KITE LAKE! (Surrounded by Fourteeners near Alma, CO)
June 19, 2004
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How to get there: In the small town of Alma (coincidentally, the highest elevation town in America), you'll see the "Kite Lake" sign on the main road. Alma is between Breckenridge and Fairplay in Park County, south of Hoosier Pass. |
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You'll see some old mining structures along the way. |
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Alright, this could be the most scenic pictorial I've ever done. In fact, many of the zoom-in photos were reduced much less so hopefully you can really grasp the beauty of them all! Mount Democrat (alt. 14,148 feet) stands proud in the backdrop. |
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The Paris Mine will be on your right. It's sad to see a mountain decimated by mining, but I must say, the bright orange and red colors were striking! ;) |
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Just look at this view!
Oh, and as you'll see, the road became really bumpy at this point, and so I parked my car and walked the remaining 1/2 mile. |
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A couple more shots from the same spot: Buckskin Creek and a zoom-in of Mount Democrat. Don't be deceived by the photo; A person standing on the peak would likely appear as small as an ant. ;) |
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Loveland Mountain (alt. 13,691 feet) stands to the south of this natural "cul de sac". |
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Ooooooooh! What lovely flowers! :)
My other flower pictorials:
Garden in Manitou Springs, CO
Flowers in May
Flowers at Old Apartment
Flowers in Boulder, CO |
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Hooray! Check out the snow! Mount Cameron in the background as the very beginning of Buckskin Creek runs from Kite Lake. |
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One more shot of Mount Loveland. |
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Alrighty! FYI: It's $7 to camp and $3 to park. |
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Standing beside Kite Lake (see adjacent pics) is a really special.
You're surrounded by stunning scenery all around you at alt. 12,400 feet.
It looks like I'm going to have to come back to hike all these fourteeners (Mount Democrat, Mount Cameron, Mount Lincoln and Mount Bross).
This is a great place for picnicing, photography or even flying a kite! ;) |
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A vivid shot of Mount Cameron (left) and Mount Lincoln (somewhere to the right). |
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I'm 90% sure that triangular mountain is Mount Bross. |
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Looking back down the valley towards Alma. |
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Hmmmmmmm! Maybe my next project should be to hike every fourteener in Colorado! ;) |
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Goodness! I am *so glad* that I don't live in New Jersey, Kansas or Texas! :) |
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Walking back to my car, these two friendly guys gave me a ride back. They were both doing a "wilderness training" in Leadville; The driver was from Texas and the passenger was from Nebraska. |
