2 posts tagged “mountains”
I enjoyed a beautiful, late-season hike with a couple friends to Bluebird Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park last Thursday. One of the things I like most about this hike is that it passes through several burn areas from the 1978 Ouzel Fire. Even 30 years later there is very little regrowth in many of these areas, attesting to the intensity of that fire.
Also noteworthy is the fact that Bluebird Lake, though six miles from the nearest road, used to have a large concrete dam and served as a water source for the city of Longmont. In 1988 Rocky Mountain National Park removed 5 million pounds of concrete and rebar from Bluebird Lake (see "Removal of High Dams" near the bottom of the linked page) to restore it to near-pristine condition.
For an interesting visual comparison take a look at these pictures from the same hike in August 2004. Here is a good example showing Bluebird Lake in winter and summer.
Also noteworthy is the fact that Bluebird Lake, though six miles from the nearest road, used to have a large concrete dam and served as a water source for the city of Longmont. In 1988 Rocky Mountain National Park removed 5 million pounds of concrete and rebar from Bluebird Lake (see "Removal of High Dams" near the bottom of the linked page) to restore it to near-pristine condition.
 |
| Bluebird Lake November 2007 |
For an interesting visual comparison take a look at these pictures from the same hike in August 2004. Here is a good example showing Bluebird Lake in winter and summer.
I took this picture a few years ago while hiking Long's Peak with friends. The morning sunlight bathed the mountain in rich, warm light.
