Estes Park CO Family Get-Together

I joined my sister and family -- nephews, 2nd cousins, spouses, SOs -- for an enjoyable reunion at Estes Park, 45 years after the last time I was there.  This is not a report on one of my mondo trips.

Harlan WS

June 14-16, 2016

black
The first day I joined a
hike into Black Lake.
There was a lot more snow
than expected (snow
was pretty continuous for
the the last mile, few
respites) which made it fun.
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Alberta Falls
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Pond before Mills Lake
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Mills Lake, view S
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McHenrys?
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Elk on Mills
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Black Lake, McHenrys?
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My niece Denise.
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Next day Christine
and I drove up the
alpine road to 12300'
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We took a hike to
a local highpoint
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Long's Peak to S
I went up the cable
route in 1971
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Next Morn I went up Deer
Mt, starting from our
motel.  This route, with
about 2400' elevation
gain, is far superior to
the shorter route from
inside the park; no people
and prettier.
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Deer Mt from my walk in
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About here, one can
a bit farther and R (N)
up a gully, to hit the
main E-side trail.
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One of many
wild rose types
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Now I've hit the
distinct trail
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This E-side trail has
beautiful views of
Longs Peak (which
I climbed via N Face
45 years ago)
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wild geranium
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wallflower
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Longs and Front Range
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Mount Ypsilon
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At least 20 people
came up from the
W-side trail in 15
minutes. I saw no
one on E-side trail
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View back down
to our motel
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penstemon
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blanket flower
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wallflower again
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narrowleaf puccoon
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flax
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bluebells
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golden banner
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irises
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Iris
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This is the unmarked
road to TH, if you
don't want to
bushwhack