Sunday, July 24, 2016
I’m not quite used to the elevation in Colorado yet but I haven’t let that stop me from enjoying the great outdoors. I spent Sunday morning hiking. This time I headed to Silver Dollar Lake Trail outside of Georgetown and near Idaho Springs. I felt pretty optimistic about my adventure because I hadn’t realized what the starting and ending elevations were until after I had completed it. Although I was huffing and puffing a little (starting elevation was 11,235 feet) I made my way up past Naylor Lake and plenty of columbines, Indian paintbrushes and elephant’s head wildflowers. I walked over snow fields and followed the trail still further up to Silver Dollar Lake itself. The elevation at this point was 11,950 feet. I stayed around for a while, hiking down a small waterfall from the snow melt, catching my breath and taking in the beauty. After resting I decided what the hell. Let’s hike the short trail up to Murry Reservoir. It didn’t look far. And it wasn’t. Just a short half mile, which after three miles didn’t seem that much farther. Well the half mile added another bit of elevation. It was worth it as it was gorgeous at 12,400 feet! I’m feeling accomplished being here for a short time and already getting that high! To top it off as a reward I saw my first mountain goat on the way down the mountain!
Trees at the Silver Dollar Lake trailhead outside of Georgetown, Colorado on Sunday, July 24, 2016.
Trees at the Silver Dollar Lake trailhead outside of Georgetown, Colorado on Sunday, July 24, 2016.
Indian paintbrushes bloom along the Silver Dollar Lake Trail outside of Georgetown, Colorado on Sunday, July 24, 2016.
Silver Dollar Lake Trail outside of Georgetown, Colorado on Sunday, July 24, 2016.
Silver Dollar Lake Trail outside of Georgetown, Colorado on Sunday, July 24, 2016.
Silver Dollar Lake Trail outside of Georgetown, Colorado on Sunday, July 24, 2016.
Naylor Lake along the Silver Dollar Lake Trail outside of Georgetown, Colorado on Sunday, July 24, 2016.
Naylor Lake along the Silver Dollar Lake Trail outside of Georgetown, Colorado on Sunday, July 24, 2016.
Silver Dollar Lake Trail outside of Georgetown, Colorado on Sunday, July 24, 2016.
Wildflowers bloom along the Silver Dollar Lake Trail outside of Georgetown, Colorado on Sunday, July 24, 2016.
A small snow field that is melting along Silver Dollar Lake Trail outside of Georgetown, Colorado on Sunday, July 24, 2016.
A small snow field that is melting into Naylor Lake along Silver Dollar Lake Trail outside of Georgetown, Colorado on Sunday, July 24, 2016.
Elephant’s head wildflowers bloom along Silver Dollar Lake Trail outside of Georgetown, Colorado on Sunday, July 24, 2016.
Elephant’s head wildflowers bloom along Silver Dollar Lake Trail outside of Georgetown, Colorado on Sunday, July 24, 2016.
Columbine wildflowers bloom along Silver Dollar Lake Trail outside of Georgetown, Colorado on Sunday, July 24, 2016.
The moon shines above Silver Dollar Lake Trail outside of Georgetown, Colorado on Sunday, July 24, 2016.
The moon shines above Silver Dollar Lake Trail outside of Georgetown, Colorado on Sunday, July 24, 2016.
Silver Dollar Lake Trail outside of Georgetown, Colorado on Sunday, July 24, 2016.
Silver Dollar Lake Trail outside of Georgetown, Colorado on Sunday, July 24, 2016.
Silver Dollar Lake outside of Georgetown, Colorado on Sunday, July 24, 2016.
Snow melt forms into a small creek and waterfall from Silver Dollar Lake outside of Georgetown, Colorado on Sunday, July 24, 2016.
Snow melt forms into a small creek and waterfall from Silver Dollar Lake outside of Georgetown, Colorado on Sunday, July 24, 2016.
Silver Dollar Lake outside of Georgetown, Colorado on Sunday, July 24, 2016.
Silver Dollar and Naylor lakes can be seen from the trail leading up to Murry Reservoir outside of Georgetown, Colorado on Sunday, July 24, 2016.
Silver Dollar and Naylor lakes can be seen from the trail leading up to Murry Reservoir outside of Georgetown, Colorado on Sunday, July 24, 2016.
Wildflowers bloom along Murry Reservoir outside of Georgetown, Colorado on Sunday, July 24, 2016.
Naylor Lake along the Silver Dollar Lake Trail outside of Georgetown, Colorado on Sunday, July 24, 2016.
A mountain goat travels up the mountain outside of Georgetown, Colorado on Sunday, July 24, 2016.
A mountain goat travels up the mountain outside of Georgetown, Colorado on Sunday, July 24, 2016.