Black Lake, RMNP

 Sue's brainy idea was to hike to Black Lake from Bear Lake Trailhead.   So we did!

The weather forecast was cloudy in the morning, possible rain and storms in the afternoon and rainy in the evening. For a 10+ mile hike, leaving the trailhead at 11am, we knew getting wet would be a possibility. Nothing a little Goretex wouldn't fix though. And most of the trail was just below tree line, so lightning was not a concern either.

We walked gently uphill, over steps, along tree-trunk planks across marshy bits and around the lakes. Waterfalls were plentiful, chipmunks and ground squirrels, even more so. YES! I just learned the difference between them and no longer have any excuse for calling them all chippies. The ground squirrels appear to like having their photo taken as much as I like taking it. The teenie chipmunks are curious but quick and they have racing stripes on their heads... I'm saving them for my next visit, I guess!

When the rain came, we added the appropriate layers and stopped under a tree for a wee picnic of smoked blue cheese and crackers, melon, cherries and almond butter pretzels. Not a bad life, eh?!

Around every corner were new and interesting lichens, birds seen or/and heard and a changing sky. It went from cloudy to blue, wet to dry, windy to calm - oh about every 10 minutes. Always warm though!

My favorite moments are always the random encounters with unexpected animals. Mamma duck took her 5 hefty ducklings through the wetland beneath our path as we passed. Later, on the return hike, we watched her teaching then to dive for food in Mills Lake.

This marten simply ignored us as we stood 5 feet from him/her, hunting a mouse in the grass! Not the incessant clicking of my shutter, nor the gleeful conversation between Sue and I deterred him/her from what looked to be a joyful good time!  And in the end, I managed to get a nice little series out of the nearly 200 I shot. LOL

Destination: Black Lake

Deserted (if you don't count the fleeting weasel and the resting pika) beautiful and oh so peaceful.

(To see what this should look like: Weasel)

7 miles into the day, we discovered it was already well after 5pm. The weather was threatening to change and stay changed. Dark clouds were rolling in and already we could see rain back at Black Lake.

Scurry, scurry! Despite the aching feet and hips, we had to hustle. With heads filled with ideas of feasting on Nepalese food in Estes Park and bellies crying out for sustenance, we knew that only a faster pace could get us off the trail and out of the park in time.

No sooner were we in the car, than the heavens opened up. As we drove along Bear Lake Rd, in the early darkness and rain... Elk! Moms and babies, close enough to force all traffic to a standstill. 

And by standstill I mean I was afraid if I drove, I'd run his sweet little feet over!

I got home at 9:30pm. Deliciously full of spicy food and exhausted by the 10.5 miles hiked mostly over 10,000'. The drive home was wet and wild all the way... That rain had truly set in for the evening.

We are definitely learning how our gear functions, how long it takes to put on and where it should be stashed for ease of access. We are learning how our bodies cope with miles at altitude and our bodies are learning what we expect from them. All good Kilimanjaro summit trek preparation.