About two miles west and 500 feet down from Independence Pass on CO Highway 82 is the Independence Lake/Lost Man Trailhead. It is also the trailhead for the shorter hike to Linkins Lake. My original plan was to consider doing this hike only after seeing a few other sights. However, there were only 6 cars in the parking area designed for over 20 which is usually full by now (8:40am), so let’s go for it!
The beginning of the trail takes us along the Roaring Fork River. We are only about a mile from the river’s headwaters, so it looks more like a creek. From here it flows under the parking area to the valley below. It will continue to grow in size as named and unnamed creeks flow into it along its 70-mile journey north to join the Colorado River.
Here we go. Hmmm . . . watch your step! YES! Bright pink Fireweed along trail edges. Have not seen them since leaving Montana and love these summer beauties.
The wildflowers along the trail and near the river are beautiful.
A riverside rock garden!
The level parts of the trail are mucky with puddles from the last two days of rain. Very unusual to have so much rain in August, but we need it and has helped keep the fires in check this year.
It’s so great when flowers meet me eye-to-eye rather than having to crawl on the ground for a picture. Meet Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium).
Here we are. Since I hadn’t really planned to do this hike, only read the general statements like steep at the beginning, easy to moderate hike, lovely alpine lake. Well, it is only .6 miles to the lake so should be a breeze. Left we go.
Hmmmmm . . . maybe this is the “steep at the beginning” they were talking about? Not too bad.
I’ve never seen mushrooms growing right along the trail in broad daylight. Seems unusual, but so is all the rain. I believe a type of Hypholoma, but mushroom IDs are often difficult. These are edible, unless we confuse them with their poisonous relatives. Always the warning that turns me to enjoying the view rather than trying a taste!
There are so many streams running down the mountains. Happily a wooden bridge helps us stay dry.
Something tells me this trail may be steeper than expected. Pretty rocky too, so watch your step.
Check out those huge mushrooms. I do know they are poisonous, a type of Amanita, but so pretty. Very steep climb off trail to get close, so just have be satisfied with this picture 😉
Time to “pull over” and rest a bit. So, don’t think I shared that when visiting Rocky Mountain National Park the first week of June, I had a problem while touring the tundra at 12,000 feet and higher. I was driving mostly, but stopped at many pullouts walking to read various kiosks and of course to take pictures. Suddenly started feeling the warnings of heat stroke and headed back to the lodge at Grand Lake. I had a serious case of heat stroke in my 20s so am very aware of symptoms. Turns out the warnings of altitude sickness are similar, not to mention dehydration. Although I drink high pH water for better hydration, it apparently was not enough. So what was it? Probably a bit of all three–altitude/heat/dehydration.
This trip I came prepared. Have been doing deep breathing exercises, increased a few supplement doses, using intense electrolyte powder in the pH water, and brought canned oxygen. So resting a minute, let’s take a deep breath of the oxygen and see how it works. Yes, I do feel more energized! Anyone coming to Colorado from lower elevations, especially the coasts, are strongly encouraged to take canned oxygen on all hikes, especially in the mountains. Now I know why. Frankly I had never heard of canned oxygen, but it is very easy to get in Colorado for good reason–super high mountains that people want to hike with lungs that are not used to high elevation’s air pressure and low oxygen levels. Even elevations of 5,000-6,000 feet can be an issue for people used to elevations of less than 1,000 feet. Safety first because altitude sickness can be deadly!
OK, onward. Why is this .6 hike already feeling like 3 miles?! Flowers, flowers everywhere!
Check out the Fireweed around the rock above. Yes, a serious zoom in, it is much higher than it looks. Fireweed can grow to six feet tall, and what a beautiful cluster!
Sometimes you just have to turn back and look around. The trail so far . . . sure, only steep at the beginning . . . NOT!
Think I’ll just sit here for a while. Catch my breath for real, look in every direction, enjoy the flowers. How much further can it be to the lake! Need to pay closer attention to elevation gains on trails from now on too–DUH!
