I’ve decided that because I only have a month left here in Colorado, that I need to utilize every free opportunity I have to hike. On my last three days off, I have done just that. Last Sunday, I went on a lovely hike that was recommended to me by Keith, one of the volunteers in Sweet. This trail is called the Fern-Odessa loop, the trail that my residence was named after. I got to do this hike with one of my good friends from Minnesota, Caroline.
We started around 7 because Caroline had to work that afternoon. The trail was 9 miles total, but only the first three were uphill. This was a very engaging hike because there were just so many points of interest along the trail. We hit on this hike Lake Helene, Odessa Lake, Fern Lake, Marguerite Falls, Fern Falls, and The Pool, all in just 9 miles. This hike was also fun because we didn’t have to backtrack at all. We started at Bear Lake Trailhead–the same place I started the 18 mile traverse hike–and ended at the Fern Lake Trailhead. The reason we were able to do this is because the National Park has a hiker shuttle. Once we finished at the Fern Lake Trailhead, we just hopped onto the shuttle and rode back to our car at the Bear Lake Trailhead. This was by far one of the prettiest hikes I have been on thus far.
Because it was Caroline’s last week in the Rockies, she too had caught the hiking bug. The very next day, we decided to hike the oldest trail in the park, appropriately named the Ute trail after the Native American tribe of the same name. The plaque at the start of the trail on top of Trail Ridge Road reads as follows:
Several cultures have passed this way. Prehistoric people hunted elk, deer, and bighorn sheep in this area. Thousands of years later, Ute and Arapaho Indians walked this ridge in moccasins while journeying between their summer and winter hunting grounds. Trail Ridge is named for the narrow footpaths they left. Indian trails like this led trappers and prospectors across the Rockies in the 1800’s. In 1933, motorists driving along newly completed Trail Ridge Road crossed over this path. Today hikers can still walk along this historic Ute Trail. Take a few minutes to follow the footsteps of those who came before you.
We figured this trail would be cake–all downhill, and only 6.5 miles. The first 2 miles of the trail were the best. We were above tree line, and had spectacular views of the park from all directions. The alpine tundra is a very delicate and marvelous ecosystem, so we made sure to stay on the trail in order to protect it. After the first two miles however, the trail got rough. Besides being the oldest trail in the park, I’d have to say it is also the least maintained trail in the park. It was a very steep decent on loose rocks and gravel. Both Caroline and I wiped out a couple times. This part of the hike slowed us down significantly, and we were even worried we may not get back to the YMCA in time for Caroline to go to work. We were both in pretty bad moods, and the unusually hot sun wasn’t helping matters. The final 1.5 miles of the trail flattened out as we entered Beaver Meadows. We picked up the pace and made it back to the car, exhausted and happy it was over.
Reflecting back on this hike, I guess it was a good thing that Caroline and I did it, because then we could share our experiences with other hikers. My next day in at work, coincidentally, I had two different guests ask about the trail and I was able to give them my honest opinion: “You’re better off walking the two miles out on the alpine tundra, then backtracking to your car. That’s the best part of the hike, and the rest isn’t worth it.” Keith, who had recommended the Fern-Odessa loop, had also been considering doing the Ute Trail. Our experience however encouraged him to pursue another hike.
Just today I did a solo hike to Estes Cone in the Long’s Peak area. I wanted to do this hike for two reasons. First, I hadn’t hiked in the Long’s Peak area yet, and secondly, I also wanted to see the Eugenia Mine which was on the way up Estes Cone. Well, the mine was a disappointment. Not just to me, but to the miners who dug it centuries ago. It was pretty much just a bunch of boards over an old hole with a sign next to it that said Eugenia Mine, at the turn of the century, produced more dreams than gold.
I had heard from others who had done this trail that the last part is extremely steep, and boy were they right! You can see in the video below just how steep it actually was. How did the hike go? Watch the video to find out.
So, didn’t make it all the way, but I think it was the right decision to turn back. In fact, right after I shot that video, a group of 6 hikers were coming down the mountain. I asked them how it looked up there and they said “The clouds are coming in from the west, and they don’t look good. That’s why we’re coming down.” I guess hiking with hikemasters has really paid off! For a frame of reference, here’s a picture of my car in the parking lot, and Estes Cone in the distance. Also, note the ugly clouds looming above the mountain.
