Estes Park, Colorado

Trail Ridge Road.

Kate surveys a familiar sight.

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The snow can really pile up around these parts.

I'd say that's about 10 feet of snow.

It's a good thing they've got snow plows.

Big snow plows.

We stop to admire a few nice views from the roadside.

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Whoops! Got too close to the edge!

When the snow is fresh, those guideposts help the snow plow drivers from driving off the mountain.

We set up camp in the moraine.

Happy campers.

Hike to Black Lake

First stop, Alberta Falls.

Kate admires the waterfall.

Moving on to higher ground.

Bagels for breakfast.

Plenty of great views.

Over the river and through the woods...

Wildflowers along the way.

The view at Mills Lake cradles us as we eat lunch.

We could sit here for hours taking it in.

But Black Lake is somewhere in the distance and we've got a ways to go.

First sight of snow on the trail.

In some places, the snow was knee deep and would claim your foothold if you didn't watch out.

In other spots, the snow drifts were waist deep and took me by surprise!

Kate navigates the snow slope like a pro.

About 6 or 7 miles in, the trail disappeared so we bushwacked it the rest of the way using the river as our guide.

We hiked up a frozen waterfall that stood between us and our destination.

Kate cannot belive there's yet another snowhill to climb before reaching Black Lake.

At long last, Black Lake.

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It's easier on the way back down!

Sunset on the Moraine

Wild elk graze in the early twilight.

Kate perches amidst a cluster of wildflowers.

A fire keeps us toasty back at camp.

Hike up Twin Sisters

Early morning drive to the base of the mountain. That's the peak in the distance.

Some wildflowers greet us at the trailhead.

Twin Sisters peak stands a modest 11,428 feet above sea level.
But with a trailhead elevation of 9,000 ft, the 3.7 miles uphill was a strenuous
2,428 ft of elevation gain.

Most of that elevation gain seemed to happen amidst the endless switchbacks.
This is where I learned that I don't do so well beginning strenuous hikes at 7 am.

We spotted a furry little creature on the way up.

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Once above tree line, and past the grueling switchbacks, the hike became awesome.

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missing: DSC00174.jpg. Wildflowers enjoy life above the clouds.

I bagged my first peak!

The Red Rocks

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Red Rocks Amphitheater.

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Downtown Denver

Back in downtown Denver Colorado we stayed at Kate's cousin's penthouse loft.

The two floor loft featured impressive 23 foot ceilings with massive floor to ceiling windows that open to a huge balcony overlooking the rocky mountains.