Pool of Jade, Emerald Lake, Dream LAKE, Nymph Lake (WINTER & Fall & Early Spring)

The original plan for the day had been to climb a mixed route on the East Ridge of Hallett Peak, but the high winds, cold temperatures, and cloudy skies delayed those plans to another date. I decided to go snowshoeing at Brainard Lake. I snowshoed about 5 flat miles (a loop to Brainard Lake in the Indian Peaks Wilderness), staying below treeline to avoid the blowing snow. Back in Estes Park just before noon and the mountains on the skyline gleaming in a muted winter light and feeling the need for more exercise, I was inspired to do a quick hike up to Emerald Lake below Hallett Peak. I wanted to check out the mixed route Nate and I had planned to climb, as well as add another "hike to frozen lake that I have passed by en route to a climb in the summer" to my checklist.

My round trip car-to-car was 1 hours 20 minutes from the Bear Lake trailhead. The trail was pretty crowded (as usual) with other people out enjoying the great accessibility to the mountains of RMNP.

Below is a sampling of photos from my quick winter hike. 

On Fridays, if I can squeeze it in, I like to go on a midday 1-3 hour hike. Nate and I had been discussing climbing Dragon's Tail Couloir (AI2 M2 Mod. Snow), a mixed route ascending a couloir above Emerald Lake, so I decided for my midday hike, I would go check out the conditions of the couloir.

The hike up to Emerald Lake is less than 2 miles, and went quickly. It was quite windy and chilly up at the frozen lake, so I snapped a few photos and then headed down. I decided I wanted to burn a few more calories so I added a 2.4 mile detour trip to Lake Haiyaha (also now frozen) on the hike back to my car. 

Round trip time from Bear Lake Trailhead to Emerald Lake to Lake Haiyaha and back to Bear Lake Trailhead was 1 hour and 45 minutes. Not much longer than a drawn-out lunch break!

On Friday I had taken a PTO day to do my first spring ascent of Longs Peak. On Saturday I had climbed at Lumpy Ridge with Nate. I expected Sunday to be a forced day inside, from looking at the NOAA forecast (which was calling for 100% snow, 4-8 inches in RMNP). I planned to do some cleaning, laundry, and website work.  But when I woke up the mountains were basking in the light of sunrise and there was not a storm cloud in site. Hm. I regretted sleeping in (even though I needed it after waking up at midnight for the Longs Peak ascent on Friday). I ran though a mental checklist of possible destinations for the day. So I decided to head to Tyndall Gorge, with the goal of getting all the way up to Tyndall Glacier and Pool of Jade at the head of the gorge. I knew there were some snow slopes prone to slide under unstable conditions, so with the stable conditions, today was a good day to check this area out.

My round trip time was 4 hours. I enjoyed exploring an area I had never been to before (in the summer, I had been up to the Third Buttress of Hallett, but no further up the gorge). There were a lot of skiers out enjoying the slopes above Emerald Lake, but I had the upper gorge to myself.

Below are some photos from my short bonus day out.

A few summer photos of Emerald Lake, Dream Lake, and Pool of Jade for comparison!

previous and next adventures