Hi Mike, I look forward to each new hike that you post to your website. I live in Flower Mound, Texas and this winter we have set some record high temperatures in the 80's, so it is a real joy for this yankee to see all your pictures in that wonderful white stuff called snow. I have hiked all the trails that you are snow shoeing on, in past summers. I do envy you! Your discriptive narrative allows me to hike vacariously with you. Keep up the great web page.
Carol Dolan carolsplantcare@webtv.net
You guys have done it again; making me so homesick for the mountains and snowshoeing. I just love your descriptions of where you've been because I can picture it in my mind and for a few minutes, I can be there too. I'll be home in a month or so and there will still be plenty of snow. Thanks for the trip. Ycocchi@aol.com
What a cool web site! We visited RMNP last fall and did some short hikes and some longer to Lawn Lake. We are planning to do Longs Peak next fall. We will be at YMCA Of the Rockies middle of Sept. and are looking forward to hiking again soon! Kimoo7@aol.com O'Hara's of Des Moines, IA.
Oh wow! Mike what a web page. I love the winter and reading your description and details of your hikes in snow really is inspiring. I am sitting here looking out my window this evening looking at 6-8 inches of the white stuff on the ground and thinking of the hike some of us fellows made this past weekend----lots of snow and 9 degrees. This all is some rush. Also thinking of the hikes we made in RMNP this past summer. Hope to return there this summer. What a great service you are providing. Will tell my friends and plan to follow more of your trips. Thank you very much. Buchanan@digistar.com
Beggin' Robbie Burn's forgiveness for my phonetic galic accent:: Would some pouw'r the giftee gaa us, to see oorsel's as others saa us .. here I ha' that gift! I think he would, at least if I bought the round. Cheers Denny
Denny Smith
Great Web Page Mike! Thanks for all the helpful information! I also have a love for the Colorado Mountain Trails. Maybe someday our paths will cross, see you then! jkralovetz@aol.com
Thanks for these great hikes, Mike. It really allows folks who want to explore on their own, a chance to see what these hikes are like.
For those who want a guided hike, click over to http://www.afoot.com/spectacu.htm
Hi Guys, What wonderful adventures you've been having. Just remember to stop and think about the poor people who have to work at other jobs and envy your ability to get out there and have these great trips. Thanks for sharing. (PS - Ernie is becoming quite a photographer.) Ycocchi@aol.com
Mike . . I am visiting your page for the first time and am extremely impressed with your photos. I visit RMNP at least once, mostly twice, a year . . in the Spring and Fall. Fall is my favorite time mainly to watch the aspen turn and see the elk in rut and listen to their magnificent bugling. I am a very rank amateur photographer and spend hours and hours in the Park shooting elk, deer, marmot, pika, coyote, and last September was fortunate enough to see a fox for the first time. Last year I got a few shots of the elusive beaver and was excited about that.
Your photos are spectacular and I can only envy your expertise in getting the results you have attained. I have bookmarked several of them and alternate using them as wallpaper on my desktop. Nothing eases my stress at work more than to look at a picture of the mountains, especially Long's Peak (my favorite and most oft photographed).
I've done some moderate hiking and enjoy being "at the top of the world" on some of the trails. And it's always a thrill to experience the personal encounters with wildlife . . and I've had a few crazy ones . . like the time a raven decided to land on my head!! I had flashes of Alfred Hitchcock when that happened!! My latest and probably best experience was last September when a small herd of 22 elk allowed me to mingle with them as they grazed and dozed in the sun on the side of a ridge above Moraine Park one beautful, sunny day. For over 2 hours I was "one of them" with no other human intervention . . only a lone coyote wandered by briefly checking us out, then went on his way. It was an experience I'll always remember and cherish. I've been eyeball to eyeball with lots of elk in recent years and have learned how to respect their space and just enjoy the magnificence of their being.
I will continue to visit your page for updates and am glad I found you!
Kathy Timmerman - East Moline, IL kathy.timmerman@hx.deere.com
I enjoyed your web page. Lot's of helpful information for me,a first-time backpacker. I'm going to Mt. Harvard & Mt. Columbia this summer. Do you have any information on those peaks?
Thanks, Margaret
MBR754@airmail.net
What a delightful and informative site! I am planning a visit this summer. where can I get a comprhensive trail and guide book? Thanks. skigin4@aol.com #Alberta
Mike,
Just had to add my hearty "THANKS" to your Guest Book page. You have created an absolutely terrific web site.
