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Ice Lake Basin

Trips to the wilderness are always great...but taking someone who's never experienced the wilderness and watching a whole new world unveil before their very eyes is even better....For the second Summer in a row, Oneea and I headed to Southwestern Colorado to see some of Colorado's finest scenery. This year, we convinced Aunt Kristi to join us on our annual adventure. Kristi hasn't spent much time camping (ok, basically no time) and she certainly hadn't backpacked...this was going to be brand new experience, which meant the rewards could be high, but so could the risks...Would she adopt to the wilderness ways? Could she sleep in a tent? Learn how to use nature's bathroom's? Could she haul a backpack up the mountain? Could she camp at 12,500' without getting altitude sickness? Could she stomach my cooking for 3 straight days? Well, I can now safely say that Kris was definitely up for the challenge and did an amazing job on the trip. We had a great time and couldn't have found a better campsite to get away from it all and enjoy some amazing scenery. We are truly lucky to live in a place like Colorado where we can drive for a day and get to places like Ice Lake Basin....and we're also so lucky to have friends and family that continue to take us up on our offer to get out and see it. Until next time and hope you enjoy the pictures.
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  • Looking South onto Upper Ice Lake and surrounding mountains. The water is an incredible shade of blue that is unlike any lake I've ever seen. You can see our tent just beyond the outlet stream.

    Looking South onto Upper Ice Lake and surrounding mountains. The water is an incredible shade of blue that is unlike any lake I've ever seen. You can see our tent just beyond the outlet stream.

  • Another view of Island Lake.

    Another view of Island Lake.

  • The incredible Island Lake. I've been scoping this lake out for several years now, and happy that I finally got to see one of Colorado's finest alpine lakes. After a long first day hiking up to the Upper Ice Lake Basin, we decided to head out to Island Lake. The trail is just a short 20 minute hike from Upper Ice Lake, unfortunately there's a couple spots that are slippery and have some exposure. Oneea and Kris weren't feeling too comfortable with the terrain, so they stayed back and let me head up to Island Lake on my own. I found it quickly, and couldn't believe I was the only person to be found in this incredible setting! I walked about 3/4 of the way up the Pass, and took this shot looking down on the Lake. Just over the near mountains sits Upper Ice Lake and our tent.

    The incredible Island Lake. I've been scoping this lake out for several years now, and happy that I finally got to see one of Colorado's finest alpine lakes. After a long first day hiking up to the Upper Ice Lake Basin, we decided to head out to Island Lake. The trail is just a short 20 minute hike from Upper Ice Lake, unfortunately there's a couple spots that are slippery and have some exposure. Oneea and Kris weren't feeling too comfortable with the terrain, so they stayed back and let me head up to Island Lake on my own. I found it quickly, and couldn't believe I was the only person to be found in this incredible setting! I walked about 3/4 of the way up the Pass, and took this shot looking down on the Lake. Just over the near mountains sits Upper Ice Lake and our tent.

  • Fall colors starting to show along the trail to Island Lake. This hiker, along with many of the people we met, was from Durango, CO and was heading to Island Lake to camp for several nights. The lake in the center is Upper Ice Lake...we were camped on the near shore right by the outlet stream. If you click on a larger size of this photo, you'll be able to see our little, yellow REI tent.

    Fall colors starting to show along the trail to Island Lake. This hiker, along with many of the people we met, was from Durango, CO and was heading to Island Lake to camp for several nights. The lake in the center is Upper Ice Lake...we were camped on the near shore right by the outlet stream. If you click on a larger size of this photo, you'll be able to see our little, yellow REI tent.

  • Looking East from the Upper Ice Lake outlet stream. This stream served as our water source for 3 days, and also worked well as a beer cooler for the budweiser's I hauled up the trail.

    Looking East from the Upper Ice Lake outlet stream. This stream served as our water source for 3 days, and also worked well as a beer cooler for the budweiser's I hauled up the trail.

  • Admiring the view from our sitting rock just near our campsite.

    Admiring the view from our sitting rock just near our campsite.

  • I think they were strategizing about their "potty spots" when I snuck in this picture.

    I think they were strategizing about their "potty spots" when I snuck in this picture.

  • Our home in Colorado's version of paradise. Oneea and Kris can be seen in the distance by the lakeshore.

    Our home in Colorado's version of paradise. Oneea and Kris can be seen in the distance by the lakeshore.

  • Sunset panorama taken from the bluffs above Lower Ice Lake Basin looking East towards Bear Mountain.

    Sunset panorama taken from the bluffs above Lower Ice Lake Basin looking East towards Bear Mountain.

  • The exact same spot as the first picture...only a few minutes before sunrise....as you can see, the light from the morning sunrise makes all the difference!

    The exact same spot as the first picture...only a few minutes before sunrise....as you can see, the light from the morning sunrise makes all the difference!

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  • An early morning view of Pilot Knob. A lot of people climb these mountains...I was content to just look up and admire...here's a link for more info on the mountains in the area if you feel like climbing them! http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/152925/pilot-knob.html

    An early morning view of Pilot Knob. A lot of people climb these mountains...I was content to just look up and admire...here's a link for more info on the mountains in the area if you feel like climbing them! http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/152925/pilot-knob.html

  • The trail that leads to Upper Ice Lake

    The trail that leads to Upper Ice Lake

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  • Us at 12,500 ft

    Us at 12,500 ft

  • A full view of Upper Ice Lake

    A full view of Upper Ice Lake

  • On our final day, we hiked above Upper Ice Lake to go even higher and check out the saddle between Golden Horn and Pilot Knob...this was the view looking back down at Upper Ice Lake.

    On our final day, we hiked above Upper Ice Lake to go even higher and check out the saddle between Golden Horn and Pilot Knob...this was the view looking back down at Upper Ice Lake.

  • Our one and only group shot taken above Upper Ice Lake just before we headed back down to the Lower Basin for our last night of camping.

    Our one and only group shot taken above Upper Ice Lake just before we headed back down to the Lower Basin for our last night of camping.

  • Kris getting some waterfall photos with her new Nikon DSLR camera. I think she learned a lot of valuable photo lessons on this trip, and will hopefully get to apply them on some future backpacking adventures!

    Kris getting some waterfall photos with her new Nikon DSLR camera. I think she learned a lot of valuable photo lessons on this trip, and will hopefully get to apply them on some future backpacking adventures!

  • On the way back to reality, we stopped off in Grand Junction to see my sister, John and the kids. Was great to see everyone and have some good food at Red Robin before getting back on I70 for the long drive back to Boulder.

    On the way back to reality, we stopped off in Grand Junction to see my sister, John and the kids. Was great to see everyone and have some good food at Red Robin before getting back on I70 for the long drive back to Boulder.

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    Fall colors starting to show along the trail to Island Lake. This hiker, along with many of the people we met, was from Durango, CO and was heading to Island Lake to camp for several nights. The lake in the center is Upper Ice Lake...we were camped on the near shore right by the outlet stream. If you click on a larger size of this photo, you'll be able to see our little, yellow REI tent.
    Looking East from the Upper Ice Lake outlet stream. This stream served as our water source for 3 days, and also worked well as a beer cooler for the budweiser's I hauled up the trail.
    Admiring the view from our sitting rock just near our campsite.