Day 1 began about 10:00AM, as I hoisted my 35
pound pack to my back, and headed on to the East
Inlet Trail. Bypassing the Adams Falls loop trail, I
continued to the gorgeous meadows east of Adams
Falls. Mounts Cairns and Craig stand in the distance.

Mount Craig and East Inlet river just east of Adams Falls >

The trail continues along the meadows for over a mile,
leading past several viewpoint areas. The East Inlet
runs peacefully here as it winds west toward Grand
Lake. I saw several deer here, and another hiker I met
later in the trip reported seeing two moose in the area.

< East Inlet Trail, about 1 mile from the trailhead

Day 2 began with a hike from the Cat's Lair campsite
to Lake Verna. I reached the lake just after 7:00 AM,
just in time for some perfect reflection images. I
enjoyed some breakfast beside the tranquil waters
before starting the steep hike to Andrews Peak.

Early morning reflection in Lake Verna >

Both books I consulted indicated that the first part of
the hike from Lake Verna to Andrews Peak would be
very difficult. It did not disappoint. As I climbed the
steep ridge, I had to avoid rock faces and climb over
downed logs, and made very slow progress. However,
great views welcomed me as I continued south.

< Lake Verna and peaks to the south

After climbing 1,000 vertical feet above Lake Verna,
I was finally approaching timberline. After a final steep
stretch through the trees, I found myself at the edge of
a large basin between the still-hidden summit of
Andrews Peak and the unnamed high point at 12,241'.
The views to the south continued to be impressive.

View south from between Lake Verna and Andrews Peak >

Compared to the section through the trees, the final portion of the hike to Andrews Peak was much less difficult. Although still very steep, the path was less complicated as I climbed over boulders and tundra to the summit. In the one mile from Lake Verna to the summit, I had climbed almost 2,400 feet, which is over a 40% grade. The panoramic views to the peaks in and around R.M.N.P. were absolutely spectacular.

< Looking northwest from Andrews Peak

The views from Andrews Peak are not obstructed in any direction, and afforded views to Longs Peak, Isolation Peak, Mt. Ida, Taylor Peak, the Mummy Range, the Never Summers, the Gore Range, and the Indian Peaks. The rugged Indian Peaks and Never Summer peaks still held a large amount of snow.

View to the Indian Peaks from Andrews Peak >

Gerry Roach's book "Rocky Mountain National Park: Classic Hikes and Climbs" describes the summit cairn on Andrews Peak as a "work of art". Whoever built it should be proud that it has withstood decades of high winds and brutal winters. There was a summit register hidden in the cairn, which I signed. There were fewer than 200 names listed since October 1991, meaning only an average of about 15 hikers each year reach this remote summit.

< The Andrews Peak summit cairn

Longs Peak is visible as a landmark to hikers throughout the park, as it was from this summit. There was a lot of snow lingering on the west side of Longs, meaning 2003 will be a short hiking season for the very popluar Keyhole Route. By contrast, there was less snow on the south slopes of Andrews, which made my ascent easier. I was able to avoid the larger snowfields toward the summit and continue across boulders.

Longs Peak from Andrews Peak >

After about 90 minutes on the summit, I reluctantly began my return to Lake Verna. The picture-perfect day continued, as even by midday there was no sign of any storm cloud activity. I made much better time on the return to Lake Verna, although I still encountered several tricky spots (as in 50' high rock faces) that necessitated some backtracking to find another route. I reacquired the trail just west of Lake Verna.

< Meadow above Lake Verna

The daytime winds had erased the reflections I had enjoyed earlier in the morning, but Lake Verna was still peaceful and scenic. I refilled my water bottles and treated the water for giardia before continuing to Spirit Lake. To my delight, the perfect weather continued.

Midday light at Lake Verna >

Following the narrow (and at times disappearing) path along the north side of Lake Verna, I eventually reached Spirit Lake. This lake is about 3/4 mile beyond the west end of Lake Verna. I had the lake all to myself as I sat for nearly an hour on the northern shore. I briefly soaked my feet in the frigid waters.

< Spirit Lake, looking west toward The Cleaver

Spirit Lake is part of a chain of lakes that includes Verna, Fourth and Fifth Lakes. I was beginning to feel the effects from the very steep climb this morning, and decided not to continue on to Fourth. The whole East Inlet area is a backpacker's paradise, as these lakes are very long day hikes, but are not as difficult to reach with use of a backcountry campsite. There are eight separate designated camping areas along the trail.

Spirit Lake, looking south >

Returning to the Cat's Lair site, I was treated again to several wonderful cascades along the East Inlet river. The water level was still very high from snowmelt, and runs over countless waterfalls and cascades between Lake Verna and the meadows east of Adams Falls. Although gray clouds finally formed about 4:00 PM, I returned to the comfort of my tent before any rain fell.

< East Inlet near Lone Pine Lake