My wife and I only had time for 1 1/2 days in Estes Park/RMNP this past summer on our auto tour of the west. We loved the town and RMNP so much that we plan on spending a week there this summer to hike and just enjoy the magnificent beauty that you so kindly share with all of us on your web site. Please be aware that the information and the hiking stories are much appreciated.
Thanks again!
Steve - Levittown, Pa - stevejm@comcat.com
Mike great page one of the best pages I have seen for hiking in RMNP thnks for the help. Jason Sizemore Louisville K.Y. SIZEMJ@wku.edu
ben kessing kessinbj@miavx1.muohio.edu a lot of good pictures, but you must climb longs. I havent done it yet either but hope to soon. done most of these hikes as well as mount lady, estes, battle, chapin, chiquita, and ypsilon.
I'd live out here if I could afford to. This and my hiking books on the Park's trails are the only thing that keep me sane during the long Iowa winter. I'll be out in March. Maybe I'll see you on the trail. Chuck from Waterloo.
Hi Mike,
I just stopped by for a minute and stayed over 2 1/2 hours. Your page is incredible. Even if we had never been to RMNP, it would keep me reading. We are from Michigan and first experienced the west by ascending Big Thompson River gorge and arriving at Estes Park in 1976. We have repeated the trip many times since, always drawn back no matter where else we traveled in the west on subsequent trips. The park is the best. There is a feel to the park that we don't experience anywhere else. I can't explain it so I won't try. I just want to tell you that the photos are so incredible, they surprised me. I have seen many, but these are, by far, the best. And for us unfortunate people who are unable to experience the park in winter, you have allowed it to happen. Your narratives took me there with you. Please continue your pages and I will definitely be back for another two hour vacation another day, when an escape from the ordinary is most welcomed. I have already emailed your site location to my sister and my Mom in AZ, both who also love the park. Please accept my sincere thanks for the best site I have found on the Net yet... ---Joanne
Thanks for the great info! My husband & I come up (from San Antonio, Texas) a couple of times a year -- usually May and October. Can't wait to take some of those hikes.
Hi Mike:
I am planning a trip to the RMNP this summer. Boy am I glad to find your web site. Full of very useful information. Thankyou for taking the time to do all this hard work. Look forward to meeting you on the trail some day.
One Earth, One Chance David E. Sullivan North Carolina SierraDave@aol.com
Great to find a web page that has my interests at heart....looking forward to checking out whats up around here. See ya.... bbbadboy@hotmail.com
Great information...especialy the gain in elevation data, distance, etc.....all in a chart format. Keep up the good work. Thanks Dave
Very interesting web page. I like the fact that it focuses on Rocky Mountain National Park. A lovely place we all seem to forget about in the winter (when all those pesky tourists have gone home at last). I just started snowshoeing, and would love to try the trails in RMNP, it's very close to Boulder -- which is where I reside.
mike, nice stuff.....don't have the time to explore now but i'll be back later. i'm going there in august for two weeks, so i hope i can get some useful info
Hi Mike, Thanks for including the Indian Peaks trail heads in your list. I am looking forrward to 2 trips to Colorado this summer. Hopfully, 5 days hiking in RMNP and 5 days hiking in Indian Peaks Area. For now, I enjoy reading & viewing all the hikes that you are taking. Keep up the great work!! If you get a chance between now and summer, please do some Indian Peaks hikes and post them to your page, along with some pictures. Thanks, Carol Flower Mound, TX
MIKE- SITES LIKE YOURS ARE WHAT MAKE THE WEB WORTHWHILE. IF YOU HAVE TO BE INDOORS, THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE!! - REDWINE@MINDLESS.COM
I'm here just doing some research on Rocky Mountain National Park and I found your page. I was born in Colorado and miss it so much especially since I now live in Las Vegas, Nevada. You know, it can get up to well over 100 in the summer! Well, when I finally get my degree here at UNLV, I plan on doing some hiking in Colorado of my own. Thanks for sharing your awesome experiences; I really look forward to visiting your page again! You really make me homesick! Keep up the fun and good work! Kathy (jacob@nevada.edu)
Hi, Mike. Great page, *nice* photos. Having made the trip to Chasm lake to photograph the Diamond at first light, my hat's off to you, sir, for being in the Loft at sunrise. I spend most weekends on the trails doing day hikes, so maybe we'll get to meet on the trail. Mike Matson Fort Collins, CO mgmatson@verinet.com
Hey Mike, pretty cool. Just saw a review of your page in THE NET. Not bad publicity. If your page gets too swamped, send some of em over to mine. *Grin* Keep up the good work. Bob http://www.geocities.com/yosemite/3233/rmnp.html
Cool site. glad I surfed in here. Loved the scenery. I'll definantly be back! dfarnold@earthlink.net Visit my Web site. Under Construction! But I like it. http://home.earthlink.net/~dfarnold
Ben was here. This is a pretty cool page.
