1st RMNP Hike -- Gem Lake

The Gem Lake Trail at RMNP is a great place to test your hiking mettle.

Moderate Difficulty
3.2 miles in length
987 feet of elevation gain starting at 7,800 feet.

The trail can be rocky and steep in sections. I will be bring spikes and poles. I may wear the spikes. I will definitely use the poles, especially to help me during the descent.

The air will feel thin and I expect to take pauses for breathers through the steeper sections of the ascent. Up and back/up and down. Whenever you feel you've had too much, then we, the group or sub-group, can turn around. Nobody hikes alone.

The location posted is the Jax West Loveland Parking lot. The posted start time is when we meet at Jax. This is to assemble and car pool. You need a RMNP pass to park in the parking lot. Also the TH parking lot is at the edge of Estes Park and accessed by residential streets. LUMPY RIDGE TRAILHEAD is where the hike begins. Put that in your navigation program if you want to drive direct. I anticipate hiking to start at 9:00.