Chasm Lake - Rocky Mountain National Park

June, 1986 Conditions Report

Alan Silverstien

	Since  we got  back  on time  from  the  traversal  flight  (see
	previous over-long posting), the way was clear for a hiking trip
	in Rocky Mountain National Park yesterday.  I'll just give you a
	brief summary of the route and conditions.

	Andy Goris, Lorrie  Depperschmidt, Chuck Reese, and I got a late
	start from the Longs Peak  Ranger  Station  (9400') at 0855.  We
	moved fast -- Chuck is  training  for a race -- and  reached the
	Chasm  Junction  turnoff at 11550' in 1:40.  Those of you who've
	been up the peak know the route is a wide, rocky  trail  through
	pretty  timber,  then  across a  moraine.  There are still a few
	large, well packed  drifts  above the alpine  falls, but nothing
	severe.  Longs Peak is of course  still  technical  due to snow,
	which appeared significant above the junction.

	From the  junction  we went down,  around, and up to Chasm Lake,
	11800',  by 1110.  The lake is always  magnificent,  deep in the
	Chasm, a valley  headed by the Diamond face of Longs Peak.  It's
	98% frozen  over with thin,  translucent  ice.  It was a cloudy,
	somewhat   gloomy  day  with  cold  winds,  diffuse  light,  and
	threatening  clouds.  On a good  day,  though,  this  would be a
	great  place  to  lead a  family  hike  -- as  many  people  did
	yesterday -- allowing maybe four hours to get there.

	After an hour break for lunch, Andy and Lorrie headed back while
	Chuck  and I spent 35  minutes  climbing  snow  (mainly)  up and
	around the left of the Ships Prow  towards the Loft.  We went to
	about  12400',  still 1000' below the Loft, before  turning back
	due to the time  (1300)  and  thickening  clouds.  The  snow was
	perfect for  climbing,  just slightly  soft, and made for a very
	fast  foot-ski or glissade.  I dropped back to the Chasm shelter
	cabin in only six minutes in a blinding  cloud of snow, a really
	fast trip.

	After a little  uphilling to the junction again, we were back at
	the trailhead,  with a fifteen minute nature break at the falls,
	by 1500.

This article used with permission of the author.