Dear Mike, You've done an outstanding job with your page. I will be out there in September 97 for the first time and plan on doing quite a few trails. Thanks to your web page, I now know what to expect in terms of length and difficulty. Perhaps one day our paths will cross....gbourque ---vermont
Mike - Great page! Thanks for sharing this with the rest of us. While I am a flatlander by birth and residence, my hiking heart belongs to RMNP for sure. My personal favorite time of the year is late winter. I will be back out in April and look forward to tracing a few of your steps. Do you have a favorite late winter route (via snow shoes)? Thanks again, Jim
I enjoyed snowshoe visit from my office. There is no place like Rocky Mt. Park.
You've got a beautiful page here, and I might be able to use some of this information myself for my trip out to Colorado this summer - good work! ilardi@access.mountain.net
To Mike From the Flatlander Most recent hike a great one thanks for the pics and words of inspiration. Hope you all warmed up!
Bob Meade
Hi Mike...I really enjoy your trips up into the mountains of RMNP>I have been going to Estes of over 30 year and hiked all the wonderful trips of the back country as a Cheley camper many years ago. I now get to live up there for about half the year and I love it so.I have you in my favorite places,and visit it ofen. I also getting a kick out of your photos,Erine never looked beter. Thanks for going to all the trouble...it sure makes a bright spot on my day. Anna Belle Kritser, Amarillo, Tx and Estes Park Co. A.B.Kritser@alo.com
Hi Mike, This was my first trip with you. I enjoyed it very much. About six years ago I hiked Long's Peak. I didn't take enough pictures. If you have done Long's or plan to I would love to view your trip. Thanks for your great work. It brings a lot of people pleasure. Bob F.
MIKE - THANK YOU FOR ALL THE FANTASTIC INFORMATION. I GREATLY APPRECIATE THE TIME YOU HAVE SPENT CREATING THIS REALLY GREAT PAGE.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO PUTTING YOUR INFO TO WORK FOR ME THIS SUMMER.
THANKS AGAIN. ANGELIQUE FROM INDPLS.
Located your site thru excite. Have done some hiking in your area. Excellent site.
Good Hiking Dana L. Hager tilly83@cyberhikes.com http://www.cyberhikes.com
Mike -- Thanks for visiting my NEW (3/27/97) Select Teller County, CO Hiking Trails site at http://rainbow.rmi.net/~kgr/hiking/. I will soon add a links page on my site to nearby Colorado Hiking pages and will add your hiking page if you don't mind.
Your page looks very nice and informative. I will copy some of your good ideas and put them to work on my site. I will begin logging my hikes, take pictures and post them. I find it's really nice to be able to pick out a hiking trail from the web and know what to expect before you get there. I will definitely use your site to select my next hike next time I visit my Mom in Denver!
With enough people building hiking sites, we can probably cover the state. What a nice free resource! This is what I think the web is meant to be instead of all of these over-commercialized sites!
If you know of other Colorado Hiking Sites, e-mail me at kgr@rmi.net
Konrad Roeder Woodland Park, CO
Planning a week later in the summer. Thanks for the help. sm@rt66.com
Mike,
Thanks for the great site and the incredible pictures! I have only looked at your last hike at this time but I plant to look at as many of them as possible to use as future hikes.
Thanks once more,
Mike Williams
Totally cool, I'm from WV and heading to WY and CO this summer for six weeks. I haven't explored your site yet, but will. Thanks - talk to you later.
