Alberta Falls, Mills Lake and Jewel Lake

August 16, 2014
Glacier Basin Campground
Rocky Mountain National Park

 

 

It must seem like all we do here in Rocky Mountain National park is hike to falls and lakes.  I guess that’s pretty true since we aren’t 14,000 foot peak baggers or even 12,000 feet  But today we did make it up to nearly 10,000 at Jewel Lake.

 

 

We’re up at 5:00 and to the Glacier Basin Trailhead parking lot at 5:45. The lot is 3/4 full when we arrive  and a van of hikers drives up as we get out of the car.  It’s a Saturday in August but really – before sunrise???

Like other trail heads, this one has several hikes which start out here so we set out and hope for the best.

In the trees, it’s fairly dark.  The moon is still out. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is light enough to see so on we go.  Looks like we go THIS way.  Duh!

 

 

 

As usual when we are hiking to a falls, we follow a singing creek all the way up.  This is one of the blessings of hiking here.  Today it is Glacier Creek and like the others it is a beautiful mountain stream.   It seems to feed from one lake to another from the top of the mountain down.  We’re only going two lakes up.

 

 

 

 

It’s only 8/10ths of a mile to Alberta Falls and the light is hitting the mountains as we arrive.  Albert Sprague, one of the first pioneers of this area, named the falls for his wife.  

 

 

 

 

As usual, we have to climb all around and see it from every possible angle before we head on our way UP.  I had no idea when I put my rain jacket over my waist pack that I’d look like I was 5 months pregnant in the pictures.  I know I’ve gained some weight despite the exercise but not THAT much.  Too funny!

 

The falls plunge over a ledge gouged out by Glaciers.  All along the trail are tell tail signs of glaciers: boulders, gravel, light colored clay and bare bedrock smoothed by the moving ice.

 

 

I just love to see and hear that powerful water falling over the top and dropping down.

 

And then it goes on its way.  And so do we.

 

 

It’s 2 miles UP to Mills Lake.  We were quite excited to see a Rocky Mountain lake named after Bill & Nancy until we found out it was named for Enos Mills, the father of Rocky Mountain National Park whom I mentioned in the first blog I posted on our move here.   But that’s OK, we’re still going to think of it as Nancy & Bill’s Lake.   They’ve sure got a rocky path to it.  Hey you two get over here and clean this up.  I’m really surprised Bill would leave anything this messy.

 

 

 

On our way, we catch a glimpse through the trees of Glacier Falls which looks larger than Alberta.  As far as we can tell on the best trail map we could find, there is no “authorized trail” going there.  The trail we are on goes closer to it than any other.  At first I think too bad, it looks really interesting with that dark rock jutting out between the falls of water.  But then I think, how nice.  It will remain wild and free and its trees will not have their roots compacted or initials drawn on their bark.   I’m happy to view it from a distance but it certainly does look lovely.  

 

 

 

 

 

We have great views out the other direction as well.

 

 

Still following Glacier Creek.  These pink stones remind me of the Cadillac Granite in Acadia National park.  I love this picture.

 

 

Notice the glacial erratics in both of these pictures.  Huge rocks just dumped on top of even bigger ones.    This always amazes me at how huge these rocks are and the glaciers must have been.  Over 1000 feet deep here.

 

 

We do get a few sort of flat spells before we start another up up.

 

 

On our way guess who shows up again.   Hmmm fleas???

 

 

 

Horses are allowed on most of the trails in Rocky Mountain National park and at several points on this trail I’m wondering where would we go to get off the trail if they came along?  This spot goes straight up on the right and straight down on the left.

 

 

We come to a point where we must cross the creek on a typical one slab bridge with a single rail.  Very practical.  I wonder to myself if they are all lodgepole pine.

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, yes, it’s that creek again.   These are only a FEW of the pictures I have of its beauty.

 

 

 

 

We arrive at Mills Lake and it is another of the wonderful mountain lakes in this park.   Of course, again, we investigate it from every angle possible.  Doesn’t look like we can circumnavigate though.

 

 

 

 

We can cross the wetlands on one side

 

Where they can, trails run right along the lake.

 

 

We were told to watch for potholes gouged by the glaciers and here is one filled with water from a recent rain.

 

 

Bill, Nancy and Enos have themselves a very lovely mountain lake.

 

 

 

 

 

Time to head on our way up to Jewel Lake, another 1/2 mile through what looks to be muddier and wetter conditions.

 

 

Once again, we cross the creek but this time you have to have good balance.  No hand rail.  At this point the river is broader and more flat.

 

 

 

After mostly wet meadows, we arrive at jewel and it is one.  And it’s 9967’ in elevation.  That’s pretty thin air for these easterners.

 

 

 

 

 

Just the spot for a picnic lunch.

 

 

Such a wonderful place for contemplation and  look how clear and shallow the water is, if I had on shorts I could probably walk across through it. Instead I’ll hang out with the glacial erratics.

 

 

 

 

The hikes up to these mountain lakes are always beautiful, steep and tiring at least for me.  But being here is so special that it is worth it.  It’s always hard to leave but when the later morning folks start arriving that makes it easier.

 

Looking back from a distance we know Jewel is there but we can barely see her.

 

 

 

 

 

When we arrive back at Alberta Falls it is 12:40pm, just after noon, and this is what we find.  Looks like a Disneyworld scene doesn’t it?   Sure glad we were on the trail by sunrise and got to really see this lovely spot and listen to it in silence.

 

 

 

Just as we are approaching the trail head who should pop up her head but the ptarmigan.

 

Can you see her furry feet??

 

 

 

She has a few youngsters with her but they are all in the tall grasses and bushes so this is the best I could do for a picture.  But it was great seeing her at the end of another wonderful Rocky Mountain hike.

 

 

 

I my spare time I’m  working on future planning which includes Arches and Canyonlands in September.  Does anyone have a recommendation for where to stay??