​​In The Shadow of Longs Peak

Twin Crater Lakes

02 September 2007

Backpack Trip to the Rawah Wilderness Area, camping somewhere below the Twin Crater Lakes.

We left home at about 8:30 or so, arrived at the West Branch Trailhead along the Laramie River Road at about 10:30, and was headed up the trail at 11:15.  This area of Colorado has it’s own sense of place, different than that of other places such as the East Portal.  The Rawahs has always seem very Wyoming-esq to me, but why? Perhaps because there is a feeling of openness along the Laramie River here, or perhaps the additional moisture and generally colder, longer winters with more snow allows for a difference in vegetation.  Today, the grass and low brush is tinged with yellow, as if there has already been a frost.  It’s not cold today, I am warm in my shorts and short-sleeved shirt.  There are several other groups camped here, one of the few times we’ve back-packed here and seen or heard anyone.  It took us 4 hours to get to our camp site, a wide flat area below Twin Crater Lakes, which provide a good stream for water.  We are camped about 500’ above the stream, tucked in the trees, out of sight of other campers.  The weather has been great, sunny, warm enough for shorts, but out of the blistering heat of the Front Range.  Peaceful and quiet:  All my cares left behind at the trailhead.