Today we got up before dawn, drove up to Rocky Mountain National Park and made our way under ominous skies, to the top of Hallett Peak - a respectable 12,713 feet. My two favorite things about this hike were the incredible views, of which there were many, and that much of it takes you through alpine tundra. If you've never had the chance to get up above treeline and experience this landscape I highly recommend it. It's so strange and beautiful, like hiking to another planet. You feel a bit lightheaded and dizzy, which adds to the surrealism of the landscape. This tundra was on the Ute and Arapahoe's migratory routes. I can only imagine what it must have been like to travel hundreds of years ago. Without proper shoes.
The Arapahoe called the mountain banah ah netaeux, meaning Thunder Peak, for good reason. Even though it was windy and bitterly cold we were lucky to make it up early enough to avoid the storm that inevitably arrived. During the summer in the Rockies you can pretty much expect an afternoon thunderstorm to hit, but today it came a bit early. We weren't out of the woods yet (pun INTENDED) and got caught on a lower ridge line when the thunder and lightening started. The rain quickly turned to giant, nickel sized balls of hail. It was painful and alarming. I wish I had photos of the downpour because besides being uncomfortable it was also really awe-inspiring and intense. But I was too busy running down the mountain. Russ said I looked like a bat in my poncho, fleeing the scene.
Posting more than one today!
The Arapahoe called the mountain banah ah netaeux, meaning Thunder Peak, for good reason. Even though it was windy and bitterly cold we were lucky to make it up early enough to avoid the storm that inevitably arrived. During the summer in the Rockies you can pretty much expect an afternoon thunderstorm to hit, but today it came a bit early. We weren't out of the woods yet (pun INTENDED) and got caught on a lower ridge line when the thunder and lightening started. The rain quickly turned to giant, nickel sized balls of hail. It was painful and alarming. I wish I had photos of the downpour because besides being uncomfortable it was also really awe-inspiring and intense. But I was too busy running down the mountain. Russ said I looked like a bat in my poncho, fleeing the scene.
Posting more than one today!
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