The Spirit of the Rockies Trail Journal - Playing in the Powder on Deer Mountain

PLAYING IN THE POWDER - A DEER MOUNTAIN SNOWSHOE HIKE

Hike date: December 30, 2006

Trailhead: Deer Mountain Trailhead at Deer Ridge Junction;
Highest elevation on the hike: 10,013 feet

Route: Hiked the route of the main summer trail to the summit.

Total trip distance: About 6 miles.

Weather/trail conditions: Sunny, light winds, and temperatures in the 20's
to low 30's by midday. Deep snow from a storm that dropped nearly two feet of fresh snow in Rocky Mountain National Park over the previous 48 hours.

A late December snowstorm had just graced the mountains of Rocky Mountain National Park, leaving about two feet of fresh, fluffy powder. A mountainside of powder is the dream scenario for skiers and snowboarders on ski slopes, but also a dream for hikers with snowshoes. From the first step on the Deer Mountain Trail, I knew I was in for a great day of playing in the powder.

Deer Mountain Trailhead

Starting up the trail

While I marveled at the sparkling, untouched snow surrounding me, I was fortunate to find that the trail had already been blazed in front of me. The hikers ahead of me had plowed the trail to make the job easier, but there was still a lot of soft snow to plod through underneath. As I proceeded along the trail, I hoped the path would remain tracked ahead of me.

Looking toward Longs Peak

Deer Mountain Trail and Mount Chiquita

For the first hour of my hike, I continually stopped to marvel at the magnificent views around me. This part of the world certainly does not need assistance in displaying beauty, but with a fresh, sparkling blanket of snow covering every tree, rock, and mountain, the whole landscape had been elevated to a new level of spectacular. In a place where perfection is uncommonly common, I was amazed to see that nature had actually outdone itself.

Looking across Beaver Meadows, Moraine Park

Ypsilon Mountain

I finally met up with the hikers in front of me about halfway up the mountain, where they were in rapid descent. The man and woman paused at meeting me, as I was the first person they had encountered all day. I quickly asked the question that had been on my mind since the first few steps of the hike:

"How far did you guys go?"

"All the way to the top", the man enthusiastically replied.

"I love you" I said with a laugh.

We then spoke about the weather conditions and wished each other well before heading in opposite directions. I was now armed with the knowledge that I had a trail to follow to the summit, and that the winds were just as calm on the summit as they were in the trees. Now all of my doubts about what was in front of me vanished, leaving me to enjoy every detail without concern, and take in all of the fantastic views along the trail.

View over Horseshoe Park

Trailside drifts

View of Longs Peak through snowy trees

Approaching the summit ridge

Eventually, I reached the summit ridge and the trail leveled. The sun was intense here at nearly 10,000 feet, glistening off the snow surface like it was a mirror. The relentless sunshine was a blessing, though, warming me instantly and allowing me to shed some outer layers of winter clothing. Proceeding through the powdery trees, I soon reached the final stretch to the top.

Trail junction near the summit

Hiking south near the summit

My excitement level automatically kicked in to high gear as I turned south along the spur trail to the summit. Now heading directly in to the sun, I readied myself for the moment of topping out on the summit that I had worked all morning to reach. Soon, the ground leveled, and I came to a halt on top of Deer Mountain, where the footsteps I had followed all day came to abrupt end at 10,013 feet. Staring down at the footprints, I loved the visual of the prints ending in the middle of a broad expanse of untouched snow - it was a rarely-seen literal manifestation of someone stopping in their tracks. But, it was also a symbolic moment where I realized this was as high as I could go, and a wave of emotion engulfed me. It was so beautiful and so perfect, there was really nothing to do but feel small, insignificant, and grateful to be alive.

Deer Mountain summit

Mount Chiquita and Ypsilon Mountain

Looking southwest from the summit

Looking southeast from the summit

It had been many years since my last visit to the summit of Deer Mountain. I had eliminated the hike from my mental to-do list repeatedly, brushing off the hike as too mundane, setting my sights on what I felt were more lofty goals. Yet, standing on the summit, surrounded by this snow-covered panorama, I was struck by how magnificent the view from this summit really is. Views of Longs Peak, the Mummy Range and the Continental Divide peaks contrast with views of the valleys to the east around Estes Park...and they were all grand. I took photos from many angles, trying to capture some of the beauty to enjoy later.

Deer Mountain summit

Deer Mountain summit and the Mummy Range

Summit drifts and Mummy Range

Summit view across Moraine Park

I spent a lot of time on the summit, enjoying the warm sun, calm winds, and complete solitude. The sculpted snow drifts and endless peaks in view gave the whole scene a magnificence I just could not seem to leave. It was nice to reach a summit during midday and not have to scramble off immediately to stay ahead of the weather, especially at the height of winter. I never took my good fortune on this day for granted for one moment; to hike in still air, warm sunshine, and fresh powdery snow is a rare gift in the Rockies this time of year. Many winter hikes I have done in R.M.N.P. served up fierce winds, low clouds or poor visibility, so I knew how fortunate I had been today.

Trailside view overlooking Horseshoe Park