Mike Great Web site! It is fun to read about and see your adventures.
Tim
FYI: We have a cabin that we rent out near Allenspark and Estes Park and close to the Longs Peak trailhead. It is a good place for someone to stay who wants to get an early start on the Longs Peak ascent and then to relax and shower afterwards in comfort.
Hi Mike,
this is Wolfgang, looking Your the wonderful homepage. It makes me realy homesick to Estes Park. Have fun in the Park an take care on the reindeers.
Take also care on You.
Love
Elisabeth, Janine and Wolfgang
I'm glad I ran across this page. It brings back memories. I lived in Estes in I think 1974 for about 10 months. The best hike I remember (other than Long's Summit) was Thunder Lake. This was in late August and we woke up the next morning with a foot of snow on the ground. Are there any trails that go back into the depths of Forest Canyon. It always looks interesting from Trail Ridge Road. DMC
Very impressive site!! I really appreciate your pics of God's country.
Don't let the good life pass you by!
My husband and I are planning a trip to RMNP. We love to hike and found your site very helpful in planning our vacation details
Mike In 1997 you hiked and snowshowed alot and gave us fantastic stories & photos. In 1998 you only posted a few hikes. I miss your trail stories. Are you not hiking?
Carol
Great Shot on the home page with the hiking boots in the foreground and the mountain range in the background!
I grew up hiking in RMNP in the summers so this is a great website for me since I'm now living on the Gulf Coast of Alabama.
My mother lives in Estes so I still get there once a year or so. Hope to see you on the trail sometime!
Mike: Thanks for the very thorough desciption. I will be on Longs this summer (actually pushing it a bit...first week of July) with a group of 10. Our plan is to "tune up" on Mt. Yale and Princeton early in the week, then do...the big one. My son and I are then headed to France to do Mont Blanc. Where and when is your next trip? Your efforts give me a great "advance planner"! Thanks again.
I am doing a project on Rocky Mountain National Park. I am wondering if you could send me a map of the best way to get to the park from Grand Rapids Michigan. Also any maps of the park that you may send.
Hi Mike, I just read your report on Mt Lady Washington. I was planning on doing this hike in August during our annual trip to RMNP. Mt. Lady Washington has always facinated me ( we've coming here most every year since our honeymoon in 77 ). Now that my brothers bought a condo it's even easier. But, thanks again for the report. Larry the Misssing Link Carr
Hi Mike, I just read your report on Mt Lady Washington. I was planning on doing this hike in August during our annual trip to RMNP. Mt. Lady Washington has always facinated me ( we've coming here most every year since our honeymoon in 77 ). Now that my brothers bought a condo it's even easier. But, thanks again for the report. Larry the Misssing Link Carr
Mike -
You've done a great job! Rocky Mountain National Park is one of my favorite vacation spots. I love to hike, and your site is one of my favorite resources for hiking the park.
Thanks!
Estes Park is the most beautiful place I have ever been. It makes you look at life in a more peaceful and serene way. Who could not love to be alive being swollowed up by Gods mountains.
Angie, Lincoln, NE
Estes Park is the most beautiful place I have ever been. It makes you look at life in a more peaceful and serene way. Who could not love to be alive being swollowed up by Gods mountains.
Angie, Lincoln, NE
Hi. Great site! It's been really useful and informative. I really liked the report on Long's Peak and now I'm a little closer to knowing what to expect in the eventuality that I hike it. Keep up the good work! Leslie from Dallas
Just hiked Estes Cone or tried to. Almost got to the clearing of the trees when it started snowing. Can't wait to get the pictures back. That was my first good hike. Hopefully going back to climb Pikes Peak and start my 14,000 footer book.
Just hiked Estes Cone or tried to. Almost got to the clearing of the trees when it started snowing. Can't wait to get the pictures back. That was my first good hike. Hopefully going back to climb Pikes Peak and start my 14,000 footer book.
thanks for all the great info and links, most people dont go in depth about backcountry hiking and camping. your site (and alan's lists) were of great help planning a 2 week backcountry trip to RMNP. just wanted to say thanks for all the work you put in
Great scenes and a virtual hiking vacation!
great site, especially the graphics. I'm impressed. Jim Stemple, Elkins, WV
Mike- -
Thank you for taking your time and doing this webpage. I am writing a college paper on some of the hikes I have taken in RMNP and your page reminded me of some WONDERFUL summer memories. I hope you do not mind that I used some of your maps. Do you live in Estes? If so do you ever take guided hikes?
Marion Youngblood
I came across your website while researching a trip out west and it is the best site I've found on hiking destinations. We are planning on taking the keyhole route up Longs Peak the first week of August. I printed out your story for my friends and all of us found it to be very informative. It will be the first time for all of us. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us.
Laurie Maciag
Michigan
Thanks for all the information. I am in need of some advice. My brother and I are planning to backpack in RMNP in mid-September. We are semi-experienced backpackers in excellent (me) to OK (my bro) shape in our mid-30's looking for a serious backcountry experience (above the treeline, few other folks, stunning views) over 4-5 days. We have been advised by a former park ranger that mid-sept weather can be unpredictable and that we are best off hiking deep into the back country on our first day, establishing a base camp and day hiking from it for the rest of the trip, all to avoid getting caught in inclement weather that may pop up during our time in the park.
