With permission to play hooky on a Wednesday, we loaded up spikes and snowshoes and headed to the Park.
Surprisingly enough, despite the snowfall over the last couple days, the spikes and snowshoes made excellent training weight but weren’t needed otherwise.
We picked the Chasm Falls hike from the winter gate closure down at the West Alluvial Fan trailhead, less than 5 miles and less than 1000ft of elevation, easy peasy.
What we didn’t plan for was this crazy system moving in – 14 degrees and wind in your face the entire time, I guessed 50mph gusts although the Weather Channel says 75+.
There is definitely something to be said for having a hiking partner/life partner who goes along with your “great ideas” and doesn’t stab you in the eye while you’re sleeping later that night…
Now that we’re sitting at home and I’m typing this up while I listen to creaking and groaning and dirt sandblasting the side of the cabin, I tend to agree with their assessment – a local weather station just up the road just recorded 99.1mph – that is pretty nuts since we’re both used to living in hurricane zones.
But – this is just another beautiful sunny day in the Colorado mountains. Don’t live here if you aren’t ready to accept Mother Nature’s moods!

Chasm Falls

It doesn’t look like much when it’s frozen…

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A Zen Moment

Colette sits and enjoys the warmth and lack of crazy wind at the Chasm Falls platform.

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Chasm Falls Sign

Here’s Some Proof of Life

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Sheep Meadows Ahead

Heading down Old Fall River Road to the trailhead.

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Classic Colorado

Aspens, pines, snow, meadows, and mountain peaks – this is Colorado.

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Red and White

White snow highlights red rock and green pines in Rocky Mountain National Park.

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