![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfgyfcGGJTKx6mn1Y_-Qe3YjYc8PZr7YScQCz6M59SxZXqvbC7jed4bgjy1v6M0tA_OygdM_vzb7VmK1K6nrFiQFdTcfM5wC6_NJN41NgTjY18wwIVqNMgplg3uQ9jz-PG50fS90tPXOS/s400/_MG_0227.jpg) |
Susan, Lauren and Steve at Alberta Falls |
Glacier Gorge, in Rocky Mountain National Park, is Mike's favorite area for hiking in Rocky. It has a little something for everyone -- easy hikes to Alberta Falls and Mills Lake, and longer, more challenging hikes to Black Lake and Frozen Lake.
Usually the trail to Black Lake is clear by mid-July, but the winter of
2010-2011 was an exceptional snow year for most of the Colorado Rockies.
About a mile before Black Lake, we started to encounter a lot of deep
and slushy stuff, but it was worth the extra effort and mosquitoes to
get part way up the drainage into Black Lake.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukuIPl1noHSehg2OGtEIjVPdydrt5GN_zQt3qRFGyZLqhkcSADrZODCBg4L4eHyA8YO9_4vQwkkBNyHsM056D5P_H5EkMFkdWc5I8bN-ha7G4rhIMPCp4J_oIt814Nwn47A9YE5evyGLu/s640/_MG_0252.jpg) |
Yellow-bellied Marmot on the trail |
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One of the highlights of the trip was observing a particularly nonchalant marmot on along the trail between Mills Lake and Black Lake.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9GfM8RORT16VqM0z-BK_Z4Tz0Hz4kxkjSylTTxpmUeWIR_SnIqHLOevFzVTvZGBVgGk-2Atbz59RaLQP5BGFT53O0TzuWi9MLAF21LQVnAfTyUFmbT4ruBubo3kWhE_bDMxrfiRo_eo3/s640/_MG_0271.jpg) |
Snow on the trail |
We especially enjoyed having Steve & Lauren along on this hike. Living in Breckenridge, they are one of the few people we hike with who actually have
more oxygen while visiting us in Estes.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgbkhU-kLq4bvT6ZjCe3i2CoJWNaSYmPOQtrBJYZ1LqNwIRHXMrfwYGM1hoPXfx7DaaKOW6f9pAaR3vZ2Y5O3g3CyaYVukb8in1PB5cBvd3-82XELJKnG2dPpZu-aGk8mwoJKE5Ac2tpR/s640/_MG_0351.jpg) |
Taking a break at "Mike's Rock" in the drainage above Black Lake |
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Click here for more pictures from this hike.
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