Rocky Mtn "Lawn Lake" trip report

“Stalker and friends...here's the report on this awsome hike...

Ok…Stalker arrived at my hotel while I was out to dinner with execs on Wed evening last week…I arranged with the front desk to give him a key, that would allow him access to the secure floor where my company was holding our meetings and then he was to go to my room and STAY there.

When I got back from dinner…I was escorted to the managers office to explain to him and our corporate CEO “why I let a non-company person onto our floor”. I started to sweat and came up with this preposterous story…I said that he was TownDawgs spurned lover and that he was a good friend in need of some fun and relaxing and that we knew each other from this really cool internet backpacking website and that we had met only one other time,,,but that Stalker was cool and no threat…they said ok and that they hoped he would get over the TownDawg thing…whatever a Towndawg was…I didn’t elaborate…I was relieved that I wasn’t skewered right then and there.

I went upstairs and schwicked some brews from the Hospitality Suite and went to the room only to find Stalker going through my pack, checking out my gear and fondling my tent and sleeping bag…gross…he had granola stuck all over his face as he had eaten my 8 lbs supply of assorted granola bars for the hike…he mumbled something like this…mfmfmmmurfugre ood…I took that to mean “these were freakin good…got any more”…I said NO! and go wash your face…you’re a mess….he said “ok”

Anyway…after playing with my stuff and getting ready for the hiking portion of the trip, we crashed…next morning (Thursday) I went to the last portion of my meeting and was back up in the room to change and get out of dodge…Stalker had graciously taken my pack down to his truck…he had driven from KC to hook up with me…he was walking kind of funny…something about lifting my pack and hearing a loud pop in his lower back…bummer…cause I had to carry the freakin pack on my back. After a few brews that I had pilfered from the hospitality suite (stalker sure does drink a lot, but then again…I can certainly hold my own, too) We finally hit the road @ noon and were heading north to Rocky and the backcountry office.

We picked up our permits and headed to the “Lawn Lake” trailhead…after hoisting my pack onto my back…I was ready to go back to the hotel for a marguerita and the bed…we headed up the trail…1/2” mile into the trek…I was seriously doubting that I would complete the first leg to our campsite 2.5 miles in. But I pushed on and eventually got my rhythm and breath…I wasn’t pulling too much air as I had been here for a week, but it was still hard…I think my pack was near 55lbs…I only weigh 143lbs…so I was over my ratio by a lot…freakin granola bars and food…that bag alone weighed 10 lbs. (I eat alot). The elevation gain in those 2.5 miles was 1100’…not too shabby…we had great views and wonderful vistas of the mountains and “The Roaring River”. This area had been devastated by a flood caused by a broken dam upstream…the resulting flood wiped out the stream banks leaving tremendous scarring that will take years to transform…but it was awesome.

At our campsite Stalker and I ate like pigs…we had purchased a huge sandwich at Estes before hitting the trail…and we destroyed what was left and then some. Sleep came fast and hard, as we had really put forth the effort to reach the CG before dark. In the morning we stashed some extra items that would lighten our packs. It felt easier on my back and I was confident that I would have no real difficulties completing the hike…another 3.7 miles and we would be there…we had all day to do it too…so no rushing. The hike continued to be strenuous as it kept going steadily uphill…another 1400’ in the remaining 3.7 miles! But we did it and in good style…we were tired, but not exhausted and certainly not beat up. The view upon attaining the lake was stunning and breathtaking. The vision of the mountains and snow reflected in the lake stopped me dead in my tracks. My mind raced to the realization that not everyone could see this vision…only those that hiked the long trail and pushed the limits, would ever see this vision. During the hike, Stalker and I would joke about “why are we suffering to carry these darned packs…and why hike up this far?”…This is why…this vision we had in our sites was the reason…to see what you had to work for…to see God’s handiwork, this is why we pack and hike…there is no other way to see the beauty of the wilderness and the world.

Our first option for a campsite at Lawn Lake was a sorry one…it was completely snow covered…site #2 was perfect…open sky…sheltering trees and a view of Mummy Mountain…that you couldn’t beat. One of these days, I’m going to climb that mother and see the view that she offers. After setting up camp #2, Stalker began his deliberations in preparing his world famous “Sausage Putennesca” It was awesome!!! Stalker…thanks you for a great meal. I had a loaf of bread (courtesy of Time Warner Cable) and we ate like kings and smoked cigars like Hobbits on the long trail. It was great. Later, we walked down to the lake and watched the stars come out…in the reflection of the lake. That was amazing. The moon was so bright…you could see the details of the mountain across the lake.

In the morning (Saturday), we arose (or rather Stalker rose and got me up) to go down to the lake to catch the morning sunrise on the mountain and capture the moment as it was reflected in the lake…when we got to the lake…my perfect mirror was all frozen over!!! Freakin lake was a frozen frosted mirror with poor reflections…all except for one small area…but the pictures still came out great…ya gotta work with what God gives you. After the sunrise we headed out for the long hike up to “The Saddle”. The hike was awesome!!! We saw loads of dear on the trail…spotted bighorn sheep way off in the distance, viewed hidden lakes and tiny intense frozen water flows…while never being out of site of the mountains that were flecked with snow…It was truly a magnificent visionscape. Upon reaching “The Saddle”, we had amazing views of Hagues Peak, Rowe Peak, Mummy Mtn, and Fairchild…all within striking distance…if we only had enough time to climb these puppies…that would have been great. In the distance to the north, we were able to see Desolation Peaks and even further was Flatiron Mtn. We ate lunch…snapped some amazing photos…and then headed down to gather our gear and head back down the trail to our first night campsite at “Cutbank” and yet another great dinner, this time we ate our own backpacking meals…I ate 2 dinners…lasagna and red beans and rice, both I made and dehydrated myself. We ate, drank (thanks for bringing the brandy and schnapps), smoked cigars…laughed our arses off, and headed to blissful sleep.

