Great Sand Dunes Hike

Great Sand Dunes National Park                                            
10945-11191 Colorado 150                                               Trail Length : 3 Miles / Round Trip
Mosca, CO 81146                                                              Time : 2 Hrs 30 Minutes
Gps Co-ordinates:  N37 44.370 W105 31.048
           
               This was my favorite hike and enjoyable hike. We did camping in Pinon Campground inside the national park for Labor day weekend. We took the trail from Pinon Campground area. We thought of starting the hike on the 1st day evening, so that we can reach top for sunset photography. But half the way, the sand was blowing like anything and poking our legs. So we returned back to our camping site. We planned  to wake-up early the next morning and begin our hike for sunrise.
 

          I woke up first and went to brush my teeth. The sunrise almost started, we rushed ourselves to begin the hike. The weather was pretty cold. I wore my wind jacket and gloves.I packed water bottles and snack bar and started at 7 am.  The shadows on the dunes looked great. My hubby enjoyed taking picture all the way. We must have been 15 to 30 minutes early to capture good pictures. We thought to hike until the top most part. Nice up and downs all the way. 

           No specific trail routes to follow, we made our own trail. It was really a fun climbing in the sand. If we took a step-up, felt like coming back to the same place. The final part was really challenging with nice ups, took 10 steps and rested. Finally reached the top most part. The Hiking to dunes were so different from normal colorado mountain hikes.

            WOW.....Amazing  Dunes all around, couldn't really say in words how wonderful it was. We could see all other smaller dunes below us. People below looked tiny as Ants in a row. We just sat on the sand enjoying the view. We also saw our foot paths all the way. It took almost 1.30 Hr to reach up.

           The wind started blowing again. I pulled my hoodie and tied up. We planned to get down quickly. Getting down was very easy and fun. We reached the bottom pretty soon within 15 minutes. And from the Medona creek it took almost another 15 min to reach the camp ground. 

The Dunes were stunning, well worth the visit. Definitely will hike once again.

Thank You,

Dhamaya.

Mt Bierstadt Trail - Colorado's 14'ers

Mt Bierstadt trail                                                      Trial Length: 7.4 miles /round trip
Guanella Pass Road,                                                 Summit Elevaion    : 14,060 Ft
Georgetown,                                                             Trail Elevation        :11699 Ft
CO 80452                                                              Level of Difficulty : Difficult
                                                                               Elevation Gain : 2,404 ft

 First time to Mt. Bierstadt - August 2013
     
              We made a sudden plan to Mt.Bierstadt trail on Gunella pass road, it took almost 10 am to start from home and we reached there by 12pm. We packed our lunch (coconut rice) from home to have during our hike. There was a large crowd in the trail and almost plenty of cars parked all sides of the road. The trail begun from the road through a wide valley. We crossed a small creek running across the trail.Then we also meet a huge beautiful lake. It took almost 1.30 Hr to reach the foot hill and a gradual elevation from there. We picked up huge rock to have a break and our lunch. With steep elevation my jaws started aching. Any how managed to climb up and reached the first mountain. My hubby was very energetic asusall. But couldn't rather make it even a little. We were just half the way got exhausted , it would have taken 2 more hours to reach the summit. We started getting back. On the way we saw a father and son,back-packing to the summit. We thought we should have been earlier to hike to the summit. It was 5.30 when we reached the car.

   
 Second Time to Mt. Bierstadt - July 26 th, 2014
              
             This time we started earlier from home and reached George town visitors center for restroom. The weather was much cooler in summer. We started  the trail at 8.30 Am. We just took a light hoodie with us from home thinking any weather changes might help. We did not expect such a cold wind there. The wind was blowing at  25 mph. We started the trail any how thinking, wind might stop and temperature would become warmer. Even when we crossed the creek which was in 0.4 miles,we thought whether we can do it or back from here, we had oscillation. Finally made our mind to continue the hike. On the way we met Alex, his girlfriend & his dog, my hubby's office colleague. He said they were leaving without going to the summit as it was snowing at the top and his girl friend could'nt stand the cold up there. Moving further made my hands freezing. My hubby said its not a problem we will return back. But i was energetic to climb expect the unbearable such a cold. It was almost 90-95 F in Denver but here it was a miracle. We reached the point where we came last time and continued up almost another 0.5 miles. The view of the valley was awesome. We saw few people resting behind the rock seemed to escape hiding from the wind. The wind was getting worse than before. Finally we backed down, i was disappointed that we couldn't make to summit even the second time.

