After lunch near the Alluvial Fan, we headed for a hike around Bear Lake. Last year we quickly hiked around the lake, then up in elevation to a Nymph Lake, then higher in elevation to Dream Lake, then higher in elevation to Emerald Lake, underneath an alpine peak with a glacier and waterfall. This dismally chilly afternoon we decided to leisurely walk around Bear Lake and use a field trip booklet I had purchased.

Bear Lake with Hallett’s Peak in the background…

Fireweed amongst evidence of beaver work…

The highest peak on the left is Long’s Peak, the only 14er in the park. The jagged peaks to the right are the Keyboard of the Winds which as the wind blows through the air sounds like musical notes.

Friendly ground squirrel…

No, it is not a chipmunk, it is a ground squirrel! During lunch they begged for food, as always (which we do not give them, park rules to keep them healthy). We argued with ds until we were blue in the face that this was a chipmunk. Then he pulled out all those wildlife identification books I had purchased. Chipmunks are smaller (though you can’t tell by the picture) and have stripes on the cheeks. Ground Squirrels have the white circle around the eye. We had to apologize to ds who was gleefully correct and I am here to tell the world, this is a ground squirrel! Lol

Indian Paintbrush…

See that tree trunk, bent near the bottom? That is a snow knee. That happens when heavy snow pushes against it.

Is this a ground squirrel or chipmunk???? If you are not correct, ds will come and lecture you until you get it correct! Lol This one was standing up while dd spread her fingers out to get him to stand. DS is the professor and dd is the animal trainer!

Stellar Jay…