Sunday morn…way too early for my tastes, Stalker got me up and we ate a hasty breakfast of Granola bars…I was scarffing these down, as I was tired of carrying them…we headed down the trail to the inevitable and anticipated meeting with soap and water at “Dads Laundry” for our showers and then lunch at the place in the same center…Stalker then drove me to the airport, where I repacked all my bags at curbside…the police lady asked me if I needed help…(why does everyone I meet, think I need help?) I said no, but thank you…Stalker continued East, back on his long drive home to his family…I was headed east to my home and Khatru (and Mom) It was great to get home…I had been gone for nearly 20 days with only 4 days home in-between 3 awesome trips.

Stalker…thanks for joining me…if you had not been there, mentally pushing me forward…I would have turned back to the car and never gotten to see the sites that we saw. That weekend will be ours forever!!! I had a blast; I hope we, again, get to hit the trail together real soon.

here are the photo's


PS>>>>
Oh yeah….the second and third paragraphs are total fabrications…no incidents with any persons from the hotel or corp…and stalker did not eat nor fondle my gear…but had he eaten my granola bars…I might have thanked him…those things weigh a lot, and he did not pull anything in his back when he carried it downstairs, but he probably should have…that pack weighed 57 lbs when I got home and weighed it with all the gear and replace the eaten food items…sheesh…I gotta learn to pack lighter.”

“the weather on this trip was stunning...low 50's during the day with crystal blue skies...evening down to the teens... clear and bright skies with a blazing moon every night. you couldn't ask for better weather...thanks God.”

“Awesome views! I got a little excited when I saw that snow! Hoping to see some this weekend. What was the elevation at the your high point (Fairchild?)?”

“Cool trip report, stikmon! Those first couple of paragraphs had me giggling. hhehehhehehhehe.”

“High pt at the saddle was 12398, Lawn Lake camp site was at 11,000 ft.

My Trip Report
Super views -Tad nippy at night
Good company and good times had by all.

I about forgot, the views at Lawn lake were almost perfect from our campsite, expect for a few branchs and two small trees, once these taken care of...perfect view. No fires gave us a challange, but we were able to burn all the ziplock bags over the stove. Stikmon won the pissing over the stream contest. We didn't leave a trace, heck we didn't even bring one.

Good trip report Stikmon...I think?”

“stikmon, do you have a job? Isn't this your third trip west in just a few weeks?”

“I do indeed have a job...this is how it worked out these past 3 weeks...Utah was the last of my "official" vacations...MY company marketing conference was4 days after returning home from that, so I went out early and grabbed the weekend...then the conference...then I stayed out for the weekend and did the Stalker hike...these 2 weekends cost me no vacation days as I had already spent them...but since I was going out there for business and was there already.......well...I'm a master of time manipulation...take the gear and run!!! but I'm all done with the travel thing this year...its been a long one...can't wait to put everything away...wash...and start staying home...except on the weekends.”

“Sounds like fun!! Watch out for those "dear" in the woods. hehehe... I CRACK MYSELF UP. LOL!!

(and what would you be doing on weekends???!? lol)”

“Nice report. Too bad I cannot look at your pics from work, but my new computer at home will do the trick when I get my ISP today.”

“Q.what would I be doing on the weekends???

A.cleaning my house in time for your arrival and trying to find a couple of extra ones to spend with you before and after thanksgiving.

hmmmmmmm...good answers (patting onself on the back)”

“Finally had a chance to look at your photos. Nice. And... QUIT TRYING TO KILL YOURSELF! Dork. lol”

“Oh, and Stalker ain't a "chooch," huh?? lol”

“Cool pics.”

“Looks like you guys had a great trip. I wish I could have been there. Keep me informed if you plan another. If I can get away I'm there.”

“it was a great trip...wish you coulda been there...next time, for sure...how's your dad?”

“Thanks for asking Stikmon.He feels okay, but with his age and everything they are not going to do anything about the cancer. We thought they were going to operate right away, but decided it wasn't worth the risk. We are trying some alternative medicines, but we just don't know how much time he has. He wants to go out on his terms and not from the treatment. He hopes to have a couple of good years left, but we just don't know. He also doesn't want us(11 kids.Yes, we're Catholic:)hanging around 24/7, so I'm going to have to get out hiking. My brother and I have been talking about the river trail. You wanna go?”

“been there, done that...not gonna go back the the buffalo for a while...Im tired of gettin beat up...you'll have to read the trip report that Im gonna write up tonight...its a riot...”

“..i'm sorry to hear about your Dad..I hope you get to spend some quality time with him soon...peace and God Bless..

regards..SL”

“...I must have overlooked your posting earlier....

Stikmon is a DORK!!!

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.....that is soooooo funny....Dork-man....”

“its not dork-man...its "dorkmon"....if your gonna slam me...have the courtesy to slam me correctly...crikey...

Thanks Lizs...Stratusloop don't need no help in finding ways to slam me.”

“Thanks Strat.”