Add yet another sincere "Thank you" to your long list below. I know the information you put into it will help us get more out of our trips to RMNP - something I really appreciate. And your pictures/reports sure do a lot to ease the daily stress of this farm boy stuck in a city working on these *&!@ computers! Ya done good! bdl@vnet.ibm.com
4/9/97 Very nice Web Page Mike. I have been hiking trails in and around RMNP for 25 years or more with my nephew. We have hiked almost every trail in the park and have climbed several of the higher peaks. Such a nice place to be. Will spend more time there this summer. I'm an advid photgrapher and hope to do more of RMNP with medium format now. Living in the mid-west makes me truly love the beautiful mountains of Colorado. Retired now and hopefully can spend more time there. Keep up the outstanding Web Page. Harold hpickin@adams.net
Great site, Mike. I'm the nephew of the guy above. It's fun to look through your images and remember all the places we visited years ago. I'm bookmarking your site as I will look at more of it later. Keep up the great work. Dave Browne
Hey Dad, How's it going??????!!!!! I'm at my girlfriend's house checking out her computer. Just thought I would write and say Hi. I'll E-mail you.
Thanks for the inspiration! Really a great site. Anyone out there know Whale Peak in Pike Nat. Forest? Be hiking there in July. Just curious. wings@ntsource.com
Great site, thanks for the info. Being new to Denver it has certainly been helpful.
Great page!
We (my father & I) had a similar experience in 1987 or 1988 on Flattop. A group of boy scouts told us about a guy who had fallen and spent the night up there with only a light jacket. We came up from the Tontahutu (sp?) Meadows and were planning to go back down toward Grand Lake but decided to hoof it down to the Bear Lake Ranger station!
I love your page and look forward to your next trip almost as much as mine (which won't be for a year while I start a new job).
Todd Varner todd.varner@ipst.edu
Thanks for all your work on this! I just discovered your page via a link from The Warming Hut through the Estes Park page. We have hiked in RMNP for several years and I've really enjoyed your photos. We are headed for a hike this weekend up the Finch Lake Trail (we'll take our snowshoes) and plan an overnight trip to Isolation Peak in August. We hiked Wild Basin in January and our drinking water froze, it was so cold! Keep up the good work.
Wow! Excellent photos of some cool mountains! Keep up the good work. Mr. Woodskunk
Hi Mike...just stumbled across your site. Thanks for all the work you put in to it. Lived in Aurora from 8/94 to 8/96 and went to Estes and RMNP several times. It became one of our favorite places to hike. We always took visitors to Alberta Falls and Bear Lake. Back in Indiana temporarily for one year and looking forward to returning to CO in August, and to doing some more hiking. Would love to try snowshoeing. Anyway thanks from someone stuck in the Midwest missing the mountains and sunny, blue skies of Colorado. Bryan Young (beyoung@indiana.edu).
Great page Mike..Estes and environs is me and the family's favorite place in the world. Love it so much we bought property after our last trip, and are in the process of building a cabin as we speak. Been visiting The Park since the 70's and have done most of the hikes that you are writing about. We discovered Indian Peaks Wilderness a few years ago, and have since found additional love of the area. Caribou Lake is an absolute for overnight camping, and the flowers in the "Peaks" area are unparalleled. Keep up the great work, counting the days, will be out in 3 weeks. Happy Hiking, Doug. aprs@aol.com
Really great site. I am most appreciative of the hiking info. as we will visit RMNP this summer and do some hiking. The photos are beautiful, everything is well organized. Can't say enough good things about your site! Thanks. Sheliasj@aol.com
Great pages, Mike. Would be nice to have up to date trail condition reports from others. Like "Old Fall River Road is clear of snow up to Chasm Falls today - " etc.
We've hiked most of trails in RMNP while on sabbatical. Will be back this summer. Your pages are great & bring back lots of fond memories. My favorite is Flattop-Hallett-Otis and slide down Andrews Galacier for a great full day hike. Will see if I'm still in shape to do it. I teach & do park research at Michigan State University web page at http://www.msu.edu/user/stynes E-mail: stynes@msu.edu
HELLO,
CAN YOU SEND ME SOME INFORMATION, I'M FROM CANADA AND I WILL TRAVEL FOR TWO WEEK THE END OF JULY. I'M LOOKING FOR A GROUP TO HIKE FOR A WEEK OR TWO.
DENIS CLEMENT 41 JOHN ST #101 OAKVILLE, ONTARIO. CANADA L6K 1G9 905-849-0466 905-568-9707 EXT 5621 FAX 905-712-8886
THANK YOU AND HAVE A NICE DAY.
