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Scenic hike @ LOW ELEVATION recommendation!

Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 4:41 pm
by oldschoolczar
My dad is coming out for a visit this weekend and he wants to go on a hike. I want to show him why I love the mountains and how beautiful this state is!

The only problem is that he's coming from Chicago and he has trouble with elevation... When he's been out here before he says he even notices it in Boulder :|

But I want to take him on a beautiful hike... ideally we'd climb a mountain. I think he'd be fine on anything up to 10k. He's in great shape.. probably better than me. We could even go a little higher if it's less strenuous of a hike. Maybe something up to treeline with a pretty view? I was thinking of taking him up the first part of the Holy Cross hike just so he could see Mt of the Holy Cross. Bison Peak in LCW was another ideal one, but that might be a little too long above 10k...

Re: Scenic hike @ LOW ELEVATION recommendation!

Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 4:44 pm
by Jay521
Long Scraggy isn't all that high and has nice views from the top. There are several TR's on it on this site...

Edit - I guess there are only 2 reports. But it is a fun hike. You might also consider Eagle Rock and/or Observatory Rock. Both are fun and have great views.

Re: Scenic hike @ LOW ELEVATION recommendation!

Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 4:49 pm
by ameristrat
What about Mt. Evans from Summit Lake? It's 5 Miles / 2000' of gain, and really pretty fun with out being very strenuous. It's also not too steep, so you're not gasping for air.

Just a thought.

Re: Scenic hike @ LOW ELEVATION recommendation!

Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 4:52 pm
by TheOtherIndian
If you are not looking for a peak, I'd any day recommend the Isabelle glacier area. Very scenic! And its mostly close to 10K without much gain.

Re: Scenic hike @ LOW ELEVATION recommendation!

Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 4:54 pm
by oldschoolczar
ameristrat wrote:What about Mt. Evans from Summit Lake? It's 5 Miles / 2000' of gain, and really pretty fun with out being very strenuous. It's also not too steep, so you're not gasping for air.

Just a thought.
I was kinda thinking about this. It's pretty high, but I think it's short enough for him to hack it. He could always turn around..

I just have to talk him into it now! He had a bad experience flying from sea level to 9,500' one time and now he's scared of elevation.. but he's got retreat options here unlike there...

Re: Scenic hike @ LOW ELEVATION recommendation!

Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 8:54 am
by Floyd
I just took my kids (5 and 2) up to Gem Lake in RMNP last weekend. Great hike. It's the first time I'd been to the Lumpy Ridge area and I would compare it to Lost Creek on crack. Amazing rock formations and overlooks out to Estes Park and Longs Peak. Leaves should be peaking (or close to it) also. Short hike, but a longer loop would be to go beyond the lake down to Cow Creek and then back by The Needles. You never get above 10k (Gem Lake is at 9,034). Gem Peak and the Needles are both class 3(+?) scrambles and the Needles is 10,068.

Here is a pic of the lake and the view of Longs

Also, you don't have to worry about park admission as the TH is 100 yards outside the boundary. Here is the quad map. One thing, if you head up there this weekend the road to the TH is closed so there is a detour that goes up Dry Gulch Road (directly north of Lake Estes) and picks up Devils Gulch Road north of the TH (just turn left at the end of Dry Gulch).

Re: Scenic hike @ LOW ELEVATION recommendation!

Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 9:12 am
by MtHurd
Sniktau is easy from Loveland Pass. Greenhorn is easy and gives you views of the Sangres. It's a drive but Conejos Peak is easy and has amazing summit views.

Re: Scenic hike @ LOW ELEVATION recommendation!

Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 9:14 am
by traderaaron
If your Dad is anything like my Dad then peaks are now out of the question, he just doesn't have the lungs for it. If you are in Boulder I would do Isabelle Lake trail first or something like that to see.

Re: Scenic hike @ LOW ELEVATION recommendation!

Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 9:26 am
by plantmandan
+1 for the Lumpy Ridge area.

Re: Scenic hike @ LOW ELEVATION recommendation!

Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 9:28 am
by JimR
For me, a big part of the attraction of mountains is getting above treeline. That's hard to do if you want to stay below 10,000'. That said, and extending the 10K limit a bit, I'd go with Lake Isabelle or Blue Lake in IPW, or continue on from the Lake Isabelle trail up to Pawnee Pass. The Summit Lake suggestion is also reasonable, and it doesn't even have to include Evans. You could just do Spaulding &/or Graywolf, but maybe you want to do more than that.

Re: Scenic hike @ LOW ELEVATION recommendation!

Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 10:24 am
by oldschoolczar
Hey thanks for all the recs here!

I ended up taking my dad up to Blue Lake in IPW and he really like it. Also made it up to Gem Lake near Estes this weekend as well. Both really nice. Some fun rocks to scramble on up near Gem Lake! Thanks again...