As Summer draws near, Coloradans are packing away their coats and snow gear in exchange for shorts, hiking boots and the occasional set of flip flops. While many are reluctant to give up their skis, the warmer seasons are welcomed by those who are appreciative of what our mountains have to offer without snow: kayaking, rock climbing, world-class hiking, and more!
May is considered the wettest month in Colorado, and it's lived up to its name in the last week or so. Across the state, we've experienced day after day of rain, sleet and snow, depending on elevation. While this dampened the mood of those who were hoping to spend Mother's Day outdoors, this weather was of tremendous benefit to the health of our ecosystems, many of which are deprived of water.
Realizing that it was a little too early in the season to hike one of our famous 14,000' peaks, I set out early on Saturday morning to one of my favorite places, Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), to see the effect of our recent weather on the landscape.
I was not disappointed. Despite the rain -- and later, snow -- I could not have chosen a better day. There were very few people in the park as a result of the weather, and the areas I passed on the way up that were not covered by snow were vibrant, green, and healthy as a result of the moisture.
I set out at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead, with the intent of reaching Mills Lake, named after Enos Mills who lobbied for the creation of the park in the early 20th century. Altogether, the hike would total a relatively short 5 miles.
On my way up, I passed Alberta Falls. Even though I had taken the same route many times before, never had I seen so much water running through them.
By the time I had reached Mills Lake, I was approximately 10,000' above sea-level, and surrounded by three majestic, albeit obscured peaks: Pagoda, Chief's Head, and Thatchtop. Unfortunately, the fog was such that these are virtually impossible to see in the photos below!
RMNP is a special place for anyone interested in hydrology or water, in general. With the Continental Divide running the length of the park, precipitation in the park is split between the Colorado River and Mississippi drainage. The water in Mills, which is East of the Divide, runs into the latter.
If you make it out to Colorado this Summer, I'd strongly recommend you pay a visit to one of our many great alpine lakes. With a warm week ahead, I, as well as a few of my teammates at Rachio, are excited to get outside and see the effect that our recent precipitation has had on these lakes and the ecosystems that they are a part of.
