SEEING THINGS CLEARLY: THE TRAIL TO SPECTACLE LAKES

Hike date: July 1, 2006. Trailhead: Lawn Lake Trailhead, Rocky Mountain National Park Starting elevation: 8,540 feet; Highest elevation on the hike: 11,370 feet Route: Lawn Lake Trail to Ypsilon Lake Trail junction. Followed Ypsilon Lake trail to Chipmunk and Ypsilon Lakes. Used unmaintained route to hike from Ypsilon Lake to Spectacle Lakes cirque. Total trip distance: About 10.5 miles. Weather/trail conditions: Mostly sunny in the morning, with increasing clouds and thunderstorms by 11:00AM.

On the day that Old Fall River Road opened in 2006, I decided to explore the area around Ypsilon Mountain. However, the road did not open at sunrise, and with thunderstorms threatening in late-morning the previous few days, I needed to pick a hike that I could finish by midday. Therefore, with the gate still blocking access to Chapin Pass Trailhead for a few more hours, I pulled in to nearby Lawn Lake Trailhead with the Ypsilon Lake Trail as my destination for the day. I started up the trail at what seemed a slow pace, as a young couple left me in the dust up the steep series of switchbacks. However, I did not stop often and continued along the second and third miles of the Ypsilon Lake Trail rather quickly. This part of the trail can test one's patience, with nothing more than trees to decorate the views. There are few, if any, mountain views, no water of any kind, and few wildflowers through this stretch. Finally, near mile four, Ypsilon and Fairchild Mountains come in to view, and the small pond named Chipmunk Lake graces the trail.

Ypsilon Mountain and Chipmunk Lake

Chipmunk Lake

Ypsilon and Fairchild Mountains

Despite barely being large enough to bear a name, Chipmunk Lake has character, and often takes on a scenic quality by reflecting the Mummy Range peaks in its shallow waters. Shoreline grasses and submerged rocks also add to the aura of this body of water, a welcome sight after nearly 3 miles of looking at nothing but trees.

Fairchild Mountain, Chipmunk Lake

Chipmunk Lake

After a brief stop and numerous pictures, I proceeded along the trail and steeply downhill to Ypsilon Lake. Ypsilon Lake, like Chipmunk, was tranquil when I arrived, reflecting the surrounding terrain. The still waters highlighted the distant peaks and decorative islands along the south shore, and the clear, cold alpine waters were perfectly transparent in the morning sunshine.

Ypsilon Lake, Mount Chiquita

Ypsilon Lake

Looking west at Ypsilon Lake

South shore of Ypsilon Lake

Ypsilon Lake

It was time to leave the established trail and strike in to the wilderness west of Ypsilon Lake. The terrain between Ypsilon and Spectacle Lakes is the very definition of what the park service likes to call an "unimproved trail". The path is faint, although three log bridges were constructed to aid in water crossings just west of Ypsilon Lake. The first portion of this journey is mainly level as it passes through damp meadows on level terrain. This area showcased chiming bells nearly six feet tall, and several small waterfalls along the way.

Cascade west of Ypsilon Lake

Trail and bridge, west end of Ypsilon Lake

Heading for Spectacle Lakes

Meadows west of Ypsilon Lake

About a quarter-mile west of Ypsilon Lake and another quarter-mile from Spectacle Lakes, the proverbial honeymoon ends. The faint trail threatens to disappear at this point, but small cairns and tracked areas along the tundra give away its course. Following the path through increasingly steep terrain, the impending difficulties above begin to reveal themselves. It was at this point that I caught up with the young couple that had hiked ahead of me at the trailhead, and I helped them find the trail as it began to disappear. The route leads up an ever-narrowing gully as the footing gets rockier and steeper. Eventually, the path funnels hikers right in to the stream itself, ironically the best route to avoid some tricky areas. With a relatively low volume of water flowing through the gully, the stream offers obvious areas of gaining elevation, as long as great care is taken along the wet, slippery rocks.

Ridge south of Spectacle Lakes

Approaching the crux of the route