RMNP 2016

We had a great time.  Good weather.  Lotsa hikes and climbs.  A good mix of the old and new.
Lotsa fun times with Rick and Dean and kids and Uncle Danny. So nice to have Grampa Richard and Gramma Kati around for some of the fun.  Lotsa text messages on way out with Wub and Rick and Dean and Mom... Made the trip faster.

Banged out roughly 175 miles and 44,500 feet of elevation gain.

Melissa and Dad

Mapping it out

Alena cooking it up

Mom putting it together

Down time, kinda rare on these Colorado vacations

Favorite PuttPutt course in the world

Hole 19.  "Where did my ball go?"

Trent and Dad on way to Chasm

Wells was thirsty

Little bit older than last time - Dad, Wells, Chet, Brandon

Little climbers - Owen, Chet, Wells, Grant, Brooke

Miranda and Mom

Mom and Alena show off their Colorado shirts

Laura, Miranda, Melissa at Gorge Lakes

Alan Arnette has climbed all the big mountains in the world... Dad has climbed some of the big mountains in RMNP.

Driving Out

Dad, Mom, Maria, Sarah, and Alena left after morning church on July 31.  We met up with Melissa, Laura, and Miranda in Des Moines, Iowa.   We then traveled together the rest of the way, stopping for two 1/2 hour naps on the way.

Mom still in her Church clothes in Iowa

Day 1 - Lumpy Ridge Loop - Settle into cabin

11 miles - 2500 Feet elevation gain
Lumpy Ridge TH

We arrived before check in time at our cabin, so Mom, Maria, Sarah, and Alena stayed in town, and Dad, Melissa, Laura, and Miranda went to do Lumpy Ridge Loop, a favorite of local ultra runners, We would only run brief portions, hiking most of it.

Perhaps a good training run route, but as far as views, we found it lacking and would not repeat this hike.

Getting settled in

Laura, Miranda, and Dad on the Lumpy Ridge Loop

Nearing the end.  MacGregor Ranch property 

Some views of the big mtns

Safeway !!

We rescued a runaway horse

Day 2 - Thunder Lake 10,574 ft - Davison Reunion at night

12.6 miles - 2375 feet elevation gain
Wild Basin TH

Dad, Melissa, Laura, Miranda

This first time hike was a beauty.  All agreed we would do again. A new ranger was gonna spend a few nights in the patrol cabin at the lake and let us look around.

Day 3 - Lily Mountain 9,786 ft - Davison Reunion

3.6 Miles - 1405 feet of elevation gain
Lily Mountain TH

Dad, Melissa, Laura, Miranda, Maria, Sarah, Alena

Good views of Longs from the top. A nice scramble just prior to the summit.

All smiles at the start

Some scrambling near the top

No No No, I do NOT need help....

Summit photo

Don't be jumping around up here

Ready for the reunion

Mom and the girls except Shannon and Brianna

Story telling

Day 4 - Sky Pond 10,900 ft - Davison Reunion

9.5 miles - 2150 feet elevation gain
Glacier Gorge TH

We took the shortcut trail up, Alberta Falls way down.  This is a classic, well worth the effort.  You get the Loch, Timberline falls, Lake of Glass, and then Sky Pond at the end.  A good warm up hike for those that are gonna do bigger things.

We ran for a mile or so on the way down.  Had two people fall and skin themselves up, and other hikers that did not like the thundering herd.

Dad, Melissa, Laura, Miranda, Maria, Sarah, Alena, Uncle Danny, Dean, Allison, Evelyn, Glen, Rick, Ricky, Jessica, Justina, Brian, Jason

Glacier Gorge TH - Day is looking nice

Over dressed, time to delayer

Off we go again

The Loch, a good hike in itself

Part of the group

Timberline Falls.  285 feet

Gotta make our way up the right of these falls.  This was a good group of hikers.

You got one tough move that requires some hand work and getting wet

Lake of Glass

Lake of Glass, on our way to Sky Pond now

Sky Pond

Careful there buddy

Filtering water

Back down

Traffic jam 

Careful

Sisters

Pretty waterfall

And down we go

Captain Kook with his safety glasses

Rain, only a few sprinkles