Wild Basin

On Wednesday, we decided we had gotten as acclimated to 8600 feet as we were going to get and went for a 3.6 mile hike.  We entered the park by way of the Wild Basin entrance situated only a couple miles south of our campground.  The hike followed the North St. Vrain Creek which at this time of the year is really rushing.  Waterfalls are not my best subject, but you can get the idea.

Along the way, there were lots of these pretty plants.  They look like they should be bushes, but the tallest ones were only about a foot high.

This is just a little side waterfall. 

There were cascades everywhere along the route.  Sondra would be in heaven.

There was even a little ice on the trail to remind us that it’s still early in the season. 

Our turnaround point was at Calypso Cascades which was disappointing because in order to see them properly, you have to cross over a bridge that was closed for reconstruction.

This was the best I could do.

As always, Ron did a little trail work along the way.

By the end of this relatively short hike, we were both really tired.  I guess we're still not used to the altitude.  At least, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

BTW, we never did get any smoke from the Big Meadows fire in the park.  The fire is about 15 miles as the crow flies from us.  I don't know where the smoke went, but not towards us or Estes Park.  As of this morning, they have reopened most of the trails in the area of the fire, although it still isn't completely out.  Thanks to Shoeless Joe for the link to wildfire updates.