Sandbeach Lake

August 8th, 2007

Report Summary

Today was a rest day, so we took a quick hike out to Sandbeach Lake. Sandy and Ali were planning a Longs Peak attempt tomorrow. It was breezy under clear skies when we started. Early in the hike we glimpsed clouds blowing across the distant Indian Peaks summits. They turned out not to be a concern and remained stuck on the mountain tops. At the lake, we could see they were dissipating as quickly as they blew over the divide. It was very breezy and chilly at the lake; Sandy and Ali bundled up and took a break out on the peninsula that extends into the middle of the lake. From the lake you get nice views of Copeland Mountain, the continental divide in the Indian Peaks Wilderness area, and Mount Meeker's huge south face.

Generally, we like to check out the Narrows and the Homestretch. The peninsula is a good spot for this. The top of Longs just sticks up above the surrounding terrain. If you've got 7x to 10x binoculars, you can make out the colored dots moving along. It helps if it's a busier day on Longs. This day was too cold, and there wasn't much activity yet, so we headed back.

Before leaving the lake, I climbed up onto the shoulder of Orton, and took some pictures to help show how to get up there for a trip across the North Ridge to Chiefshead. I integrated those pictures into my Chiefshead 2005 trip report. While I was doing that, Ali and Sandy returned to the trail head but stopped along the way to climb on the rock formations that are along the trail near the Hole in the Wall campground.

Hike Stats:

Slide Show

Click the picture to advance, or use the right and left arrows. Mouse over the picture for text.