Our morning hike target: Twin Sisters Peak. This difficult 7-mile hike begins just past Lily Lake.
A steep uphill grade begins immediately, initially through a wooded forest. The trail crosses into both Roosevelt National Forest and Rocky Mountain National Park.
An early overlook of the famed fourteener, Longs Peak, serves as a preview of what is to come.
Just up ahead lies a massive landslide area--a result of the 2013 flood.
Continuing up a series of switchbacks, the terrain begins to transition from forest to tundra.
As we climbed above the tree line, we made the final trek to the summit.
The trail ultimately leads to the "saddle" that sits between the east and west peaks. This area is home to a stone building, weather vane, and radio tower. Slowly, we mounted East Twin Sisters Peak, perched proudly at 11,428 feet. Here we refueled and took in the incredible vistas that surrounded us.
To the west lay the high peaks of Rocky Mountain National Park and the Continential Divide...
...Longs Peak being the most prominent.
To the north sits Estes Park, seemingly so far below.
West Twin Sisters Peak is an easier climb and ever-so-slightly lower at 11,413 feet.
The high altitude and intense exposure to the elements made for a chilly and windy morning, though the strong sunshine supplied a subtle warmth. Eventually, we began the long decent, noticing a stark temperature change from both the lower elevation and rising midday temperatures. We were both amazed at the number of people going the other direction as we neared the bottom. A strenuous hike is another animal when done in the heat of day.
Round-trip, the hike took just over five hours. However, we spent a solid hour at the top, exploring both peaks and soaking in the panoramic views. Although Mohawk Lakes remains my favorite hike to date, this was an equally challenging and rewarding trail... another one in the books!
Per usual, we followed our hike with a victory meal--this time at Poppy's Pizza and Grill, nestled in downtown Estes Park. After lunch, we stopped in a few neighboring shops before heading back to the city. Apart from the heavy traffic, Estes Park is a quaint mountain village where Anna and I are both eager to spend more time in the future!
Sister weekend came to an end when I returned to work on Sunday, but not before stopping by the Cheesman Park Art Festival!
