The Loch Hike

Today Scherry was off so we planned to go on our first hike. We chose The Loch. Scherry had been there earlier in the summer but I had not ever made this hike. I picked Schers up about 8:30 and we headed up to Bear Lake to start the hike. We took off about 9:15. This hike goes by Alberta Falls (my favorite place) and then really heads uphill. The weather was not being very cooperative - once we made it to the Loch it started to really rain and hail and graupel! We went past the lake thinking that you could walk all the way around it but discovered that we were on the way to Sky Pond - another lake much higher up. So with the rain and the hail we decided to turn around and head back down. The Loch is a beautiful spot - looking up at Andrews Glacier. And we were able to get some good pictures in spite - or in some cases- because of the weather. As we headed down the rain let up for a few minutes and when we got to the turn for Mills Lake we started up to it. But the rain and hail and thunder and lightening started up again so we turned around and headed down. We really made good time coming down and got to the shuttle at Glacier Gorge about 3:15. So we had made our 7 and a half mile hike in about 6 hours. Not bad for a flatlander! Of course, I may not be able to get out of bed tomorrow and we have another hike scheduled! Here are some pictures of today's hike. Couldn't get one to load. Will try again later. Time to go to dinner.

Aspens along the trail looking out toward Estes Park.

The Loch, but not the best picture.