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At hike's end, Hikemaster Scott gets one more photo at Bear Lake, major hub of RMNP! This could well be his last visit to this lake in 2011. Saying goodbye to RMNP is always so hard, but 2011 has been a great ride!
Taken: Aug 15, 2011
Southward view towards Longs Peak and Thatchtop Mountain from the Flattop trail. Early low clouds hugged the peaks and fueled strong winds.
At the Dream Lake overlook (1.5 miles up the Flattop trail), Juli, Art, and Hikemaster Scott share a photo in front of Longs Peak (left center).
Into the tundra: Juli and Art break treeline on the Flattop Mountain trail, which climbs 2,800 feet in 4.4 miles. Great workout!
Emerald Lake (below) lookout offers super views down and across -- Longs Peak rises (back left) and Emerald Lake glistens (below).
Juli stands at Emerald Lake overlook in front of the east ridge of Hallett Peak, which forms a side of Tyndall Gorge far below.
Winds were blowing strongly above treeline, but as the day wore on, they diminished and made the hiking conditions quite pleasant indeed.
Art and Juli make great time on the Flattop trail above 11,500 ft, thereby reaching their highest altitude so far in August 2011...good for acclimating!
The clouds continue to hang in, and the hikers were glad they didn't venture up the trail any earlier in the morning. As time went forward, the cloud layer weakened along with the winds.
About 1/3-mile below Flattop, this huge snowfield lingers on the side of Flattop! It sure doesn't look like it will fully melt before the new season's snow begins to fall! Perpetual winter in certain places up here!
On July 22, 2011, Hikemaster Scott made his first ever trip to Pool of Jade (lower left), from Emerald Lake. Here, Pool of Jade is viewed from far above, with Hallett Peak rising like a giant (back right).
Juli enjoys a break from the wind in a shelter at the hitchrack 1/3-mile below the true Flattop summit.
Art and Juli crest the final hill leading up to Flattop Mountain's broad summit -- it is indeed flat (at 12,324 ft, 60th in RMNP) on top!
Fog continues to roll from west to east, but visibility was quite good in the foreground, as you can tell from the views of Snowdrift Peak (63rd in RMNP, left) and Ptarmigan Point (right, 56th in RMNP).
Group photo atop Flattop Mountain (12,324 ft): Top: Art. Front: Hikemaster Scott and Juli. Gorgeous weather was taking shape up here!
The Flattop Mountain tundra plain, looking northward towards the Mummy Range (back right) and the Odessa Gorge (out of sight in gap at left).
Notchtop Spire appears in the foreground to the north of Flattop, with the Mummy Range in the backdrop. The notch looks deceptive close, but a long semi-circular trek around the head of Odessa Gorge is required to get over there.
Juli enjoys a photo in front of Notchtop Mountain, with the Mummy Range behind. Along with Art and Hikemaster Scott, Juli has climbed many of the high peaks in this view!
Art and Juli walk across the vast tundra west and north of Flattop Mountain, while most Flattop hikers head south instead.
Nimbus (left), Cumulus (center), and Howard (right) mountains form the heart of the Never Summer Range to the west. Snow continues to shine in mid-August, especially in the Never Summers!
From Notchtop's summit, this southward view showcases Flattop Mountain (foreground) and Longs Peak (back center), along with other peaks like Pagoda and Hallett.
The high point on the Continental Divide above Notchtop Spire reveals this impressive view of the spire to the east, and Twin Sisters much farther to the east.
The Mummy Range rises (back left) to the north, while this must be one of the grandest views into Odessa Gorge of anywhere in the park! Look at those sparkling lakes (Odessa and Fern) 1000+ feet below!
Hikemaster Scott's mom, Juli, enjoys a wonderful break in the tundra atop Notchtop Mountain. What a gorgeous day this turned out to be!
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