Escaping The Nutshell

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.

On the hot morning of July 13, 2026 we started up the St Vrain Mountain Trail from the St Vrain Mountain Trailhead. It’s a 3000 foot (914 meters) climb, and the sweating was intense but we got rewarded at the top with temperatures in the lower 60’s (17 celsius). The distance from the trailhead to the summit is about 5 miles, and it took us 2.5 hours to get to the top. We’ll blame the slowness on the heat.

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

We hiked from the Twin Sisters Trailhead at 9,040 feet (2,755 meters) to the north summit at 11,428 feet (3,483 meters), for an elevation difference of 2,388 feet (728 meters). The distance traveled was 3.7 miles (5.95 km), and it took about 1.5 hours (90 minutes). The view of Longs Peak is spectacular.

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