Tracy & Amber

Category: Hiking

  • Cathedral Spires in Custer State Park

    Cathedral Spires in Custer State Park

    Tracy and I finally dusted off our hiking gear and hiked the Cathedral Spires (AllTrails details). Excited to get back on the trails, we knew we needed to start with an easy one. As we planned our route, we debated where to go. Unsure how Tracy would handle high elevations and long distances, we ruled out Colorado. Instead, we chose South Dakota, remembering the great hiking opportunities we had enjoyed there during our childhood vacations.

    The hike was mostly simple, which worked well for us since we hadn’t prepared for any serious trekking. The only challenging part was scrambling over rocks just before entering the Cathedral Spires area. But once we arrived, the breathtaking rock formations made it all worthwhile—it was truly an amazing sight! During September, the trees were starting to change colors along with the wonderful evergreen scents. Although climbing isn’t for us, this place is also great for climbing these spires, we saw several climbers while there.

    Reaching this area was just as incredible. Driving from Custer, South Dakota, we took the scenic Needles Highway, a slow but rewarding route filled with stunning views. Speaking of scenic drives, we also have to mention the Wildlife Loop Road. Visiting just a week before the Buffalo Roundup, we saw countless buffalo, bighorn sheep, deer, burros, and prairie dogs.

    On our next trip, we plan to tackle even more hikes, including Little Devils Tower and Black Elk Peak. When I was young, my family hiked to the top of Black Elk Peak, and that unforgettable view has stayed with me ever since. We look forward to seeing new and old trails on our next visit to Custer, South Dakota.

  • Lawn Lake Trail in RMNP – Our Best Adventure Yet

    Lawn Lake Trail in RMNP – Our Best Adventure Yet

    Tracy and I succeeded in hiking the 12.5 mile out and back trek on Lawn Lake Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park. It seemed to be somewhat easy for us, thanks to all our preparation before getting out to Colorado. And the first mile or so of the trail, we’ve completed several times now.

    Lawn Lake History

    I find the history of Lawn Lake fascinating. In the early 1900’s, they built a dam for this high altitude lake to provide water for irrigation purposes. Unfortunately, it came to disrepair and broke down in 1982. It flooded the valley below creating the Alluvial Fan, which can be seen today. Remnants of the flood down the Roaring River are also seen today. It continued all the way to Estes Park. If you’re interested in the full history of this event, you can find more details on this wikipedia page.

    When we hiked the trail, we saw huge boulders along the valley where the Roaring River trickles through which we know must have been pushed down through the valley. It’s amazing to see how strong a force it was. Once we caught the view of the edge of the lake, you can see where the dam once stood. Again, so incredible.

    The Beautiful Lake

    The location is so beautiful, surrounded by mountain peaks around us. There is a place to camp for the evening, which may intrigue us later on when we do this one again. (Which we will do this one again.) It was remarkably peaceful and picturesque. We also considered attempting the hike to Crystal Lake and the “saddle” but opted against it due to weather. And we didn’t want to push our luck. Below are some of the pictures I took along Lawn Lake Trail and the lake itself.

    Hiking down was a fun part, it was starting to rain on us so we trail ran to get below the tree-line. I’d never had that amount of hustle to get down the mountain! Once we got in the shelter of the trees, we slowed and enjoyed the shower.

    Lawn Lake Trail definitely lived up to our expectations and we’ll definitely hit it again soon!

  • Wyandotte County Lake Loop Stroll

    Wyandotte County Lake Loop Stroll

    We found Wyandotte County Lake Loop trail through our AllTrails app. It’s a 9.7 mile moderate trail with nearly 1,300 feet of elevation gain here in Kansas. Yes, in Kansas! In comparison, hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park are 2,000+ feet of elevation gain. This is all in preparation for our Lawn Lake Hike this year.

    What I Learned with the Wyandotte County Lake Loop Hike

    I discovered that I need to keep pushing myself on hikes and strength training. I have had knee issues from a car accident previously and this hike stressed out the knees and hamstrings. Thus, I’m adding more stretches and exercises for those areas.

    We learned that AllTrails may not always be accurate. When we hit 10 miles, we realized that we didn’t have enough food and water to fully complete the trail. I clocked in 11 miles and 1,600 feet of elevation gain even with cutting some paths out. For next hikes, we will err on over-planning for supplies.

    What I’m Excited About After This Hike

    There are some extreme climbs on this hike. In one particular spot, they drilled a hook in a tree, connected a rope in order to pull yourself up the hill. While researching the Lawn Lake hike, it’s a gentler incline compared to what we completed last weekend. Amazing!

    We also worked the muscle groups that needed working. Walking on concrete trails and streets doesn’t work the calves and ankles like mud, dirt and rock. I am looking forward to the next off-road hike, to keep improving that.

    Finally, I’ve found more confidence in myself that I can complete Lawn Lake. I’m certain that if we had taken more breaks and had snacks, we would’ve completed this hike. We were powering through, to complete quickly. That’s not how we go about our mountain hikes. So mentally, I’m ready!

  • Lawn Lake Trail: Our Hiking Goal for 2022

    Lawn Lake Trail: Our Hiking Goal for 2022

    I am looking forward to hiking on Lawn Lake Trail this year. Hiking is one of my favorite hobbies, most of the biggest achievements have happened in Rocky Mountain National Park. According to the AllTrails app, it’s a 13-mile, hard rated, out and back trail and it will be the toughest hike my boyfriend and I tackled yet! We’re planning on hiking it this Summer, as to avoid any potential snow threats; we don’t care to trek through ice and snow.

    My favorite thing about hiking is that when it gets tough, I dig further to find the strength to continue. It’s so amazing how it connects to the other parts of my life: being a self-starter, learning code, pushing myself past my comfort zone. As a result, it helps me everywhere in my life.

    Preparing for the Hike

    • Being able to walk the distance easily here in Kansas City
    • Maintaining a Keto/Primal lifestyle
    • HIIT workouts 1-2 times per week
    • Strength training 1-2 times per week
    • Yoga 1-2 times per week
    • A foam roller workout as needed
    • Walking everyday with Greta, my German Shepherd

    The Few Days Prior to the Hike

    • Get acclimated to altitude, so no big hikes but a lot of easy to moderate rated ones
    • Drink a lot of water and get rest
    • Save the toughest hike for the last day of the trip

    I’d love to hear from you! Do you enjoy hiking and want to share your favorite trail? Please add a comment below.

    Hiking Trails I’ve Completed Near Lawn Lake Trail

    Alluvial Fan East and West Trails
    Length: .8 mile
    Difficulty: Easy
    Completed: September 2019

    Ypsilon Lake Trail
    Length: 8.9 miles
    Difficulty: Hard
    Completed: August 2020

    Deer Mountain Trail
    Length: 6.0 miles
    Difficulty: Moderate
    Completed: August 2020

    Emerald Lake Trail
    Length: 3.2 miles
    Difficulty: Moderate
    Completed: June 2021