 Third Time to Mt. Bierstadt - Aug 16 th, 2014

           This was our third time visit to Mt. Bierstadt, i was not much interested this time but my hubby was very curios to hike till the summit, we started at 9 am. This time hike was much easier than the previous ones. We passed the two place where we backed last couple of times. On the way a man told its still half a way to reach the summit, i was shocked. I thought we have almost reached up there.

      We had to climb on huge rocks and steep elevation which was ankle breaking after that. Took 10 steps....rest...10 steps....again rest. This how i was climbing. I was totally exhausted and told my hubby to continue and i'll wait for him until he gets back. He gave me the car key and asked me to go to the car. I took a long break all the way. And reached the car at 2 pm. And my hubby reached the summit succesfully, his first 14ers. Congratulation to my man. I will definitely make one day. My hubby showed me the snaps, the view was really very awesome. I felt that i really missed it. I should have tried a bit hard.

A View from the summit.

Thank You,
Dhamaya.

Chicago Lake Trail

Chicago Lake Trail

12334-12932 Squaw Pass Rd,                                 Trail Length : 11 Miles/ Round Trip

Idaho Springs,                                                          Elevation Gain : 1,116 Ft

CO 80452, USA                                                      Degree Of difficulty : Difficult

GPS Direction :                                                       Start & End Elevation : 10,617 - 11,733 Ft

N39 39.548 W105 36.369                                      Time : 7 Hrs

            

               We started 6 am from home and reached echo lake at 7.45 am. On the way we bought our breakfast from McDonalds. I felt nausea after having it. It was a very cool morning with temperature around 30s and we bought our fleece, gloves and woolen cap with us. I had to use the rest room before heading to the trail. We saw few people lying in their sleeping bags in that cold in echo lake picnic area. The echo lake was beautifully covered with fog/clouds. My hubby was capturing pictures. We followed the echo lake trail for about 100 meters.We saw Chicago lake trail sign board at the right. And we took are way on the trail.  

This was very different experience. We had get down with a nice drop for about a mile until it hits chicago creek. We walked heading to the Idaho Spring Reservoir and had a short rest. It was a good fishing area. On the way we saw a old private cabin home in nice location. And we also saw few cars parked on the side way. There was a off-road which took till the Reservoir. But had no idea,where that off-road started from. Following the trail, we found a trail map and a drop box asking our names and contact information.We dropped the slip and started climbing onto chicago lake trail, We continued on the trial with many ups and downs. 

Most of the places was wet. Plenty of wild flowers on the way was simply beautiful. We saw many back packers and as well as campers on the way. Then again had a break to fuel our-self. We also saw few people returning back after their night camp. We were able to see the lower chicago lake trail from far away.

          It was amazing from the top,we did not get down to the lake as it was far away from the trail. We rushed up to the Upper lake which took into the bushes and climbs, up-on the rocks. We had to cross huge rocks while nearing. I felt like my ankles were numb. Just wanted to see how beautiful the lake is. A such a nice look, a heaven on earth. We turned around to see the lower lake, we couldn't imagine our eyes itself. It looked like a wallpaper we have seen in the computers and Tv. The lower lake was heart shaped. 

          Then we went near the lake and sat on the rocks and removed my shoes. I just removed my hoodie and spreaded to lay down. I just felt like sleeping for sometime. But did not. Then had a small snack. Me and my hubby put our legs in the water. It was freezing chill.Just wiped my face in the water. Suddenly we saw two para-gliders jumping from top of the mountain. They just reached down within few minutes. Usual my hubby enjoyed taking snaps. Then we went to have view of the lower lake from top. We took almost an hour at the top. And decided to walk back. I dream upped it would be nice if there was a zip line to get down in minutes. Lets see in future if someone builds up a Zipline adventure for lazy hikers like me. I usually get tired while returning. I always enjoy a loop kind trails.

               I was totally exhausted half way back, my hubby was encouraging me telling that we have almost reached, about to reach. Any how managed to get, till the reservoir. My legs were begging me not to take a step. I was dragging my legs to walk. It was a painful moment, tears ran down my eyes. Just thought of my goal what i was struggling for. I motivated myself to push. I was asking my hubby to carry me. He too felt exhaused. Again we headed to the chicago creek. We had to climb a mountain to reach our car. This was the most hardest part, but climbed taking stops. Once we reached the upper part where i found no more ups hereafter, i took a deep breathe. Finally reached the echo lake. It was 3 pm. This was our long hike and the most beautiful hike ever for us.

Thank You,
Dhamaya