The View

Bierstadt Lake sits at 9,416 feet in elevation and is located in Rocky Mountain National Park just outside Estes Park, Colorado. It is a lake we have hiked to before. In fact, the hike is a classic destination hike, a hike where you are rewarded with a beautiful view, lake, or activity at the end of your journey. As we get older, the journey becomes the destination if we are wise enough to see it.

It was hot. 91 degrees at the park entrance station when we drove through. The trailhead started at 8,850 feet, probably cooling the temperature down a few degrees, but with a southern open exposure for most of the hike up, it was still hot. We made our way up the 566 feet in elevation gain. A little perspective on 566 feet is that it is the equivalent to a 56 story building. Not such a big deal, unless it is hot and then the grasshoppers taunt you as you make your way up the bone dry and dusty trail.

The lake is an oval shape oriented from west to east. When we arrived at the southwest portion of the lake, we were a little taken back. Some loud talking hikers from back east were audible behind us and they were really put out. Apparently, the lake view hadn’t measured up to their expectations. After all that heat and effort to get up to the lake, to them it was a big disappointment. A gentleman even commented to not take a picture because he didn’t want to waste the film.

Knowledge is power and empowering. My wife and I knew this was not the view. The real view was at the far eastern shore of the lake and that we had not gotten there yet. So, quietly and calmly we moved on down the trail around the lake to our view.
We knew there was a sand beach at this end of the lake. My wife had even packed a beach towel to use during our stay. An elderly couple that wandered by commented that they had never seen anyone at this lake with a beach towel and they had been coming to it for 40 years. I guess you only see what you want to see or what you are looking for.

So, as my wife relaxed on this beach, I tried to relax as well. This was easier said than done. I had had coffee in the morning followed by a coke at lunch. Caffeine makes me anxious and heightens my senses. As I sat on the beach, it was hot, knew that already. Other park visitors arrived at the lake, a bunch of them. They were loud. Three young men waded into the lake and proceeded to throw weeds from the bottom of the lake at each other. They threw rocks, tossed logs, and laughed the entire time seemingly egged on by their parents. Hello, there are other people at the lake that would like to enjoy the peace and quiet. No such luck. These people sent the ducks scrambling for cover.

I wanted to say something, bad, but my wife thought it would be best for me to bite my tongue, which was nearly bleeding at this point. Anyway, it was up to us how we responded to this. So, I chose not to respond, minor miracle for me. Eventually, they left and went back to wherever it is they call home, hopefully far, far away. The ducks returned. The lake rippled with the wind. And it was time for us to head back as well.

Some clouds rolled in like giant window shades and helped cool down the hike as we descended toward our car parked at the trailhead. It had been a day of varied perspectives. Some missed the view, some obstructed the view, and some just plain missed the point. So I take with me the memory of a beautiful view that for a brief moment or two was how I think it ought to have been.