A Hike to The Pool in Rocky Mountain National Park

​Last week, I drove into the winter parking area to hike on the Fern Lake trail to The Pool and immediately put my trail spikes back into my pack. The first part of the hike, walking the mile down the closed fern lake road, was snow free and dry. I kept the spikes handy because sometimes this trail can be icy this time of year.

However, I found the trail free of ice also with just a few snow covered patches. It looked as if the grip of winter was gone at this elevation. Although the aspen buds were not yet swelling, the warm afternoon definitely gave a spring like feel.

​Today, I would guess these’s a foot of spring snow covering the trail, and it isn’t going to melt away any time soon. But it doesn’t matter really because they have closed the Park gates to entry. There will be no trekking in the Park for the foreseeable future!