Day 3 in Colorado consisted of lots of driving. We started the morning at our friends Derek and Carrie's house. Our final destination for the day was the Ice Lakes trail head about 4.5 hours to the south. Along the way we decided to stop at Hanging Lake and take a quick hike up to see what everyone was talking about.
The start of the hike was easy enough, it's a paved path for about 1/4 mile along the river. At the end of the paved path is where it gets interesting.
The start of the hike was easy enough, it's a paved path for about 1/4 mile along the river. At the end of the paved path is where it gets interesting.
At the end of the paved path you start up the cayon. The elevation gain is immediate and considerable. The canopy of trees and the splashing stream take the edge off the exertion.
Mark convinced me I didn't need my hiking boots - hind sight being 20/20 I'd wear them next time.
We hiked up along this stream for almost the entire trip. There was a series of switchbacks that pulled us away but not before we got this mossy shot.
Mark convinced me I didn't need my hiking boots - hind sight being 20/20 I'd wear them next time.
We hiked up along this stream for almost the entire trip. There was a series of switchbacks that pulled us away but not before we got this mossy shot.
At the top of the hike (the last 500 feet are both grueling and spetacular) you come upon this amazing blue pool.
The entire bottom of this pool and much of the surrounding surfaces were covered with Travertine.
The entire bottom of this pool and much of the surrounding surfaces were covered with Travertine.
The soft limestone in the surrounding cliffs is erroded by the water and deposited as travertine on the basin bottom and other fallen objects. There are signs around the basin that warn you not to touch the water as the natural oils on our skin will hinder the natual process.
The water is so clear here that you could see the trout swimming feet below the surface (polarized lenses help:) ).
We spent about an hour and a half here just hiking around the basin looking for great pictures. It was hard not to be in awe of this natural formation.
We spent about an hour and a half here just hiking around the basin looking for great pictures. It was hard not to be in awe of this natural formation.
Before we started our hike back down to the bottom we stopped by spouting rock. This is a waterfall that shoots straight out the side of a sheer rock face.
The water has found the soft vein of limestone and worked it's way thru the rock wall until it wound its way out.
From here we hiked back down to the car and saddles up for what was to be a 4 hour car ride to our next destination - Ice Lakes!
The water has found the soft vein of limestone and worked it's way thru the rock wall until it wound its way out.
From here we hiked back down to the car and saddles up for what was to be a 4 hour car ride to our next destination - Ice Lakes!
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