Oh good, here comes a young man and perhaps he knows how much further to the lake. This is not the first time I’ve thought of quitting. No, he has never been here either, but we chatted a bit, he continued on, I sat and enjoyed the views while gathering my resolve to make it to the lake on these seriously steep switchbacks that come next. Slow and steady wins the race.
Scarlet Paintbrush (Castilleja miniataI).
Looking north/northeast.
Flowers in every direction!
Rosy Paintbrush (Castilleja rhexiifolia) only grows in subalpine and alpine elevations, above 10,000 feet. They are showing end-of-season wear.
Another high elevation flower I’ve never seen, Queen’s or Rosy Crown (Rhodiola rhodantha). Stands about a foot tall.
Up ahead is my new friend, resting on a big flat rock. As I got closer he was actually sitting there watching a critter who was also watching him. Yellow-bellied Marmot (Marmota flaviventris) which lives from valley bottoms to alpine tundra. As he and I talked, the Marmot watched the entire time, probably about 45+ minutes! It was amazing he/she seemed interested for so long.
Joining the conversation? Well, finally he/she started screaming. We jumped as it is a really loud call! A warning sound after all this time when we didn’t make a move? Maybe wants us to move so he/she can walk across the trail? Just tired of the discussion? Great encounter regardless.
We continued to the lake, short walk now with little incline. Welcome to Linkins Lake, beautiful crystal clear water and tundra scenery.
Well, it is time for my new friend and I to part ways. He is continuing up a trail into the mountains, I’m heading back. Aside from the family with two young teen boys that just arrived at the lake, we had the trail entirely to ourselves this morning, except for the marmot of course. So peaceful up here, with beautiful views and amazing wildflowers.
Here we go, our journey down. I’ve always found there are new things to see when you head in the opposite direction.
Little surprises missed on the way up. Huffing and puffing takes its toll on enjoying the scenery. Pools surrounded by wildflowers.
Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides) butterflies.
Back to the steep switchbacks. Steep drop unless you make a sharp left–with Fireweed sending up the warning!
No matter how tight I tie the hiking shoes, my poor toes are being crushed into the front of the shoe. Yea, sure, easy hike only steep at the beginning–HA. Wait, no whining allowed in all this beauty. Besides, I made it to the lake!!
How did I miss these?! Mountain or Parry Gentian. Gentian are such interesting flowers, many different colors, but typically funnel or goblet shaped flowers. We spent time with gorgeous Green Gentian, also called Monument Plant, in Yellowstone a few years back. They are a completely different shape and color from these vivid blue beauties.
I can’t get over how this trail is like walking a garden path–a steep garden path but nevertheless . . .
An entire Fireweed plant a short way off the trail, at least six feet tall.
Another flower I’ve never seen before, Rocky Mountain Goldenrod (Solidago multiradiata) on their red stems.
Here we are, back along the river a short distance from the parking area. Wow, missed these plants right near the water, their favorite habitat. Elephant Heads (Pedicularis groenlandica), yes, really. Now we can say we’ve seen pink elephants. 😉
Perfect name, don’t you think?
One last look back. The northern direction is where adventures await on the other trails accessible from this trailhead.
What a great hike. Spent three+ hours on the trail, resting, talking with a new friend, having a marmot join the conversation, and the incredible wildflowers. The trail is narrow, steep, and rocky. Started at 11,500 and walked to 12,020–520 feet up in .6 mile. Worth every step! My new protocol for avoiding altitude/heat/dehydration issues worked like a charm, so more mountain hikes to come!
One last surprise. Colorado’s State Flower: the Colorado or Blue Columbine (Aquilegia coerulea).
Until next time my friend . . .
Really enjoyed Linked Lake story and unbelievably beautiful wild flowers. Glad you were prepared to handle such a hike. Damn few of your classmates could have handled it. All the best…Jeff
Whew…you got a lot closer to heaven on this walk!