Denis and others: Sorry, I can't respond to phone/snailmail requests for info. See Mike's Hikes Frequently Asked Questions.
Hey Mike,
My Dad and I just checked in on the page. Great pics from our hikes! Sounds like you and Ernie had an amazing trip last week. Just a little jealous.
Karen
Hi Mike, I have enjoyed reading Mike's Hikes all winter long. I get to live in Estes Park 6 months of the year. Readng about your hikes has made the long winter here in Texas go by a little bit faster. It is a great site, thanks for going to all the trouble. I learned about Mike's hike from Ernie and have passed it along to many RMNP lovers. Seeing and reading about your hikes makes me very anxious to get back up there. I started hiking the trails of Rocky over 30 years ago as a camper at Cheley camps. It seems once you have seen the world from the top, the whole planet looks different! Thanks Anna Belle Kritser...... ABKRITZER@aol.com
Great Site! Your trip reports and ratings will be really helpful in making our summer plans. Mike Naseef, Golden, CO mtn@amnix.com
Great site...love the recent updates. I was in Estes Park in early April for some great spring snows. Good snow shoeing and lower elevation hiking. Keep up the good work on "Mike's Hikes"! See you on the trail.
Hi Mike,
I'm Jan de Vries from Holland. I very much enjoy reading the very detailed info on your site. Last summer I was on holyday in RMNP. This year I hope to be there again. The internet is providing a lot of data. This makes planning a trip much easier. Thanks !
(If you're tired of looking at mountains, you should consider a trip to Holland. It's all flat ! and all below sea-level)
Bye bye
From: paulr@blind.state.ia.us or: malta@iastate.edu
Your page was EXACTLY what I was looking for in knowing where to hike in RMNP this summer. Your pictures were EXCELLENT. Thanks!!
Just found this site - cool!!!! We are avid RMNP visitors and truly love the area. This site will help us in choosing day hikes - we get started early and try to finish before the crowds. Our e-mail address is: wildcat@ponyexpress.net Thanks!!!!!
Great web page! Like the whole set up, info, photos and design.
Great site. I will surely use your trail info often.
Thanks!!
I don't know how to thank you enough for this. The amount of work and time invested is staggering! I live in Iowa and visit Colorado only infrequently. I wonder if you realize the service that you provide. Your site provides a sense of adventure and offers a view of nature as something worth saving and cherishing. This is probably obvious to those of you who live in its shadow, but for millions of us, many of whom have never actually seen a mountain or walked in an area that has not been harnessed for human use, your site provides a world of experiences and food for thought. It will be because of you and others like you that our National Parks and protected areas remain for future generations to enjoy! Thank you!
Great site, beautiful pictures, and very informative. We are planning a trip to Estes Park next month and was surfing the Internet for info and found your site. See you on the trails. Sandy King from Stephenville, Texas king@our-town.com
Hi, Mike! Just got back from Italy where I got to spend some time with your lovely stepdaughter Darcy. She mentioned your webpage so I thought I would check it out.
COULD YOU SEND ME SOME EXTRA INFO. ABOUT YOUR HIKES? THANKS! -KIM JAMESON JJAMESON@GTE.NET
Mike: Monday, 7 July 97, I returned from my first visit to Estes Park and hiking in the Rocky Mt. National Park. All week I was in a funk and realized it was a "Rocky Mountain high" hangover. Your page was like the "hair of the dog." Thank you.
Robert. J. Chapman, Philadelphia, PA
Mike,
Tom and Debbie and family are looking forward to our first visit to the Rockies next year. It will be fun for a bucnh of people from Florida to see some real mountains!
Hi Mike, Denny and I just browsed your site. I'm envious of your cool beautiful weather as we sit in the air conditioning because it's 90 degrees and muggy outside here in southwestern Ohio. Have a great summer!
Linda Smith
Great Web Site!
My husband, kids, and I have traveled to Estes every summer for the past 8 years. I have done many hikes in Indian Peaks, and Rocky Mountain National Park, including Flattop and the "big one" Longs Peak on 8/15/96. My 10-year old daughter and I hiked Twin Sisters June 97. We always do at least one over-nighter in the backcountry and have really enjoyed camping in the mountains. I envy all the Estes Park area year round residents. I work for the University of Kansas (home of the Jayhawks if you're a basketball fan) in flat Lawrence, KS. As my 4-year old daughter always says "When can we go back to the mountains?"
