I just love backpacking in the winter. This Thanksgiving I did a great trip up to Sandbeach Lake in the Wild Basin area of Rocky Mountain National Park. The trailhead gets a lot of sun, but don’t leave your snowshoes behind. Once you pass the trail to Meeker Park you will most likely need to throw on your snowshoes.
Being so close to Longs Peak the weather is absolutely unique. 2 miles from these blue skies it was almost a white out.
Great spot sheltered from the wind.
The next morning after maybe 8″ of new snow it was quick going as it’s mostly downhill. Until my Atlas Stratus snowshoe broke. This was the first trip I used these on. Talk about crappy products.
So I post holed the last 3.5 miles. Ah well, as long as you’re outside you are having fun!
It’s a nice hike with a great view, if the weather is nice you can even drop your pack at the lake and go summit Mt. Orton before dinner.