Blue Lake Hike

I had the day off on Monday, so we went for a hike.  We decided to go somewhere we hadn't been to yet.  We went to the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area.  Since the twins were going hiking with us we had to make it a reasonable hike.  We picked the Mitchell Lake Trail to Blue Lake.  The hike didn't look too bad on paper.....5.1 miles with 830' net elevation gain.  How would it be for two six year olds though? 

We started hiking at about 9 AM.  We had plenty of time to reach the lake and get back home in time for supper.  We had great weather.....cool, sunny, with enough breeze to keep the hordes of mosquitoes away for the most part.  We found out that this isn't a Rocky Mountain National Park trail.....it's a true wilderness trail.  It was a trail in the sense that people walk on it and it's fairly identifiable (you won't get lost).  But, the trail is far from the maintained trails of the Park.  Large boulders dominated the path and kept the twins climbing up a great part of it.  There was also a wet stream crossing.....no foot bridge, no boulder hopping, no jumping it.  It was wide and wet....but fortunately no more than ankle deep in the deepest part. 

We made it to the lake around noon and hung out there for about an hour.  We admired the beautiful waterfall on the far side. I was able to get a line wet with a little fly fishing.  No fish to be had or seen though.  Rain squalls kept coming over the top of Mt. Toll the entire time.

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