Pam Wagner pwagner@falcon.cc.ukans.edu
Enjoyed your account of the hike Bear <--> Grand Lake. I'd like to do this trip, staying in a motel in Gd. L. then back the next day--only problem would be RMNP red tape ie overnight parking permit. I guess you get these at Park HQ. I've been up Bear L.-Flattop, going on to Hallett, Otis, Taylor or the flats and little peaks the other way. Hiked Colo. R. T.H.-Poudre Pass yest., a long footaching trip but saw what I swear were 2 cow moose on the trail. Frost in am, 96 in Denver. Roger Williams, Boulder, rogerac@ix.netcom.com
Really enjoying this site. Thanks for going to all the trouble of producing it.
Having been born and lived in Colorado (greeley) my first 28 years (I live in Connecticut now) I really love this site! Your latest hike report (attempt on Longs Peak via north face) brings back many memories of making this climb when I was 15 years old with my brother! The cable route was there at the time (I won't say just how long ago!) and your photos captured the views still in my mind.
Once again, thanks!!!!!
Ward Carpenter wardc1@ibm.net
Great site. My folks and sister will be there in a couple of days, I have to work. And of course, have a bad case of "Rocky Mountain Feaver".
Nice story on your Long's Peak Attempt. I understand "attempts". My wife and I just got back from the Sawatch, where we summited only about half the time on 8 fourteeners. Although we hike very fast (we are both Ironman Triathletes), we were unused to rocks because we live in Tennessee and train in the Smokies.
QUESTION: How does one get used the vertical exposure on those knife edge ridges (less than 5 feet wide) that are so common in the last 200 feet of the high peaks ?
Rock Cogar Oak Ridge TN cogarjr@qsystems.net
Like any convert to a new product, I want to sing the praises of my new Leki poles. I've been hiking for 40 years and never thought I would ever need poles. Yesterday on a hike up to Mt. Ida I used my newly acquired poles and can't brag about them enough. They really helped on the uphill, downhill, traverse and especially, across the rocky terrain during the the last 1,000 feet up to the summit. Although I'll never be the hiker that the "gurus of the mountains" (ie, Mike and Ernie) are, I really respect their advice. I bought my poles at Rocky Mountain Connection here in Estes Park. I know they will order and ship anywhere. Again, even if you don't think you need poles, try them out and see what you think. Yvonne (Ycocchi@aol.com)
excellent page, the pictures on the climbs/hikes really bring back some good memories from the Park.
peter lander CSU '95 (lander@fas.harvard.edu)
Hi Mike, GREAT PAGE!!!!
Mike,
Great trip report. Great Effort! It is the best I have ever read on the web.
My wife and I both are (3 time) Ironman triathletes from Oak Ridge Tennessee (elevation 940 feet) . We hiked Mt. Yale, Mt. Elbert, Quandry Peak and Mt. Sherman the week before last. Even at age 42, I was able to hike up to summits non-stop, although my wife always summited first. (I will admit that my breathing rate above 13,000' was like a very long set of mile repeats on the track.) Our key training tool was running up and down Mt. LeConte (1500'->6500'->1500') in the Great Smoky Mtns National Park. However, high altitude made sleeping difficult above 9000' when we were in Colorado.
QUESTION: How to you get your great pictures into your HTML ?
QUESTION: How are you so comfortable in those (vertical) exposed areas beyond the Keyhole ?
Thanks so much.
Rock Cogar (cogarjr@qsystems.net)
Howdy from deep in the heart of Texas....Lakeway, Tx. Just found your web site. What a great place to learn more about RMNP. Keep up the good work. Texasiceman@worldnet.att.net
Great page!!! Thank you for sharing your love of the Rocky Mountain area with all of us!
Great page--I live in Lincoln, NE and come up to RMNP probably two or three times a year. We did Longs Peak for the first time a couple of weeks ago, actually. You have some really great pictures from there--I think I was so awed by everything that I forgot to use my camera most of the time. :) I'm hoping to end up in Boulder or Ft. Collins for grad school so I can do this stuff all the time--I've truly become addicted to it! Again, thanks for the great info. 00085244@bigred.unl.edu
just finished Longs peak, at 64, it was due-able. But, from an area (Houston, Tx) where the elevation hi-point is 320' it took some adjusting to the alt. your comments on this peak was helpful.
