Escaping The Nutshell

On September 22, 2026 we hiked from Cameron Pass at 10276 ft (3132 m) to the top of North Diamond Peak at 11857 ft (3614 m) then to South Diamond Peak at 11701 ft (3566 m). Our distance travelled from Cameron Pass to the North Diamond Peak summit was about 1.5 miles with an elevation gain of 1581 ft (482 m). The distance from North Diamond Peak to South Diamond Peak was about 0.6 miles (1.0 km).

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Besides YouTube, this video is also available at archive.org.

On September 21, 2026 from the Tunnel Campground in the Rawah Wilderness we hiked to Twin Crater Lakes. It’s a 6.8 mile (10.9 km) hike one way with an altitude gain of about 2400 ft (732 m) starting from 8700 ft (2652 m) to 11,100 ft (3383 m). The trail starts at the Tunnel Campground near a bridge over the west branch of the Laramie River. There’s also a trailhead just down the road from the campground. Starting on the West Branch Trail (#960), it’s a right on trail 961, then a left on trail 962.

View the GPS tracks.

Besides YouTube, this video is also available at archive.org.

We hiked to Bluebird Lake from the Wild Basin Ranger Station in Rocky Mountain National Park on September 2, 2026. The ranger station is at about 8,500 ft (2,591 m) and Bluebird Lake is at about 11,000 (3,353 m), for a net change of 2,500 ft (762 m). The one-way distance is about 6.5 miles (10.4 km). It took us approximately 3.5 hours to get there.

View the GPS tracks.

Besides YouTube, this video is also available at archive.org.

Starting on the hot morning of August 20, 2026 at the Bear Lake Parking Area (9,475 ft, 2,888 m) we headed toward the Hallett Peak summit (12,713 ft, 3,875 m) for an elevation difference of 3,238 ft (987 m). The distance one way is about 5 miles (8 km). It took us about 3 hours to get to the top. We’ll blame the slowness on the heat.

View the GPS tracks.

Besides YouTube, this video is also available at archive.org.