pictured the trails to be much more rugged.  

We had hiked Mt. Ida before and knew about the wind, but this time it was worse.  And there is some rock-scrambling to get to the summit, but nothing technical or that requires equipment.  And Sky Pond had one short section where you climb for 30-40 feet up some rocks right by a waterfall, but its not terribly challenging.  The main danger is someone above you dislodging some rocks that would rain down on you.  That and afternoon storms that come up quick.

[motroutbum]

RMNP is awesome.  Looks like you had a great trip.  Are you sure you made it all the way to Sky Pond?  Sky Pond is the second lake after you climb the waterfall.  Your photo looks like the Lake of Glass, commonly mistaken for Sky Pond.  It's one of my favorite places in the park.

 

Here is Sky Pond:

[ColdWaterFshr]

1 hour ago, motroutbum said:

RMNP is awesome.  Looks like you had a great trip.  Are you sure you made it all the way to Sky Pond?  Sky Pond is the second lake after you climb the waterfall.  Your photo looks like the Lake of Glass, commonly mistaken for Sky Pond.  It's one of my favorite places in the park.

 

Here is Sky Pond:

Dang it.  I think you're right.  We didn't go far enough.  

Do you guide out there?