After officially placing their bid for the house, Brian and I went up to Roosevelt National Forest to the Brainard Lake Rec Area to do his favorite hike to Isabelle Glacier. The weather turned, so we didn’t make it all the way, but it was spectacular. And all above 10,000 ft, serious altitude for this lowlander!
Let’s get some ’tude!
view of the Flatirons
Boulder nestled in foothills
Pearl St., Boulder
Cafe in Boulder where Brian recently worked
Driving up to Brainard Lake Rec. Area
view from road walking to trailhead
trail map
we’ll go to Isabelle Lake
there is still snow up here
Long Lake, 10,522 feet
Brian said it is usually not so lush
there has been alot of rain this year. Hmm...sounds like NJ!
well travelled trail needs no markers
Wild Strawberry
crossing the first of 2 snowfields
Marsh Marigold
water flowing under snow patch, there was a bridge, or you could take a chance on the snow
I stayed to the side of this one
Indian Paintbrush
snow is still several feet thick in mid July!
Goat's Head or Puncture Vine. I didn’t feel any stickers
Tall Chiming Bells - but they are small?
We’ll head to Isabelle
it is beautiful up here
Isabelle Lake, 10,868 ft
a big snowfield
can’t identify
Colorado Rocky Mountain Columbine
This is the state flower
furry marmot
clouds gathering over Isabelle Lake
time to watch the clouds
this was my turnaround point above Isabelle Lake
ok, now it’s time to head back to cover. This snowfield was tricky on both crossings
I pause for a second to add a stone to the cairn
the dark clouds are dramatic
it is raining as we reach the trees, then it starts hailing
time for boot adjustment
it got windy, but the storm passes relatively quickly
back near the trailhead
we made it!
walking back to the truck, no more blue sky
still going strong at 152k miles!
taking the dirt road through Sugar Loaf Canyon into Boulder
nasty skies over Boulder
back to Denver
Coors Field on right
DJ Gourmet at the turntables
Atomic Cowboy/Fat Sully’s
cool retro interior
80’s nightclub on Colfax Ave.
