Black Lake
Black lake sits in a cirque below McHenrys Peak.
At one point the trail disappears onto an exposed stretch of granite. I continue to walk for few minutes across the rock and come to the other side. The giant slab ends at a steep drop-off. The slope below is thick with trees. I have lost the trail. I backtrack to where I was before but I’m confused, I’ve turned several times and have lost my sight of the trail. When I find it, I am all turned around, which way should I go? I can’t be bothered to dig the map and compass out of my backpack so I just start walking, trying to read the terrain.
After a few minutes, a couple walks past me going in the opposite direction. I recognize them. They were sitting at Black Lake a half hour ago when I left. They should be following behind me, or perhaps ahead of me, anything but walking towards me. I let them pass. I pause for a moment and turn around to follow. I find the stretch of trail that I had missed earlier. I am relieved but wonder if I’m getting giddy from exhaustion and altitude.
Assortment
- Knee Deep
- A few days ago I started going for walks again. Let me be precise: outdoor walks, in the cold. This is an accomplishment considering I usually let January’s subfreezing temperatures and meager daylight confine me to the couch.
- Niwot Loop Trail
- I found the Niwot Look Trail by accident. Last week, I was driving along Mineral Road on my way to Boulder and the evening light was so beautiful that I pulled off on side road so I could stop and take a picture.
- Low Tides and Seagull Skies
- The tide was going out rather quickly. Inside the St. Ives harbor, little boats that had bobbed only a few moments earlier had been transformed into statues as the water drained from beneath their keels leaving them stranded on wet sand.
