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The prominence list was calling my name again, but an easier choice was preferable. Armed with recent conditions info courtesy of Layne Bracy, I headed to Lily Lake south of Estes Park arriving at the Twin Sisters Trailhead at 7:00 a.m. without snowshoes. The trail was indeed hard-packed, enough so that crampons wouldn't have been an off-the-wall item to have in inventory. The wind was fierce, so I was glad to be in tree-cover for most of the morning. As the trail progressed southward, Longs Peak becomes more apparent, but fro the most part obscured by the trees. Just before the switchbacks that head east to reach the saddle, A full panorama of the monarch is revealed. The trail later has some icy spots that require careful avoidance.
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A lot of snowshoe tracks cut switchbacks on the way up. This would probably be a good technique to avoid the slippery trail on the way down. The temperature decreases slightly as I ascend, but I is quite warm for the time of year, and I'm down to a single shirt layer. The switchbacks efficiently transport me to the flattening terrain that is the saddle. The trail was a little softer here owing to the small amount of snow deposited by the wind. The first views of the nearby Mummy Range come into perspective now. The amount of snow there looked like less than I was expecting. I am taking my time, enjoying the hike, and the trees - I hear but do not feel the gusts they mask. I keep wondering where the large area is above treeline, since it seems that I am reaching the highest contour.
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Then the treeless slopes appear (photo on left). This was a nice variation for a low Elevener, kind of like the bald upper reaches of Leon Peak on Grand Mesa. A trail leads all the way to a small building between the two peaks. The higher summit is to the east. Wind was not really a factor until on the summit block proper (benchmark in photo below). I was not easy to stand without getting tossed around. I was slightly faster on the descent, though the icy sections were trickier. I managed to avoid taking a spill, nonetheless. Total time was 3:17, mileage 7.34. On the drive home, I made the mistake of stopping to 'check out' Liquor Max in Loveland - $70 later I make my way home. I could have spent hours documenting their high-conent beer selection.
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