Our first "stop" on the trail was the same as when we visited RMNP with my parents. This is a picture from that outing at Alberta Falls.
Alberta Falls: there were very few people there at 9:00 in the morning. It was quite different when we visited with my parents.
The trail was very clearly marked, except where it's covered in snow, then you just follow footprints.
The second "stop" on the trail was The Loch. Fed by snow melt from higher up on the mountains, the water was freezing. On our way back down the mountain people were fishing here.
View of The Loch from further up the trail:
We try to have a good time hiking, Justin really likes the new camera, too.
Most of the trail took us along various creeks/streams/falls. This is another one. It might be Timberline falls, but I'm not sure.
It's always amazing to see the snow when you're walking around in 70degree weather.Justin is the greatest. He ordered a backpack for day hiking and carries pretty much everything! We stopped to look here for a short bit while we waited for the people ahead of us to complete the next obstacle.
By the time we got to this elevation it was colder and windy so I donned my jacket.
There were places where the trail looked like this so it wouldn't wash away and to help get over streams.
We're on our way back down at this point and Justin turned the camera over to me for a bit, we also stopped to look at a spot we found on our way up to take a picture.
The water is so clear because it is fast moving down the mountain and is freezing cold, maybe good enough to drink.
After 6 or 7 miles the we are not necessarily as excited about the trail as we were at the beginning.
Especially when the weather takes a turn for the worst and starts hailing on us. Luckily hats protected our heads from being pelted and jackets saved our arms from wind and damage. Justin was laughing a bit as I walked along saying, "ouch", "ow", "ow" when my legs got hit by particularly sharp pieces of ice.
Afternoons in the mountains lead to interesting weather. We were fortunate that the hail stopped. Justin removed his hood/ear protector, and we continued down the train and home safely.
Hiking is great fun and this time was definitely an adventure!
We reached a point on our trail where we had to do some climbing. In the "summer" (i.e. August) this trail would be just a boulder scramble. At the end of June, because of all the melting, it was a waterfall we had to negotiate our way up.
Shortly after the climb we made it to the Lake of Glass (we thought was Sky Pond) and stopped to have lunch. We realized (with a little help from the GPS) that Sky Pond was further along. After some more boulder climbing and a little confusion when the trail turned to snow field again we made it to Sky Pond and stopped to have a looksee.
By the time we got to this elevation it was colder and windy so I donned my jacket.
There were places where the trail looked like this so it wouldn't wash away and to help get over streams.We're on our way back down at this point and Justin turned the camera over to me for a bit, we also stopped to look at a spot we found on our way up to take a picture.
Besides the snow, there were a couple of places where downed trees created obstacles for our amusement. Justin wore his jacket for a little bit when it started to sprinkle.
The water is so clear because it is fast moving down the mountain and is freezing cold, maybe good enough to drink.
After 6 or 7 miles the we are not necessarily as excited about the trail as we were at the beginning.
Especially when the weather takes a turn for the worst and starts hailing on us. Luckily hats protected our heads from being pelted and jackets saved our arms from wind and damage. Justin was laughing a bit as I walked along saying, "ouch", "ow", "ow" when my legs got hit by particularly sharp pieces of ice.
Afternoons in the mountains lead to interesting weather. We were fortunate that the hail stopped. Justin removed his hood/ear protector, and we continued down the train and home safely.
Hiking is great fun and this time was definitely an adventure!
The view from the top. It's always amazing to be above the clouds. 
I got Justin to sit for a picture:
The easiest Fourteener we'll do this year:
