Monkey Fist

I went hiking with Stacy this weekend. It's the first time we've adventured together since February and the first time we've hiked (rather than snow shoed) since October. Amazingly, out of shape as I've become, I hiked just under 11 miles and 2,000 vertical feet... and Stacy is newly impressed with my stamina and general hiking buddy abilities.

Oh, had I missed being in the mountains! It was such a glorious day with such stunning views! I love the Indian Peaks Wildnerness so very deeply! And Navajo Peak has long been one of my favorites!

We didn't end up summiting, unfortunately. The rain came in swiftly, bringing thunder with it. We were on scree when it arrived and, being responsible hikers... we turned around. By the time we were back off the boulder field, though, the rain stopped and we had run out of time to head back up toward the same goal.

Instead, we got back on the Isabelle Glacier trail. It was amazing! The trail itself was incredibly challenging, particularly considering the state of my physical body. Steep, steep, steep! Not scree and scrambling, but still... switch backs like no one's business. (Most of those 2,000 vertical feet were in the last 1.5 miles of the hike!) Up, up, up! What I LOVE about trails like this is that you can't really see your goal. You have no real idea what is waiting at the top.

Well, here is was awaited us:

It wasn't just a glacier... it was a circ full of amazlingly aquamarine-blue water and rosy snow! I can't describe it and the photos do it no justice whatsoever! It was overwhelmingly beautiful and awesome! Just to give you some perspective... see that dark spot in the very center of the photo? Were I standing on it, my head would barely reach the shadow just above it. Make sense? It's HUGE.

You know... I just got really sneezy and I need to get home to get my WishGarden Allergy Rescue before all of the patrons of Stella's shoe me out!

Sorry.

I'll be back soon... -ish.