Bob Rees www.zeee@rocketmail.com
Mike: Your web page is just what I've been looking for! My husband and I are taking our first trip together to Estes Park, and I wanted to be prepared before we got there. Thank you for your info! Laura Branch Mireles lbranch@electrotex.com
Mike: Always grateful to be remembered on your mailing list. You "out did" yourself with the Longs Peak story. It was very well written and the pictures were "awesome". That's an overused term.....but they were...awesome. There were only two of us that made the trip to R.M.N.P. this summer. We "did" Andrews Creek site and it proved to be very beautiful. We spent most of the time doing "day" hikes but we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The bike trip coming down from the "near summit" on the Trail Ridge Road was very good. The trip was made with Colorado Bicycling Adventures,Estes Park. They serve a very nice lunch on on the way down and the scenery and the thrill of biking down that road was worth every penny. The "crew" was very supportive (I could not say enough nice things about them)for a older fellow like me. I had never ridden a mountain bike,except once in my life, let alone down a mountain. Definitely,a "do-it-againer". I will stay tuned for your Fall trips. So keep up this wonderful page. It keeps me hopeful for the next trip. Thanks so much. buchanan@digistar.com
Mike, great page, it gave us some great ideas for this weekend in Estes (9/5-8/97). I think we'll start with Bear Lake and see how far we can get (within reason) Thanks Dave Enterprise, Ks. ddallinga@Aol.com
Great pictures!!! I am a senior at Texas A&M University and am taking a class on Recreation and Leisure activities. I just thought that I would check out your page. The mountains are beautiful. It's pretty flat here in College Station, TX. And Snow!!!! That is something I'm not used to either. This looks like a place I need to visit. Thanks!!
Mike, Thanks for the Wonderful (!) site you've put together. We lived in Estes Park for 9 months. We woke up every morning to a view of Long's Peak. It sure makes it tough to enjoy a cup of coffee back here in Arkansas! Keep up the good work! NBailey nrb@arkansas.net
Thanks for the effort to provide scenery that is great. To many other sites are only commercial oriented. Joe Shoen JOESHOEN@msn.com
my name Ron i live oklahoma will you e-mail me @ Rockicecli@aol.com i like to hiker i had surgery on my foot.
Building a site of my hike up Longs Peak. See it at: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/a42 email: a42@compuserve.com Ron
Hi Mike, Discovered your excellent page yesterday after hiking the Twin Sisters on Sunday. Loved that hike, especially the (to few) views of Longs Peak. My fiance & I live in fort Collins and ride our motorcycles to Estes & RMNP to hike and see the sites. Your page is fantastic, we will use it often in the future when planning a new hike or just reviewing your thoughts on them. We hope to do Longs but probably wont until next year now. I just finished reading your write up on it and loved it. However, it certainly makes the hiker think twice about the difficulty and the large numbers of other hikers. Thanks, Bill wmc@libra.pvh.org
Nice site Mike. It really takes me back. I lived in Estes Park during the sixties, and hiked many of these same trails. I never did make it to the top of Long's Peak, but I will some day. Keep up the good work!!
Bill L morgan@mc.net
Mike, I echo everyone's praise of your site. I've lived and hiked in Colorado for nearly 6 years but found your site just this spring. I've planned most of my summer weekends via your site (Yup, I'm single). After reading your reports, I eagerly hiked Twin Sisters, Chasm Lake, Long's Peak and dozens more with NO disappointments. I'm Addicted!!! Your site is invaluable. I really appreciate your effort. Thanks for a great summer! Doyle Lauterbach Fort Collins, CO. doylelauterbach@hotmail.com
I live in Hugoton Kansas and am originally from Illinois. I have always loved the Rocky mountains and would like to find out more about the trails. We get to Colorado probably four times a year now. I have an aunt who lives in Boulder. Over Thanksgiving, weather permitting, I plan to sightsee at Rocky Mountain National Park. Thanks for a great web page with wonderful pictures!