I must say the idea appeals to me, not only for the weather but enjoy the hiking WITHOUT the 40 lb backpack.
My questions are: 1) what do folks familiar with the Park think about this base camp/day hikes idea and 2) where do you recommend us establishing the base camp. I figure we can put 7-10 miles in on the first day.
I am also looking for advice about other loop hikes folks suggest as an alternative to the base camp idea.
Thanks for your help.
Rob
Dear Mike, I really enjoyed your site. I just got home from climbing Longs Peak!! Well actually I got as far as the boulder field, the rest of my party went on. I am so afraid of heights that I figured I better not try it. Out of the 5 others that went on 3 made it to the summit, 2 came back. I loved seeing the pictures of the summit climb, what an experience!! My cousin John (who made it up) and everyone else described it to me over and over but I couldn't really grasp what was up there. Now I know!! On the way down we were caught in a storm that dumped rain on us all the way down, brrrrrr!! Not to mention the feeling of seeing lightning strike all around you! I loved the mountain anyhow! Thanks again for helping me completely understand Longs Peak and many happy trails to you!!!!
Lisa Green
this is a test
Longs, what an experience. It was my first time above 14. My highest before was 13804, Gannett in Wyoming. I had a really good time climbing Longs other than the case of hypoxia and the scrapes on my right knee I received. I started climbing Longs at 5:10, summited at 10:30 and was back down at my Blazer by 1:30. I think I over did it a little, but still the tranquility the mountain possessed was mind splitting. Just imagining if I took a wrong step, slipped on some left over morning ice, misjudged a calculation, and just climbing by myself was exhilarating. I realized Longs is a mountain that demands respect and honor. I am very glad I had to opportunity to climb Longs on August 19th, it was an experience to remember. Anthony Callaghan Edelen
Wow! This is the first time I've actually visited your accomplishments. They are absolutely incredible! On top of my praise, my 6th grade students at Estes Park Middle School, who happen to be working on their own WEB pages, were totally impressed! Thank you for a wonderful site to visit!
Misti Koedam
I have spent the last eleven summers hiking in the rmnp area.my wife and i are completely addicted.Your site is wonderful and i am sure will lead us on some wonderful new adventures.by the way I finally manged to get up longs then heard some people had died there after we had headed home.It shoud be made more clear to people how challenging that hike can be..thanks Greg dull tomah wisconsin
I have spent the last eleven summers hiking in the rmnp area.my wife and i are completely addicted.Your site is wonderful and i am sure will lead us on some wonderful new adventures.by the way I finally manged to get up longs then heard some people had died there after we had headed home.It shoud be made more clear to people how challenging that hike can be..thanks Greg dull tomah wisconsin
Just wanted to let you know that much of the information you provide in your web site was the backbone of an outstanding trip to RMNP this past July. Thanks!
What a great site. I just read your Longs Peak hike article and boy could I empathize with the other Mike in your group that came down with AMS. Back in the early 80's I tried that hike, only to succumb at the Keyhole and hike back down. I looked out at that huge drop off behind the Keyhole, and felt the wind gusting and turned right around. I knew the remainder of the hike was much worse- only now , after reading your article to I realize how difficult it would have been had I continued. Your pictures were great and reminded me of that trip to Estes Park. If only my knees could handle the strain- I can't seem to hike any distance without some sort of joint pain, If it wern't for that small problem I would surely attempt that ascent again.
Thanks Mike! Your site has helped us to decide what parts of Colorado we will be hiking this August. We will get back to you and let ya know what we thought. Sonja and Charley Porter of Missouri.
Beautiful and informative site! I've just been an easy-going dayhiker, but now I can't wait for the next season to try Longs.
Tak Hayakawa in Boulder, CO
Great site!! I am a new snowshoer and look forward to more great tales of great places.
I am always looking for a great place to go!
Mike I you appear quite experienced and you know what you are talking about. I am planning trips to RMNP and maybe even a relocation to the area. Thanks for all the info.
I enjoyed your site very much. Your photos are absolutely gorgeous and we will look forward to our trip in March... we'll take it easy and take some easy trails since we're first timers and just enjoy your pictures of the higher summits for now. ;-) Thanks for your wonderful site! The Griffith family, Fayetteville, GA
what an awesome site. I hiked a few hundred miles in RMNP last summer (99) while working at the YMCA right next door. My favorite is Chapin Chiquita and Ypsilon which I hiked 3 times, once in complete darkness meeting elk and big kittys on the way up. I also hiked Longs via the Keyhole route. My favorite hike was attemptimg the Mummy Marathon. My partner and I did CCY, Fairchild, and Hagues Peak before weather forced us down. I'd love to hear about your hikes!
Mike, I happened upon your page while surfing for information on hiking trails in RMNP. I am not a hiker but plan to vacation doing some hiking in the Snowy Range and need to get in some kind of shape before June. I was having lousy luck getting any really good information until I hit your site. You have a great site here and I really appreciate the hard work you must put into it.
Thank you, thank you, thank you... Connie
Thanks for your comments on the hikes. We are planning a Summer trip and are looking at the hikes and their possibilities for us. We are now getting up there in age. My husband is almost 70 and I am 62,so we pace ourselves with the easier hikes.Thanks to your information we will do Lily Mtn this Summer and decide on other goals later. Thanks again. The Olmstead's from Wisconsin