Monday, June 25, 2012

Go West XII - A Hike to Blue Lake

Lupines, near Lower Blue Lake Trailhead, Colorado  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view)



Today's post chronicles our hike to Lower Blue Lake, Mt. Sneffels Wilderness, San Juan Mountains... about 1 hour drive from Ouray, Colorado.
 These breathtaking lupines bloom vigorously on a hillside near the trailhead. 

Our beginning elevation is just over 9300 feet.

(To see a slide show, click on any image.)


Quaking Aspens, Lower Blue Lake Trail, Mt. Sneffels Wilderness, Colorado
 © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Early sections of the trail pass through young aspen groves
 with their fresh green leaves on display. Our brains know these leaves are producing oxygen, but it's not quite enough for our lungs which are accustomed to the sea level elevation of the Lowcountry.


Mt. Sneffels, from the Lower Blue Lake Trail, Mt. Sneffels Wilderness, Colorado
  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



As we progress in elevation into the subalpine forests, we glimpse rugged mountain peaks which form the backbone of the wilderness area.


Meltwaters, near the Lower Blue Lake Trail, Mt. Sneffels Wilderness, Colorado
 © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Melt water from high elevation snow fields and the Blue Lakes rushes down the mountain, joining other runoff to the East Fork Dallas Creek. From there the waters join the Uncompahgre, the Gunnison, the Colorado, the Gulf of California and ultimately the Pacific Ocean. These waters have a long journey ahead!


Becky on the Trail to Lower Blue Lake, Mt. Sneffels Wilderness, Colorado
  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


Becky continues up the trail toward the high peaks that tower above Blue Lake.
I linger behind, on the watch for yaks and yetis. Ok, not really. I lag behind looking for pictures to tell our story. But alas, I must not dally, or she will leave me in the dust... or snow.




Snow Fields, Lower Blue Lake Trail, Mt. Sneffels Wilderness, Colorado
  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


The higher we hike, the more snow fields we trudge over. The snow is well packed, but a challenge to traverse... 

several times our legs sink knee-deep and our boots fill with icy cold. 


Subalpine Meadow, Lower Blue Lake Trail, Mt. Sneffels Wilderness, Colorado
 © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


We near the tree line. At this point we pause to wonder how much further we have to go... more switchbacks and more snow fields await us on the trail. Hikers returning from the lake reassure us that we are getting close. We eat Clif Bars for energy and continue on.


Snow Draped Peaks, Lower Blue Lake Trail, Mt. Sneffels Wilderness, Colorado
 © Doug Hickok All Rights Reserved


The peaks above us are magnificent! There are fewer trees now and more wild terrain. How can mountain goats and bighorn sheep possibly survive among rocks such as these?  


Slopes above Lower Blue Lake, Mt. Sneffels Wilderness, Colorado
 © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


Above the lake basin, a steep talus slope of reddish rock makes a striking contrast to the dark formations of the tallest peaks.


Lower Blue Lake, Mt. Sneffels Wilderness, Colorado
  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Finally we reach our destination! As breezes shift, the surface of the water changes texture and color. But when calm, a beautiful glacial blue color reveals itself. Ice floating on the lake makes a mockery of the warm summer sun. We watch a little gray bird called an American Dipper (or Water Ouzel) splashing in the lake in spite of the frigid cold. Our ending elevation is around 10,800 feet. After a picnic and some picture taking, we head back down the trail.


This spectacular hike took us 7 grueling hours to complete. By the time we returned to our car we were thoroughly exhausted, but knew that after a nap and pizza we would feel that it was well worth the effort.

And... it was on the drive back to the hotel that we sighted shaggy black yaks in a field, grazing.



25 comments:

  1. Excellent series of photos!
    Have a good week.

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  2. Wow! Such a wonderful place for a hike!

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  3. I definitely knew this was Colorado, Doug! I love the aspens...and might have been tempted to stop there! But the entire trip was indeed worth it...especially for the rest of us who could just sit back and enjoy the view. BRAVO.

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  4. Doug....Thanks for these wonderful pictures..... colors ,light and place are beautiful !!

    Greetings, Joop

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  5. wow the blue lake is magnificent!
    Wonderful photo article, this is an enchanting place there!
    Thanks for sharing your pictures!
    Léia

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  6. Wow Doug. What an adventure. I'm sure it will stay with you for years. Such a reward to see the blue lake at the end. Thank you so much for sharing your experience.

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  7. Thanks for letting me tag along on your hike. Exciting terrain.

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  8. wow, amazing series
    i would've kept them to post one by one through a week (but i'm lazy) :))

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  9. Wauu.. amazing images.
    Greetings.

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  10. Wow, Monday's special treat, eh!
    Remember the North American Landscape in the British Museum?
    I also saw some lupines there...
    Unfortunately, they forgot to place a pair of grazing yaks in the garden. ;o)

    If you enjoy hiking, I think you'll probably love Scotland too, D!
    I miss Scotland so much.

    Hey, I saw a manatee in Lower Blue Lake,
    not a swimming yak or a singing mermaid. :o)

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  11. What a hike, I want this to.

    Greetings,
    Filip

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  12. I enjoyed the journey with you on this mountain is the feeling you have when you see your photos, some day I'll go to Colorado is a part of uses that do not know.
    Best regards and happy summer to you and becky

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  13. Terrific. I love the lupine and the bokeh.

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  14. This is a magnificent presentation of Mt. Sneffels in Colorado Doug... i did a series on the Canadian Rockies last year and this mountain looks very much like what we saw on our tour... complete with the glacier lake with the green water... i only hiked about four kl and was out of breath from the lower oxygen... you have done very well with this my friend....peter:)

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  15. It is like I took the hike with you. Beautiful nature.

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  16. Absolutely fantastic place!
    Wonderful landscape!
    I would love to hike there!
    Have a nice week!
    Yvonne & Raphael

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  17. Wow! Breathtaking photographs. The color of the sky as backdrop of greens and whites is just perfect. I agree, despite long hours to get there, it's worth it.

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  18. That was a bit of a walk, to say the least! A very enjoyable read, and beautifully illustrated.

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  19. A lovely series of pictures that illustrates your wonder and enjoyment of the Colorado wilderness, that looks so magical. I just hope that it's still as is after the fires (they can't be that far away!).

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  20. Magnificent scenery and brilliant photos, well worth the effort.

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  21. Refreshing serie! Very nice report of this travel!
    Have a nice day.

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  22. great storytelling, must be rewarding to get to the end of the hike.. beautiful sceneries as well.. :)

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