​​In The Shadow of Longs Peak

Clayton Lake

27 July 2013 

After a long 2 weeks at work which was the culmination of a long project, I get my just reward:  a backpack trip to Clayton Lake which we’ve been to before both as a day hike and as a backpack trip.

The first time we came here, a few years ago now, it was along the stream whose source is Clayton Lake.  There’s a vague fisherman’s trail the whole way but it is a pretty difficult hump.  On the return from that trip we discovered a fairly well worn trail going north and coming out on the trail to Crater Lake and since then, this north-south traverse has been our trail of choice.  Though I would say that each time our travel to the lake has involved not finding the right trail, bushwhacking, being cliffed out and so on.  And this time was no less difficult though it there was a new difficulty:  downed trees probably from that same high wind of late fall a few years back.  And then, once we negitioiated the trees, we had to gain quite a bit of elevation to get to the lake, so it was a long day getting in. 

There was already a group camped by the lake so we continued upward, having some insight from the lake group and we found a lovely sight not too far up from Clayton Lake, perched between 2 outlet streams filled with flowers:  purple flowers, Indian Paint Brush and others and a family of marmots down the hill.  A bit mosquito-y but nowhere near as bad as the Flattops nor the San Juan’s nor Rainbow Lakes near Steamboat. 

It rained quite steadily overnight and this morning we wake up to grey skies.   I imagine it will be raining again before too long but so far so good.  Gary took off on a hike up to the lake but I do not have much energy which seems par for the course lately.