Category Archives: Rocky Mountain NP

Climbing the Cone

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Something has been missing from my life in 2014. My mountain pursuits have been tabled since a solo trip up Lady Washington and a weekend at Barr Camp with my oldest and her friends in January. For the past few months, stress has been ever-present and while I’ve had plenty of support from family and friends, a spur-of-the-moment move (which did little to restore my faith in my fellow man) and drastic spike in my workload has had me reeling as of late. Keep reading…

Traversing Trail Ridge

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Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park is the highest continuous paved road in the United States, with more than 10+ miles lying above 11,000 feet. Contrary to popular belief, the entire road is actually always “open”. You just can’t bring your car with you from October through June. With the absence of a motorized vehicle and the addition of snowshoes, even an easy peak, one just a half mile off of the road like “Trail Ridge”, becomes quite a feat. Keep reading…

A Walk in the Clouds: Pagoda Mountain from Glacier Gorge

Pagoda Mountain sits at the southern end of Glacier Gorge in between two of Rocky Mountain National Park’s beasts: Longs Peak and Chiefs Head Peak. With an elevation of 13,497′, Pagoda Mountain is the 7th highest ranked peak in The Park. It’s been said that Pagoda’s summit register may receive on average about 75 signatures a year, while its neighbor may receive that many visitors in one summer day. Keep reading…

In Search of Solitude

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04-DelicateDance

I’ve been trying to plan a trip to climb 13er Isolation Peak (13,118) in the southern region of Rocky Mountain National Park for a couple years now. After trying to make an overnighter out of it, I decided to consolidate the logistics and just do it in a long day. While I don’t prefer this style, it has it’s benefits, not to mention avoiding the weight on your shoulders, as well as the process of obtaining a permit in the park. Keep reading…