Yesterday, my fellow peak bagger, Tara, and I hiked the  Estes Cone Peak Trail.

This peak in part of the cluster of peaks near the mother herself, Longs. This area is wonderful for all kinds of hiking; I highly recommend it!

This hike was a bit strenuous, but the grade changed multiple times. We started around 10am, hit the summit around 2pm and were back to our cars at 5pm.  I wonder where these trip reports who claim the hike takes 4 hours round trip are from, because I need their stamina & speed!

Most of the trail was very steep over loose snowpack. It levels out, here and there, and also takes you through a beautiful mountain meadow, then stays fairly easy until you get into the alpine forest, which then changes into the boulder field, aka “Mountain Stair-master.”

The area just below tree-line was probably the hardest part of the climb because of the steep grade, boulders, and the trail was hard to keep track of. Thankfully, fellow hikers before us had built cairns, which we kept a lookout for, and thus stayed (mostly) on-trail.

I had to take my socks and boots off at the top to dry out because of the loose snowpack on the way up. My poor boots are probably destroyed because water got inside of them! Note to self: get some gaiters.

We also met a few birds, who ate almonds out of our hands! Can anyone classify this little guy?

Overall, this trail was very fun and very tiring. I slept pretty well last night, and was planning to hike Mt. Elbert today, but did not feel like I got enough sleep for that mountain. Soon!