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Rockies Vacation - Day 3, PM

After succumbing to wind and hail on the saddle between Mts. Chapin and Chiquita, we decide to try something a little tamer and less open to the elements. So we thought. We headed down Trail Ridge Road across the Continental Divide (woohoo!) to the Colorado River Trailhead for a four-mile hike to the site of a former mining town, Lulu City.

It is about a four mile hike to the site of the ghost town and after eating a light lunch and taking in more water, we hit the trail in earnest. It was a mostly level hike through pine forest along the valley floor with occassional spectacular views of the Never Summer Mountain Range whenever we emerged from under the pines. We passed all manner of hikers, from afternoon strollers in shorts and t-shirts to amateur hikers like us in jeans and sweatshirts to the serious folks decked out in windproof North Face jackets and using those ski-pole-like walking sticks.

About 3 miles out, we were wishing we had North Face jackets of our own. The thunder we had heard rumbling as we left the Chapin Creek valley had been growing louder and more ominous and suddenly we were caught in a hailstorm. Now, for us Easterners, hail typically takes the form of tiny ice pellets that melt almost as soon as they land. Here, the hail was as big as garden peas and falling thick. Poor Kari was crying, "Ouch! Ouch!" as we scrambled for cover.

But wait, we were in the forest, right? Well, yes, but this was a lodgepole pine forest. Lodgepole pines get their name because they grow narrow and straight like poles, meaning they provide just about zero protection from an overhead onslaught of hail. We finally huddled in the leeward side of the thickest stand of pines we could find and waited out the storm.

Eventually, the hail turned into a light drizzle and we continued on the ghost town. When we arrived, we didn't see much evidence of a settlement, but the open valley on either side of the river did offer nice views of the surrounding mountains. It looked like the perfect place to set up a cabin and live the life of a mountain man.

But since we aren't mountain men, we decided that it was time to turn back. Wet and tired, we trudged the four miles back to the trailhead and the car. Stopping to snap a few pictures from the overlooks, we worked our way back out of the park the way we had come in, headed back to the motel and the waiting hot tub. We figured we had hiked about 14-15 miles that day and entranced as we were, we had to call it a day and say goodbye to the Rocky Mountains (for this year).