Seeing Through Outdoor Eyes

Yesterday I wrote my Blog on the hike from Bear Lake Trailhead to the Fern Lake Trailhead with  all of the spectacular views. As you hike through the gorge, it is just amazing. If you go in June or early July, there are still some snow fields that you have to cross. I  just had to post this picture as it’s one of my favorites. (although I took it with my phone instead of my camera, so it’s not as clear) You can really see the terrain that the glaciers and avalanches left behind. Can you see the hikers along the trail?

It’s a great hike, especially this time of year! Put it on your list…you won’t regret it! Just make sure you bring lots of snacks and water….it’s about 10 miles!

Yesterday I met my friend, Debbie, and 3 of her friends and we hiked from Bear Lake to the Fern Lake Trailhead. It is just such a beautiful hike! The views are 360 degrees and incredible!

We were on the trail by 8:00 am with cloudy skies and nice, cool temperatures. The hike up Flattop Trail to the cutoff to Odessa Lake got us all going. From there it’s a little up and mostly flat or down.  The hike to the Notchtop overview takes you through pine trees and open meadows that were full of wildflowers a month ago. You can see where the glaciers and avalanches  tumbled the rocks everywhere on their way down the mountain. The views along the trail of Notchtop Mountain, Flattop Mountain, Lake Helene, the gorge, Odessa Lake, Fern Lake, Fern Falls and The Pool  are just unbelievable!

A couple of  little side trips to Lake Helene and Odessa Lake were a must! They were so pretty with the mountains as the backdrop. By the time we got to Fern Lake, it was time for lunch. We found a few rocks in the shade and took a well-deserved break. We had hiked about 5 miles and had about 5 more to go. The sun had come out and it was time to peel off a layer of clothes. What a beautiful day for a hike!

This hike from Bear Lake to the Fern Lake Trailhead is one of my favorites! The views are just spectacular and the terrain that you hike through is so diverse. One of the girls suggested that we make it an annual hike. What  a great idea!

Fishing, especially fly fishing, is very popular here in Estes Park and Rocky Mountains National Park. You can always see people standing along the shore or settled in their beach chair with a picnic nearby. You can even see someone occasionally catch a fish!

Earlier this summer, Phil and I found a Cormorant (large black water bird) who looked like he was tangled in some fishing line and couldn’t get free from the rocks. We called everyone that we knew and eventually got some help.

Lake Estes has special containers to dispose of your used fishing lines. Make sure that when you go fishing that you dispose of your fishing lines properly so that the birds and animals cannot get tangled up in them.

I remember seeing a beautiful little purple flower on Black Canyon Trail last summer and thinking just how pretty it was. I did not know its name. This summer I’ve been looking and looking for that same flower but couldn’t find it anywhere.

I finally found it yesterday and took a photograph of it to use as a reference in my Rocky Mountains Wildflowers Pocket Guide. It is called a Gayfeather Blazing Star. Many tiny purple flowers are tightly clustered on a crowded spike, giving a feathery appearance. And the reason that I just found it is that it only blooms in August and September!

If you’re hiking Black Canyon Trail in Lumpy Ridge, look for the Gayfeather Blazing Star. I saw this photograph with Longs Peak in the background. Just as I was clicking, a bee landed on the flower. It is just beautiful and it’ll be blooming for another 6 weeks or so!

Phil and I used to see many Kingfishers when we lived back east. So it was such a treat when we heard the call of the Kingfisher at Lakes Estes when we moved to Estes Park. The kingfisher is so flighty, it is hard to get a good photograph of him. They are always in motion.

I happened to see him fly into a tree while searching the pond near Lake Estes for fish. I quickly pulled out my camera, quietly walked as close as I could get and started clicking away. This is the only photograph I’ve ever gotten of the Kingfisher. He’s such a beautiful bird and has such a distinct call.

I was hiking on the Black Canyon Trail the other day and saw this little baby bunny on the side of the trail, munching on some grass. I stopped to watch it and to take some pictures. He was just adorable! He hopped down the trail to about 3 feet away from me and stopped. He then lay down on the trail and started rolling in the sand. He’d then sit up and look at me and then have bite of grass.

This little bunny did this several times. It was like he was putting on a little show for me, even though I know he was just cleaning himself.  He was very friendly. I could see his mom down the trail occasionally looking at him, not concerned in the least. He finally lay down and closed his eyes. I think he was going to take a nap right there. He was so cute!

I walked off the trail and down a bit so as to not disturb either of the bunnies. They were just enjoying the beautiful day!