Mountain hiking and people watching

I have finally gone hiking again, and I’m finding this is a hobby I quite enjoy. 

 

However, the only place I have gone hiking (the two times I have gone) is in Rocky Mountain National Park, so my enjoyment is based on very singular experiences. But I will say Rocky Mountain is one of the best places to hike that I can even think of. Its beauty is unlike any other. This time around we chose a trail that allowed us to see five lakes and had great mountain views. 

 

Jack and I left Denver around 5:45 in the morning on Saturday, determined to make it to the park before 8 a.m. as our timed entry pass was for 6 to 8 a.m. We made it about 7:30 and found the trailhead parking lot we were hoping for was already full, meaning we had to park early and take the shuttle to the popular trailhead. 

 

Our shuttle going up was packed full and we all got off in a swarm. Jack and I did not dally and gawk but went straight for the trail, beating most of the crowd at our brisk walking pace. 

 

It was chilly that morning, but we weren’t worried as we knew we would be sweating soon. As we headed up the trail, we were surprised to see people already making their way down, finished with their hike. They must have gotten the 5 to 7 a.m. pass, but even so, it was shocking to us, who thought it was still quite early in the morning. But good for them, I wish I would have been able to see the sunrise while hiking the mountain instead of on our drive. 

 

The trail consisted of hiking to five different lakes. Dream Lake was absolutely gorgeous–it was like looking at a beautiful computer “wallpaper” background, except we were there. As I hummed the song in Cinderella about dreams, I could easily see how the lake got its name; numerous people could be seen just sitting at its edges, contemplating life or their dreams or whatever they chose to think about. The still-rising sun’s rays glinted off the still water, which reflected the green pines and mountainside surrounding it. 

 

Emerald Lake was similar and full of spectators, so we then made our way to Lake Haiyaha, a harder trek up the mountain. The trail ended at the lake, where if you wanted to see the water, you had to climb over a lot of very big rocks. 

 

The best part of the hike though, was watching the people. Because we chose one of the most popular trails this time, we were constantly encountering small and large groups of people, sometimes being completely surrounded. There were people in all shapes and sizes, dressed in all different ways. There were older people, parents with babies, groups of friends, and even students on a field trip. People were dressed in hiking gear, in sweatpants, in shorts and t-shirts, or like one couple, in winter hats and gloves. There was one girl in a floor length white flowy skirt and even one guy hiking in jeans and a button down. There were people in tennis shoes, people in sturdier well-used shoes, and people in brand new hiking boots. 

 

Nature, and people, will never cease to amaze me. As Jack and I pondered people’s backstories and the things we overheard, we were surrounded by tall pines, views of the mountains, and splotches of fall colors. It was one of those hikes that made me appreciate life, and appreciate the fact that I live only about two hours from such beauty while others have to travel many hours or days to see the beauty of Rocky Mountain National Park.