Travels of The Mercury: 2017 Travels, A hike to Kroenke Lake, San Isabel NF and an afternoon in Buena Vista, CO

Tommy and Jim look like brothers.

A Hike to Kroenke Lake. During a visit with friends, Tommy and Sarah in Buena Vista, CO, Tommy takes us on a pleasant 10 mile round-trip hike to beautiful Kroenke Lake in the San Isabel National Forest. The day starts out sunny as days usually do in the Rockies.

The trail to the lake begins rising gently through the forest.

At the boundary to the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness in the San Isabel NF.

Break time.

The trail steepens as we climb up the mountain.

The creek becomes a continues cataract as it tumbles down the mountain.

The trees become imposing as we near the lake.

It starts raining as we near the lake.

As always in the Rockies in the summer we bring rain gear and as expected we get a down pour.

Jim and I at Kroenke Lake

Kroenke Lake as rain storms come over the divide.

Hiking back down the mountain through the wet bear bush.

The forest trail from Kroenke Lake.

We have to rock-hop across several creeks that across the trail.

A day in the mountains, in solitude, hiking in the forest come rain or shine, listening to birds and the playful cascade of water, is always a day well spent.

Down town Buena Vista has a lot going on and a lot of great restaurants and shops.

An afternoon in Buena Vista. In the afternoon we enjoy strolling downtown Buena Vista, eating ice cream and perusing shops.

We watch a paddle boarder serf a rapid in the Arkansas River. He was really good and held his
position for quite a long time before turning and going down river to the next rapid.

A trail along the Arkansas River at the end of the Main Street offers the excitement of watching paddle boarders, boogie boarders and kayakers challenge the rapids and standing waves in the river. The rapids are artificially made by placing large boulders in the river to create a world class completion water course.