When it comes to plans and trips things for me rarely if ever, go as planned. What started as a plan to go car camping turned into a backpacking trip to an Alpine lake, but only after we got turned around by a closed road up to our first backpacking spot. The key to pretty much everything I do in my life is to be flexible. It doesn’t matter where we are going, as long as we are going somewhere. Besides, who could get mad at a pretty easy hike to a gorgeous mountain lake? With the crew of Pat, Katie, Ryan, Lindsey and of course Ryan’s dog Rocky, I knew we were in for a good time no matter where we ended up.

Starting up the trail with a nice little stream crossing.

With our shoes tied up and all our gear together (with one scare of someone thinking they forgot their pack but was found in a car) we started on the trail. I've done this hike multiple times, but this time was truly something special. As has been the theme for most of the hikes and trips I’ve done this summer, it was extremely lush. The whole forest floor looked as if it was covered in a vibrant green carpet. Waterfalls were falling from places that I didn’t even know there were streams on my previous ventures up this trail. Light would softly filter through gaps in the canopy above to create an almost dream-like scene.

As we made our final push towards the lake, we came across a nice pile of snow that still hadn’t melted and Rocky ran straight for it to roll around in all its glory. Once we passed the snowfield the lake came into view with the beautiful peak I had remembered fondly towering above the far side of the lake.

Once we figured out our camp spot, we looked up to see that the clouds were growing darker and more menacing by the minute. Quickly we set up our tents so that if the clouds decided to open up above us, we all had a little sanctuary to wait out any storm that may come through. Before I had even finished setting up my tent, Ryan and Pat went to work finding us some wood for the evening as it was going to get a little bit chilly.

With the wood gathered, we were settling into our new home for the night quite nicely. The weather, however, looked like it was more likely to rain than do anything spectacular for sunset. Low and behold though, out of nowhere the peak behind camp started glowing with the evening light. The clouds behind it remained dark and ominous but the peak itself just glowed. You couldn’t even see the faintest of evidence that the light was coming from the west, all the clouds just remained their same brooding dark grey hue.

As we rounded the corner the peak came into view.

We all stopped what we were doing and just watched. Soon a faint rainbow appeared next to the peak, so faint that unless you really took the time to look and appreciate the moment, you’d probably miss it. One small cornice started to glow pink way back amongst the peaks. None of the light made its way to the clouds at all, it was quite an unexpected treat.

The faintest of rainbows made an appearance, if only briefly.

Checking out the peaks glowing in the last light of the day.

We got a campfire going as the temperature was dropping fast. We huddled around as the fire slowly danced. As it crackled under the sky, it brought on the characteristics of the main character in a rom-com. Slowly dancing and bringing you in closer, before turning on you with a shift in the winds and slapping you with sparks and smoke. Just as quickly as the winds had shifted to slap you, they have since moved again, slowly luring you back in with a warm embrace.

As we sat around the campfire, we told stories, laughed, and threw a light up frisbee around. I think there was even some singing and definitely some dancing. Pat had purchased a pair of Bluetooth speakers that work as right and left, using the rock backdrop that we had, it created a mini-amphitheater. It made for quite a fun campfire experience. Don’t worry, we had the place all to ourselves so we weren’t disturbing any other campers. As the dance party wore on, I decided it was time for me to retire as sunrise was only a few hours away.

What it looks like when you drop the pass with a light up frisbee.

Not the worst view for your morning coffee.

I woke up early the next morning before the sun had come up, slowly tip toeing around camp to not wake my camping partners. I found my perch above the lake and waited for the light show to begin as a sipped on my coffee. The morning could not have been a bigger contrast to the day before. Brooding clouds at sunset made way overnight to an absolutely clear sky in the morning. My run of cloudless sunrises would continue.

No matter, it wasn’t the clouds I was as interested in this morning but the peaks that surrounded me. As my first cup of coffee was nearing empty the mountains started to slowly fill with light like coffee dripping from a percolator. Slowly sliding down the mountainside, setting the rocks on fire with orange light. I’ll take this morning view over a view from inside our kitchen any day.

As the sun rose, so did my camping companions. We made some coffee (more for me) before the 5 of us decided it was time for a morning cold plunge. We jumped one by one into the beautiful Sopris Lake, except for Rocky, who just sat there judging us. It was cold, but not nearly as cold as our jump into Eagle Lake earlier in the summer. A jump that as soon as you hit the water it literally sucks the air out of your lungs. This lake was cold, but I didn’t have a borderline panic attack as I jumped in. Crawling out of the water, I felt the numbness slowly melt away, and with it, any aches and pains from the day before.

Best way to cure any aches and pains from a hike or sleeping on the ground.

Before we knew it, we had packed up camp and started down the trail back to the cars. We all had work to do or go to in the afternoon. It didn’t take us more than 30 minutes to hike down the trail and get back to the car. Dropping our packs, we exchanged high fives. Everyone feeling really good about our quick little adventure.

This wasn’t an expedition; this wasn’t a grand adventure. It was just a great time with friends. That’s the most important thing. I tend to get down on myself sometimes when I see other people going on these incredible adventures and expeditions. Climbing to the tops of mountains, paddling miles and miles into the backcountry, hiking long distances to remote locations - thinking why am I not out there?! I tend to overlook the most important aspect of where I am at in my life and a new career. It’s easy to forget that the most important thing isn’t where you are, but that you’re out there at all and with those who care about you and support you.

Hiking back through the green carpet of the forest floor.

We can’t compare where we are at in our own lives with others because their path isn’t the same as yours or mine. The adventure you are on is the exact one you are supposed to be on at that moment. So, what if I haven’t gone on a multi-day 50-mile expedition this year? Right now, I’m just not supposed to, I’m supposed to be on a quick trip with my friends to help me better understand my path and be ok with it before I do go on a bigger, longer, tougher trip. Right now, I’m making plans for bigger expeditions in the future, but those take time, planning, gaining new skills. If I tried to do one right now, it may ruin it for the future because the last thing you want to do is go on one of those expeditions when you’re not ready.

The important thing isn’t where you go or how long you go out for, the important thing is that you’re out there at all. Enjoying what you can, when you can do it, with those who matter the most to you. It’s about being content with the moment, enjoying it, and growing because of it.

Trip Report: Sopris Lake

Trip Report: Mohawk Lake

Hammock Camping: How to do it in style