It was at the end of last year that the Overcast Adventurers and company donned their heaviest winter coats and set off to Rocky Mountain National Park to snowshoe up to a couple of frozen alpine and subalpine lakes. Back then, the crowds were thin, the air was brisk, and the landscape was an icebox mostly full of monochromatic, snowy scenery. While it was still beautiful, I decided another trip up to the park to witness its summer splendor was in order. With me was Maddie, my undergraduate wildlife biology research cohort and close personal confidant. She was on her way home to Minnesota, but had time for a quick excursion in the Front Range.

The sun was still rising by the time we reached the park. Alpenglow spilled onto Longs Peak in the distance, and the Diamond, its face east, glistened with the luster of its namesake behind a glass case. We made our way toward the Glacier Gorge Junction trailhead and were shocked to find the parking lot packed so early in the morning. With no space for us, we continued up to the Bear Lake trailhead parking lot and opted to hike half a mile down to the junction from a side-trail that branched off from the Emerald Lake trail.

It wasn’t long until we reached the junction and began to hike uphill toward Alberta Falls. The overflowing parking lot had presaged an unwelcome sight; Maddie and I rushed to pass by the throng of tourists that jammed the way forward. In our rush, I took little time for photography. Less than a mile in, we passed Alberta Falls, where the flocks thinned dramatically. It appeared these falls marked the destination of most on the trail. We breathed a sigh of relief and slowed down a bit.

Looking northeast, we could see remnants of clouds lingering in the valleys below.

The trail steepened, and we followed alongside Glacier Creek. Occasional views of the gates to the valleys above taunted our efforts to reach them.

Our next destination was the Loch Vale. We meandered through verdant pine forests and passed by two trail junctions. At the latter, the Mills Junction, we began following alongside the aptly named Icy Brook and could tell we were nearing the Loch Vale.

After some scenic switchbacks, the terrain leveled out, revealing a sweeping view of the subalpine lake.

As we made our way around its shores, stunning reflections of the surrounding mountains coruscated from the crystalline water’s surface.

After spending time photographing the remarkable scenery, we continued upward. The way forward alternated between subalpine forests and meadows, with wildflowers and unique fungi perched low to the ground for a keen eye to spot.

Timberline Falls came into view as we exited the trees. Water gushed over its ledges and fell one hundred feet to its base.

The din of the falls served as a reminder of the great force this water had in crafting the valleys below. Near the base, a sign marked “Sky Pond” beckoned adventurers to scramble up the west side of the falls to reach the next body of water.

The scrambling was slippery and wet but wasn’t very difficult. A fall could be disastrous, however, so we climbed slowly. I’m sure this crux precluded many from reaching the bodies of water above, but Maddie and I felt well-suited for the challenge. Above the scramble, it was a short jaunt to the shores of the Lake of Glass.

No trees obscured the surrounding vista as they had at the Loch Vale. To our southwest, Taylor Peak and the Taylor Glacier that hugged its southeast face stood tall above us. The Sharkstooth came into view, its jagged spires still partially occluded. We would have to continue to Sky Pond to see those.

Sky Pond wasn’t far off. We followed the narrow, well-defined trail through some alpine meadows to the rocky banks of the trail’s ultimate body of water.

Its teal surface rippled in the wind, beckoning.

The trail had ended; after a short pause, we continued along the east side of the lake and began to climb upward without it. More views were to be enjoyed! We talus-hopped alongside our pika friends and ascended high above the southern side of the lake.

From this vantage, the formidable pinnacles of the Sharkstooth gnawed at the sky.

After some pictures, we began our descent, stopping for a quick dip in Sky Pond. The gelid water sucked all the air from my lungs, as I grasped at the nearby rocks for assurance my body wouldn’t tense up and sink.

The water was so cold that it left a residual stinging sensation as I escaped its arctic clutches. But hey, we did it!

With threatening clouds rolling in above us, we gathered our things and headed back down to the Timberline Falls.

We stopped here once again, enjoying the mist of the cold water bounding off the rocks.

After more pictures around the falls, we were on our way back down the trail. We passed by the Loch Vale, and as we neared the first junction, rain began to fall.

Thunder roared above us, but we felt safe below timberline. We donned our raingear, I placed my camera back in the safety of my pack, and we rushed toward the trailhead.

Again, as we approached Alberta Falls, the crowds began to pick back up. I had wanted to photograph Alberta Falls on our descent, but the rain prevented me from doing so. We descended to the Glacier Gorge Junction trailhead, then headed back up the additional half mile to the Bear Lake parking lot. At the car, the rain died down, but our spirits remained lifted. It had been an adventure in the garden of memories and the palace of dreams, deep inside the rabbit hole that is the Colorado Rocky Mountains.

Until next time, my friends, stay adventurous!