Chasm Lake again... because it's worth the hike!

 Aiming to get in as many longer hikes as possible before Peru in a month, we set out for Chasm Lake at 6:15am. It was still dark. When does Daylight Savings time end again? Will it ever end? (Maybe not, if a new law passes... but that's a detour we are not going to take with this post.)

What I love about this hike is the changing environment. 3 miles up and up and up through the woods, over little bridges, past little waterfalls... 

Breaking treeline reveals the view; back east over the plains and west to Long's Peak et al. The trail has been steadily improved by Conservation Corp volunteers/staff and Rocky Mountain National Park Rangers. They literally arrive with a caravan of horses and gear to stay a while and then spend their days moving large rock by hand to produce something akin to what the Romans did. Fascinating! Admirable! Freakin' exhausting to watch!!!

At the top of the saddle, where the trail splits and we leave those destined for the boulder-field or beyond, to the peak of Long's, we took a snack break.

Just a mile or so to go and not all of it is uphill. (Although that which is, is a tough 15 minute scramble.)

This little pika was as hungry as me! Winter will be here before he knows it and the last of the grass and flowers is all he has to fatten up on so there was little room for shyness and he gracefully allowed filming too.

Getting to Chasm Lake is a welcome relief and finding a place to remove boots, loll about lazily and inhale some calories is all that is needed to recover for the downhill. (Well, that and some photography of course!)

The downhill had its own surprises and a touch of magic too. Check out this young coyote that stopped for a little drink at the waterfall before hopping into the trail in front of us and powering up the hill.

The trail maintenance crew was being replenished!