Colorado Springs

 Some of our friends are working from home, so they spent a month in Colorado.  They rented a large house around CO Springs for 2 weeks, then around SW Colorado for the last 2 weeks.  Since we are not working from home full time, we only joined for a long weekend around the CO Springs area.  

North Cheyenne park: 7 bridges trail. 7 bridges, followed creek. After last one, go another mile to Jones park (stay right when fork), which is a beautiful grove of yellow aspens in fall. 

On way back, can see nice view below. Spotted: chipmunks and blue jays.

At side of the road: Helen Hunt waterfall (poet, novelist, indian advocate).

Silver cascades 1/3 mile from Helen Hunt falls: a lot of steps and not much water! 

One day, we hiked Red Rock canyon:

Mesa trail

Lyons Sandstone

Billions of years ago, at one point there was a sea here then rocks lifted up from Laramide revolution when rockies formed. Alluvial deposits formed the mesa, and water formed the canyon. So there are dinosaur track and sharks teeth here. 

Spotted: mule deer.

Sandstone quarry (rectangular shape in sandstone)

One afternoon, we visited Garden of the Gods Park.  There were neat rock formations there, but it was very busy.

One day, we woke up very early to hike Pike's Peak (Crags trail). It's a 1 hour drive from CO Springs. 3 miles are on an easy dirt road to trail head.  There was plenty of parking. We started the hike at 6:22am. There is a bathroom at the trailhead.  Up hill, down to stream and cross to right to go to devil's playground, don't miss turn! 

Unfortunately, the day we did this hike was especially windy.  So it was quite uncomfortable and cold past tree line!  Also, the altitude makes the climb very challenging.  We did have elevation sickness medicine, thankfully.  

You can take a shuttle for the last couple miles to the summit.  If you choose to hike, the path is especially rocky.

Many people choose just to drive all the way to the summit.  So there was a line to enter the summit house.  Inside is a gift shop and donuts for sale.  

On our last afternoon, we met a friend for a hike in the Boulder area.  

Enchantments, Washington State: Snow Lake Trailhead to Isolation Lake Upper Enchantments

We got the permit to stay at Snow Lake Zone at the Enchantments! Really difficult to get permit! We wanted core zone, but couldn't. But family's Canadian friend got Snow Lake Zone but due to covid restrictions, can't come to USA, so we got lucky and they gave us the permit!

Snow Lake Trail (no 1553):

We started from trailhead at noon. First downhill from parking lot, turn right to cross bridge over Icicle Creek. 

Up 24 switchbacks, view of valley and Leavenworth. At 2 mi: Snow Creek Wall, for rock climbers. Through a forest and then few areas right next to Snow Creek where you can filter water. Come to a previously burnt forest area. Then around 4 miles, reach a rock slide, kind of steep. Along the way, you can eat some thimble berries, especially August/September.

Mountain goat 🐐 blocking the path! Dad slowly drove it forward, then we went around it.

Cross Snow Creek via wooden bridge at about 5 mi. through forest then a rock slide area again. 

Around 5.5 miles: pretty flat forest to reach Nada Lake with view of The Temple peak. 

Continue right of Nada Lake on a flat stretch with camp sites, then becomes a steep upwards rocky climb to a man-made waterfall (dam water outlet) above Nada Lake. 

Reach a forest and there is a nice welcomed bit of downhill until Snow Lake. Only way across is a little man-made cement dam separating upper and lower Snow Lake. 

Then another 1.5 miles to upper part of Snow Lake. 

We were too late to get a good camping spot at the very top of the lake, but we made do. Some nice camp sites along the beach too.

Arrive: 6:30p. Pace: slow medium. Elevation gain: 4,100ft. Distance: about 8 miles.

Starting elevation: 1,300 ft. Final elevation: 5,400 ft

8:15am start.

Through forest on left side of Snow Lake. Then patches of bald rocks with steep climb requiring some minor scrambling. 

Continues to alternate between forest and bald rock faces. Cairns to guide the way. Some rock areas have little man-made steps. Don't get lost! After bald rock area with a small man-made trail in the rock, you'll get to Lake Vivian with Prusik Peak in the back. 2mi.

Sharp left after crossing the creek, then winds up to left of Vivian Lake with some minor scrambling and large staples in the rock. 

See some larches that turn yellow in October. 

Reach Leprechaun Lake shortly.

11:35am other part of Leprechaun Lake.

Half way to perfection lake there is a pond. Get to the other side, and climb up bald granite to the pond before Perfection Lake and Perfection Lake. Perfect place for our lunch! 

There is a section of the lake where the trail curves around where it's super shallow and you can walk across to the other bank. Super cold water!

1p: Inspiration Lake.

Rocky trail up to upper Enchantments with deep gulley and river on right. Baby goat spotted! This area also has a beautiful view of Navajo Peak and a lower Crystal Lake if you follow the toilet trail.

There is a splattering of pools .

Then up another climb is Isolation Lake. Middle peak is Witches Tower, right is Dragontail. 2:15p.

Final elevation: 7,712'

Total elevation gain from trailhead: 6,400'

Time up: 6 hours. Pace: slow (taking pics).

On the way back we saw the same family of mountain goats. Baby goat was suckling.

Back to SnowLake camp around 7p. Time down: 4 hours, fairly rapid pace.

Woodpecker spotted!

Marmot spotted!

Next day, took us about 4 hours to get back to Snow Lake Trailhead. 

Ate well deserved pork hock from Leavenworth! Huge!