One of many
trip reports under the
SilGro home page for Alan Silverstein and Cathie
Grow.
Email me at
ajs@frii.com.
Last update: March 30, 2024
(Previous trip report: 1986_0628_14erFlight1.htm)
(Originally posted to internal newsgroup:
/* hpfcla:hpnc.general / ajs / 12:00 pm Jun 30, 1986)
Since we got back on time from the Fourteeners traversal flight on Saturday, the way was clear for a hiking trip to Chasm Lake in Rocky Mountain NP on Sunday. Here's just a brief summary of the route and conditions...
Andy Goris, Lorrie Depperschmidt, Chuck Reese, and I got a late start from the Longs Peak Ranger Station (9400') at 0855. We moved fast -- Chuck was training for a race -- and reached the Chasm Junction turnoff at 11550' in 1:40.
Those of you who've been up the peak know the route was a wide, rocky trail through pretty timber, then across a moraine. There were still a few large, well packed drifts above the Alpine Falls, but nothing severe. Longs Peak was of course still technical due to snow, which appeared significant above the junction.
From Chasm Junction we went down, around, and up to Chasm Lake, 11800', by 1110 (2:15 up). The lake was magnificent as always, deep in the Chasm, a valley headed by the Diamond face of Longs Peak. It was 98% frozen over with thin, translucent ice.
It was a cloudy, somewhat gloomy day with cold winds, diffuse light, and threatening clouds. On a good day though, this would be a great place to lead a family hike -- as many people did yesterday -- allowing maybe four hours to get there.
After an hour break for lunch, Andy and Lorrie headed back while Chuck and I spent 35 minutes climbing snow (mainly) up and around the left of the Ships Prow towards the Loft (the huge saddle between Meeker and Longs). We went to about 12400', still 1000' below the Loft, before turning back due to the time (1300) and thickening clouds.
The snow was perfect for climbing, just slightly soft, and made for a very fast foot-ski or glissade. I dropped back to the Chasm shelter cabin in only six minutes in a blinding cloud of snow, a really fast trip.
After a little uphilling to the junction again, we were back at the trailhead, with a 15 minute nature break at the falls, by 1500; 6:05 round trip.
(Next trip report: 1986_0703-05_MaroonPeak.htm)