Mike, awesome site that really fills a vacant niche for people going to RMNP. We spend our anniv. there snowshoeing to various lakes. Your hikes give us a great preview and chance to plan! Keep it up! Cheryl & Russ, Manitou Springs, CO
When I saw this site it brought back memories of our visit to RMNP 3 1/2 years ago. We are again planning another trip for June 98 along with our 3 children and look forward to another wonderful trip. Thanks Mike for a job well done, and congratulations for reaching Longs Peak !!
Your photos are great. Surprised that the keyhole was still closed on the 19th. I made my first ever Keyhole attempt on July 11th. Summitted at 8:30 a.m. The information recieved from the rangers at the main visitor center was not entirely accurate and only after talking to the Ranger at the trailhead did I get the "unofficial word that it was passable. Of course this non-promotion made for an interesting experience. I was totally alone most of the day.
Mike(s):
I absolutely love the site! I've been to RMNP twice now in the past four years and am hooked. I've been looking for an informative site with pics and trail details to remind me of the joy of the park and plan my adventures during our next trip. Your site fits the profile perfectly, is bookmarked and will be frequently visited! The Long's Peak trail map is now my computer's background for added inspiration!
Mark Morscher Flatlander Buckeye from Columbus, OH
Great site, thanks for all the work you've done.
My first hike in RMNP was the Lulu City hike. I had planned to just drive through the park, but by the time I got to the west side, I was so impressed by the beauty that I had to get out of the car and start walking. (first I had to go to ganby and pay way too much for a small water bottle.)
I noticed in the report of the Lulu City trail, in the pictures looking North from the site, that the gash created by the Grand Ditch seems much larger than I remember from 5 years ago. Have there been problems with the ditch?
I have not spent much time at all on the ground on the east side of the park, but hope to get back there soon. Keep it looking great for me.
John (Bat) Masterson Austin, Texas, USA
thanx for halping me with my science project!
I loved your snowshoeing info.Do you know any other great spots to snowshoe outside of Denver? Thanks! Jami Ascherman
Even though from the lower elevations of Southern Indiana, I have been to the RMNP twice now. My wife and I have hiked Long’s peak along with several other 14ers a bit further South, and really enjoyed your story of the Key Hole Route.
Although I haven’t had quite the extreme reaction to altitude as your friend Mike, I’ve found that the combination of continually drinking double-strength Gatorade (mixed from powder), eating small amounts of trail mix every 20-30 minutes, and taking 3 vitamin I tablets every 3-4 hours (beginning at least an hour before an ascent), seems to stop symptoms completely. Continually drinking means just that. I consumed more than 3 liters on our ascent of Long’s in late August.
Anyway, besides saying thanks for the Site and the hike reports, I’m interested in some information, if you have time. Looking at topo maps leads me to believe it should be possible to make a circuit hike out of the hikes to Emerald Lake and the hike to Flattop/Hallett. It looks like the connecting route should follow a line on the South side of Tyndall Gorge from the talus field South of Emerald Lake, up to Jade lake, to the Tyndall Glacier, then a generally North line up to join the Flattop Trail. My wife (Linda) and I worked our way partway up from Emerald Lake but when the scrambling got to be a bit too difficult for her, we turned back. What I’d like to know, is this connection possible without considerable rock climbing and scrambling? If you or anyone else can shed any light on this I would be most appreciative.
Thanks again for the wonderful Site!
Michael Hoyt
Hi, Mike. I look forward to new hikes that you will be going on. Keep up the good work.
Mike,
I really enjoyed reading your account of the Longs Peak hike. I did it 3 years ago, and may repeat the experience next summer. The next time that you do that hike, you might want to consider taking the small side trip up to Chasm View. I did that and was able to watch the Diamond rock climbers relatively closely.
Lon Bussell
Mike,
I really enjoyed reading your account of the Longs Peak hike. I did it 3 years ago, and may repeat the experience next summer. The next time that you do that hike, you might want to consider taking the small side trip up to Chasm View. I did that and was able to watch the Diamond rock climbers relatively closely.
Lon Bussell
Hi Mike,
Great site! 16 years ago I also climbed Long's Peak. Thanks for bringing the memories alive again. I worked at the YMCA of the Rockies and had the great fortune of having Rocky Mountain National Park as my playground. I did some pretty extensive climbing and I would have to say climbing Long's Peak with my best friend was the highlight of my summer. I hope to return someday and give my daughter the opportunity to experience what I feel so lucky to have experienced. Terry Riley-Wilcox, MASS.