Welcome to ColoradoTrue, a blog featuring all things Colorado, but mostly western Colorado
(and occasionally eastern Utah).
The new year is now one-twelfth over and we've got 28 days of February to look
forward to. We had several light snows in January, and the weather was cold and cloudy for most of the month. The cloudy
part bummed me out because I had my telescope out and was ready for some serious stargazing. Maybe February will be a little
more cooperative. I've been hanging out at the house as much as possible because of the COVID thing, but it's giving me a
bad case of cabin fever. Can't wait to get the Scamp out of mothballs and head anywhere but here. I think maybe I'll start
road trips again in March. Hopefully the COVID vaccine will be available by then. So until next month be happy, stay safe.
Posted February 1, 2021
COLORADO PLACES
Even though I'm not heading out into the wilderness yet this year, I can still think about it, and this month's Colorado Place has a lot of wilderness to head out into.
This Month's Colorado Place
Last Month's Colorado Place
You say you missed some of the past Colorado Places? No problem! All of the Colorado Places that I haved presented here are archived at Highways-Byways.com.
"....get out there and hunt and fish and mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, the lovely, mysterious, and awesome space..."
Edward Abbey
Upcoming Events
Most events have been cancelled or postponed for the foreseeable future.
COLORADO PHOTOS
This section contains favorite photos from around Colorado. If you have any awesome Colorado photos
you'd like to share, e-mail them to me and I will put them in the queue (personal snapshots are discouraged).
Send a brief description of the photo and also indicate if I can use your first name and town.
We're moving deeper into winter so I've included some season appropriate photos and will probably do the same
next month. These photos were all taken in La Plata County.
Trees in Winter
Sunset
Barbed Wire
Study in Red and White
Fences
Fences
COLORADO ADVENTURES
Hikes, camping trips, road trips, off-roading, and other adventures. I will be post a new article periodically.
Sky Pond Hike - Rocky Mountain National Park
The last time I took this hike was several years ago, but it's still one of my favorites. The hike is 9 miles round
trip and total elevation gain is about 1800 feet. I've roughed in the trail on a Google Earth
satellite view, and if you click on the map you'll be able to see it a little better. The hike starts at the Glacier Gorge trailhead.
After about a quarter mile you will come to Glacier Creek junction; take the left fork away from Glacier Creek Trail. About 8/10 mile
along the trail is Alberta Falls, a very popular hiking destination. Keep right at the next trail junction (North Longs Peak junction) .
At the junction with Glacier Gorge Trail (Mills junction) continue straight onto Loch Vale Trail. The trail gets steeper after
this junction and Loch Vale or "The Loch" is reached at the 2.8 mile mark. Continue past the Loch to the next destination, Lake of Glass
(Glass Lake) where Loch Trail turns into Sky Pond Trail. The last quarter mile to Sky Pond is moderately difficult but not exactly "technical". A little scrambling using both
hands and feet will get you there. This section is not recommended for people with medical problems or who are out of shape. Also not recommended if precipation in any form is present, although
lots of hikers have done this in the snow (crazy). That's it. Enjoy the scenery, have a snack, and retrace your route to the Glacier Gorge trailhead.
Sky Pond Trail
Alberta Falls
Alberta Falls (right) is a 30 foot waterfall located about 0.6 mile from the
Glacier Gorge trailhead. It was named after Alberta Sprague, one of the earliest
residents of Aspen Park. The trail winds through aspen forests on the way to the Falls,
very nice in the fall.
The photo on the right is part of the trail between Alberta Falls and the Loch.
Sky Pond Trail
The Loch - Taylor Peak and Taylor Glacier in the background
The Loch
Loch Vale, commonly know as "The Loch" is a sub-alpine lake and the first one encountered on the
way to Sky Pond. The Loch is the largest of the three lakes on this hike and to my mind the prettiest
(but not the most dramatic). Taylor Peak (13,153 feet) and Taylor Glacier are directly across from the
foot of the lake. Thatchtop Mountain (12,668 feet) is to the south and The Sharkstooth (12,829 feet) is
to the southwest.
Just below Lake of Glass there is a waterfall that is not marked on many maps.
It also happens to be marmot country.
Waterfall below Lake of Glass
Marmot Varmint
Lake of Glass
Lake of Glass viewed from Sky Pond
Lake of Glass, commonly called Glass Lake. This is the second lake on the trail and the smallest
of the three.
Finally, we've reached the end of the trail, Sky Pond. Sky Pond is an alpine lake that sits in a cirque at 10,900 feet. It is surrounded
on three sides by sheer cliffs which makes for a spectacular view, especially when the wind is creating whitecaps on the lake. It
is above the treeline, with the only vegitation being krummholtz. Taylor Peak's eastern face is at the head of the cirque. The Sharkstooth spires rise to
the right and Powell Peak (13,208 feet) is to the south.
Sky Pond
Krummholtz around Sky Pond
Taylor Peak
The Sharkstooth
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