- Joined
- Feb 15, 2020
- Messages
- 480
As part of my resolve to get out for more day hikes locally, I'm going to try to post a few more trip reports. We'll see if I can keep it up. (Plus, @scatman does it and I think he's basically who I want to be when I grow up.)
Decided to take this past Saturday and do a little winter hiking in RMNP. Up until the last second I really wasn't sure where I wanted to go. Sky Pond is a fantastic summer hike that I've done on a few prior occasions, but I'd never been up during the winter. Decided to give it a shot. Fortunately in winter I didn't need to wake up at 4a to avoid the crowds, so I slept in a bit and got on trail around 9a. Bear Lake TH parking was maybe 1/3 full.
Conditions were fantastic and cold - pretty windy as I moved higher up, but not nearly as "bad" as many previous winter trips.
There was a pretty good trench all the way up to Loch Vale - only microspikes needed.
![20230107_094909.jpg 20230107_094909.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118037-e7e1d7ade633b45c189f9d85f446a71b.jpg)
Looking down from the canyon a bit below Alberta Falls. Not much to see of the falls this time of year.
![20230107_100145.jpg 20230107_100145.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118038-fb94f2c2f29562a32744476133962d7b.jpg)
![20230107_101619.jpg 20230107_101619.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118039-51d5fefd01209607338f0ca9ca0b434d.jpg)
Looking up towards Glacier Gorge.
![20230107_102622.jpg 20230107_102622.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118040-e0f2e8f562f908b189c869221ec7e83f.jpg)
The sections below the Glacier Knobs were pretty windblown and dry - compared to the rest of the route.
![20230107_102915.jpg 20230107_102915.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118041-f159f6591f6395080bd11c68472802a4.jpg)
Approaching Loch Vale where the wind really began to pick up. The windblown snow obscured the track in places, but still easy enough to follow.
![20230107_110109.jpg 20230107_110109.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118042-9533e8899e311d8f08ef6e80c16a8bde.jpg)
Short video from the frozen Loch Vale.
Continuing up from Loch Vale. I was happy to have carried my snowshoes here - started postholing to my thighs w/o them. (Saw a couple people w/ only spikes making it up, but they didn't look like they were having as much fun.)
![20230107_112642.jpg 20230107_112642.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118043-e42847a3b0564501294415cacaae398b.jpg)
Steep ascent of Timberline Falls. Snowshoes came back off and axe came out for this part - not necessary, but good practice anyway.
![20230107_120153.jpg 20230107_120153.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118044-a20c64bbf3f1a684a8adcb2d47e7fc75.jpg)
Frozen main body of the falls. A couple guys were ice climbing this on my way down. Looked like fun, but so much gear...
![20230107_120155.jpg 20230107_120155.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118045-ed5378e05cdc9d9bc929a86842d07a09.jpg)
Windblown section above the falls. I chatted w/ the climbers and one joked that it looked like a snowmaker was running off the top of the falls.
![20230107_121144.jpg 20230107_121144.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118046-954e16faa2f949e36ec28a8ad86e3431.jpg)
At Lake of Glass - hard to get a good picture w/ the sun reflecting off of everything.
![20230107_121251.jpg 20230107_121251.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118047-16d9a3c2778160630c9e215a9dca10ea.jpg)
First look at Sky Pond.
![20230107_122442.jpg 20230107_122442.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118048-2accfece08ab738c88c37f2572750063.jpg)
I've always loved The Sharkstooth. Very dramatic formation.
![20230107_123433.jpg 20230107_123433.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118049-fb6c699f5369d1df938830c989015d8e.jpg)
Quick video from the middle of Sky Pond.
Looking back across Loch Vale on the way down.
![20230107_133412.jpg 20230107_133412.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118050-037af41d6d3863b205fdb957dafdc862.jpg)
All in all it was a pretty nice day in the mountains.![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
Decided to take this past Saturday and do a little winter hiking in RMNP. Up until the last second I really wasn't sure where I wanted to go. Sky Pond is a fantastic summer hike that I've done on a few prior occasions, but I'd never been up during the winter. Decided to give it a shot. Fortunately in winter I didn't need to wake up at 4a to avoid the crowds, so I slept in a bit and got on trail around 9a. Bear Lake TH parking was maybe 1/3 full.
Conditions were fantastic and cold - pretty windy as I moved higher up, but not nearly as "bad" as many previous winter trips.
There was a pretty good trench all the way up to Loch Vale - only microspikes needed.
![20230107_094909.jpg 20230107_094909.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118037-e7e1d7ade633b45c189f9d85f446a71b.jpg)
Looking down from the canyon a bit below Alberta Falls. Not much to see of the falls this time of year.
![20230107_100145.jpg 20230107_100145.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118038-fb94f2c2f29562a32744476133962d7b.jpg)
![20230107_101619.jpg 20230107_101619.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118039-51d5fefd01209607338f0ca9ca0b434d.jpg)
Looking up towards Glacier Gorge.
![20230107_102622.jpg 20230107_102622.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118040-e0f2e8f562f908b189c869221ec7e83f.jpg)
The sections below the Glacier Knobs were pretty windblown and dry - compared to the rest of the route.
![20230107_102915.jpg 20230107_102915.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118041-f159f6591f6395080bd11c68472802a4.jpg)
Approaching Loch Vale where the wind really began to pick up. The windblown snow obscured the track in places, but still easy enough to follow.
![20230107_110109.jpg 20230107_110109.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118042-9533e8899e311d8f08ef6e80c16a8bde.jpg)
Short video from the frozen Loch Vale.
![20230107_112642.jpg 20230107_112642.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118043-e42847a3b0564501294415cacaae398b.jpg)
Steep ascent of Timberline Falls. Snowshoes came back off and axe came out for this part - not necessary, but good practice anyway.
![20230107_120153.jpg 20230107_120153.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118044-a20c64bbf3f1a684a8adcb2d47e7fc75.jpg)
Frozen main body of the falls. A couple guys were ice climbing this on my way down. Looked like fun, but so much gear...
![20230107_120155.jpg 20230107_120155.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118045-ed5378e05cdc9d9bc929a86842d07a09.jpg)
Windblown section above the falls. I chatted w/ the climbers and one joked that it looked like a snowmaker was running off the top of the falls.
![20230107_121144.jpg 20230107_121144.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118046-954e16faa2f949e36ec28a8ad86e3431.jpg)
At Lake of Glass - hard to get a good picture w/ the sun reflecting off of everything.
![20230107_121251.jpg 20230107_121251.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118047-16d9a3c2778160630c9e215a9dca10ea.jpg)
First look at Sky Pond.
![20230107_122442.jpg 20230107_122442.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118048-2accfece08ab738c88c37f2572750063.jpg)
I've always loved The Sharkstooth. Very dramatic formation.
![20230107_123433.jpg 20230107_123433.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118049-fb6c699f5369d1df938830c989015d8e.jpg)
Quick video from the middle of Sky Pond.
![20230107_133412.jpg 20230107_133412.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118050-037af41d6d3863b205fdb957dafdc862.jpg)
All in all it was a pretty nice day in the mountains.