Loch Vale, locked muscles

When we've gone to RMNP we always want to hike around Bear Lake, and the parking fills up so fast early morning is the time to go there, so we always have to wake up early and rush off to get a spot. So no sleeping in or lounging. Something's gotta change next time.
We ate the motel's miserable breakfast (it's cheap and clean, but ugh, the breakfast), then helped ourselves to some granola and bars as we drove through the park. I was already a bit stiff and sore.
We wanted to hike to Lock Vale, a roundtrip of 5.7 miles and another over 1000 ft elevation gain, and maybe the lakes above it, but the trailhead was full when we got there. We drove on to Bear Lake, parked, and took the shuttle down to the trailhead. We had just gotten on the trail when an elk cow crossed the trail right in front of us. Great start to the hike!

The hike goes past Alberta Falls, and was pretty crowded up to the falls. We had hiked that trail in the winter way back when Grace was a mere babe, and it sure seemed a lot different in the summer without kids. A lot shorter. ;)

As we hiked on we almost lost the trail on the rocks, but soon found it thanks to RD's REI trail app. The trail from then on was mostly covered in snow, making is slower and a bit more tedious.

of course, the snow is the trail

The views were awesome though. While we loved the hike the night before, these views are our favorite hikes.

The snow also helped out when we got too warm...

There are three steep switchbacks beside the Icy Brook cascades going down the gorge, as well as a waterfall, so I guess this trail has it all!
As we made our way up the last snow-covered hill approaching the loch, it looked like we had entered winter again.

The loch was gorgeous, and we gratefully reclined on a boulder eating some snacks. A bluejay came by to beg for food, and I reminded RD not to feed nuts to the wildlife.

RD spotted quite a few fish (he knew what kind too) swimming in there, and wished he had his fly rod. We spent quite awhile there enjoying the glories of creation.

Then I told RD I didn't think I was up for another 1.3 miles over 1000ft elevation gain and scrambling up the side of a 100-ft waterfall in the snow to get to Sky Pond and Glass Lake and the view of the Sharkstooth. In fact, just getting back was going to be something! So we headed back down. RD took advantage of the snow and kept an iceball on his neck most of the way down. The trail can interconnect with others along the way, and RD wanted to take the trail back to Bear Lake instead of using the shuttle, adding .2 miles. We had taken the shuttle DOWN the mountain, as I reminded him, but he still wanted to go. So we hiked back UP the mountain for the last extra .2 miles, which was super awesome.

We collapsed in the car, ravenous, and went to our favorite place to eat so far, The Other Side. Some good food and lots of water revived us, and we set off back to the kiddos, sore and tired but happy. Just in time to hit rush-hour traffic.
Not so happy.
We got back in time for pizza dinner, and some baseball afterwards.

There was some fear/excitement when Padfoot was SO excited to be out with Koda he slipped his collar and ran off, but I ran after him and grabbed him when he was saying hi to a neighbor's dog, RD and Cameron close behind in the car.
What a day. Talk about sore and stiff now!