FYAO, Rockies style - TR

“Mr. & Mrs. Adventurist put together the second of what I hope is many moonlight snowshoe hikes for this past Friday. I kinda slacked off on getting the report up...

Timing and events and traffic and any other excuse I can create tend to conspire to make me late for any hike in Rocky Mountain National Park, so I was determined not to let that happen this time. I got to the park at 8PM for an 8:30 hike. Victory is mine!

The Adventurists showed up about 8:15 and we began discussing who would and wouldn't show. Why did we expect a low turnout? We expected temps of zero degrees, maybe below, with wind-chill below that for the 2.8 mile hike to Mills Lake. We were right to expect the understandably low turnout, as we had only 3 other folk join us, non-TTers all but some strong hikers still.

Did I mention it was cold? Wow... The first deep breaths of air I took as we started hiking were a shock. I actually had to stop because I was so unprepared, even though I do a lot of winter hiking. The group quickly found a pace, which left us spread out depending on our own hiking speeds. Maybe halfway up the trail, I catch up to Adventurist, who has a broken snowshoe. The trail is well-packed, and he is able to race ahead in just boots. I was kinda jealous of his speed, as I trudged on to Mills.

I eventually warmed up enough to shed one of my two light fleece jackets, but I can't say the same for my water. My nalgenes were showing a nasty habit of freezing shut, even if I barely closed them. Glad it wasn't a strenuous hike, or I'd have been sucking on snow for water...

I was the last to reach Mills Lake, so I joined the group out on the lake. We skated around on our snowshoes until we heard the ice pop. We didn’t expect any immediate danger, but we took it as a sign to start back down.

On the way down, I was debating my earlier plans of staying overnight. I had plenty of sleeping bag, but I was a bit sweaty and frustrated by my frozen nalgenes. I decided if my extra water in the Jeep was usable, I’d stay. One hour and 2.8 miles later, I had my answer – unless I wanted to spend a half hour thawing my frozen water, the overnighter wasn’t happening. I followed the Adventurists to their home and crashed with them. Thanks again!

Now, its time for work… bah!”

“I'm mad i missed the hike! sigh......oh well, there will be other full moons, right? So only 6 ppl showed up? wow”

“FYAO is a trademark of AmyG. I hope she gave you permission to us it. If not she might sue your ass. ;-) lol

Thanks for sharing the TR.”

“So the Western version of FYAO is a day hike?





Bunch of Wussys!!!”

“lol,”

“Hehe, well, round 1 was. Setting up my tent at 2AM just wasn't my idea of a good start to a night.”

“We'll have to figure out the destination for the next snowshoe!

Great TR!”

“Next Snowshoe will be to Loch Vale!

Problem though....Full moon is on a Tuesday... and that Friday is St Patricks Day... will people still show???”

“Adventurist:

While it might not work for this full moon, have you thought of a Saturday afternoon hike that would end under the moonlight? I like the idea of hiking in the changing light...”

“St Patty's day means very little to me, I'd rather go hiking than go to a crowded bar.”

“I'd rather do full moon at night under moon... So would you still show Tmac for Friday?

How was Bierstadt?”

“How cool would it be to watch the moon rise out at Loch Vale though...”

“I will probably be gone for st pattys day weekend, but i like Roam's idea, and would love to do a day snowshoe sometime.”

“I dunno if I can commit this early to the Friday. I am part Irish... and Scottish... and a few other things... :)

I made it halfway up Bierstadt, and gave up because of the weather blowing in. It was cold and windy, even under my big down parka. I met several hikers who were returning from summit attempts. Some successful, others not. One was hiking in a down coat - it was that cold! I haven't checked my pictures yet, but I think they should be good. Guanella Pass is beautiful!”

“It all depends on when the moon actually rises since its not as constant as the sun. Plus, there's that timeframe when you can't see crap cause its dusk but the moon isn't bright yet.

Let me check what time the moon rises.”

“The following information is provided for Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado (longitude W105.5, latitude N40.4):

Sunday
12 March 2006 Mountain Standard Time

SUN
Begin civil twilight 5:51 a.m.
Sunrise 6:18 a.m.
Sun transit 12:12 p.m.
Sunset 6:06 p.m.
End civil twilight 6:33 p.m.

MOON
Moonrise 3:03 p.m. on preceding day
Moonset 5:33 a.m.
Moonrise 4:05 p.m.
Moon transit 11:06 p.m.
Moonset 5:55 a.m. on following day


Phase of the Moon on 12 March: waxing gibbous with 96% of the Moon's visible disk illuminated.

Full Moon on 14 March 2006 at 4:35 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.”

“I looked at full moon data for the following weekend (StPatty'sDay Weekend) and it doesn't look that great. It seems like Sunday March 12 would work the best since it's a 96% Full Moon. So, would you guys show on Sunday if we did the daylight into moonlight thing??? I'm thinking if we could get everybody back to the car at a reasonable hour it might work? Maybe we could start sometime around 5PM-6PM this way people could meet for dinner beforehand if they want?

Input please.”

“I think thats a good idea. It'd keep us from getting home at 2 am, since most of us would have to work monday morning.

I'm game!”

“I think I can make it.

Did you guys get to Flattop?”

“Nah.. see above for what we did Monday.

Flattop was too clouded over with wind blown snow.

I agree about getting in at 2 am on a Sunday/Monday.”

“Right now, that day looks good to me, but I wont really know what is going on for that weekend until the time gets closer. I am doing a bit of traveling in march.”

“Ok.. that Sunday, March 12 it is!”