Summit42.com

Every year while backpacking Timp April and I always talk about doing the summit as a long day hike rather than lugging our gear up the long steep trail and camping overnight. Our friend Emerson told us he was hiking the trail early Wednesday morning so we took the day off work with plans to day hike to the summit. We met up with Kelsey, Brandon, and Jake at the Aspen Grove trail head and started hiking up at 7:30am.

Countless switchbacks and one angry lady later we made it up to the hidden lakes area.

Emerald Lake

After a nice long stop with food and photos at Emerald lake we headed up towards the saddle. The mountain goats were pretty far off the trail and I was feeling too lazy to chase them around so I just took a handful of shots with my 200mm as we hiked by.

Jake was able to carry an empty can of peaches from the lake to the summit and back to the trail head, 8 miles give or take.

On the saddle @ 12:25

We made it up to the summit @ 1:00pm, 5.5 hours from the Aspen Grove TH. We hung out with Kris and Emer (who had started the hike 1 hour earlier) and enjoyed the views.

HDR summit shot

At 1:30 April and I headed back down from the summit while Emerson and Kris slid down the glacier. Just over an hour later we were sitting on the edge of Emerald lake taking a much needed break. I took more photos before we started the long slog back down to Aspen Grove.

Last photo of the day.

We made it back to the Aspen Grove trailhead at 6:00pm, 10.5 hours round trip. Such a great hike but a bit long for my knees. I think I prefer backpacking and stretching it out over a day and a half.