Proposed Title: Mohawk Lakes Trail Shines
Ski resorts make good places for family vacations in the summer. My wife’s brother and his family from Michigan along with his best friend and his family from Utah have joined us a few times now for family vacations at ski resorts in the mountains of Colorado. Last summer, we rendezvoused in Breckenridge, Colorado and it was my job to plan a nice hike that all 10 of us would enjoy. I researched the area and came up with what I thought would be the perfect family hike. My selection was a hike to a lake located at 12,000 feet that all of us could physically and mentally tackle.
The Mohawk Lakes trailhead lies just a few miles out of town south of Breckenridge. I scouted out the first part of the trail early in the vacation with a couple of the sons from the families. This detail is important to note because 7 years earlier, a simple hike on Snowmass Mountain turned into an epic adventure that ended up with a rescue ride from an elderly couple in a Lexus from across the valley. I was looking to redeem my sense of direction and regain a little confidence from the other parents with this scouting trip.
As my brother-in-law once said, “My kids would have followed you to Mexico.” So when we arrived home early from our scouting adventure, they informed me that they had forgotten all about that time in Snowmass. This is a good thing, because there is a certain amount of pressure in being an avid hiking enthusiast. People tend to trust you and rely on your judgment for their family vacation fun. Last year, I was more than up to the challenge.
I decided to scout the second half of the hike by myself. It was a good thing because when I decided to check out the 4-wheel drive alternate route to try and start the hike higher up, I was greeted with a road that took over an hour to go up only 5 miles. If my Jeep was a challenge to maneuver, the Chevy Tahoe rental filled with 10 of us would be impossible. We would be hiking from the start of the trail.
The sweeping vistas that I saw were breathtaking as I hiked up the second part of the hike. I knew it was going to be a memorable hike when my cell phone played the song “Rocky Mountain High” as I received a voice mail while enjoying the view on a steep hillside. Along the way to the top were mining relics and broken down log cabins. Pink elephant flowers lined the high mountain streams and there were waterfalls.
The day came when it was time to put the two halves of the hike together and get the party of 10 up the hill. 3 families from 3 different states present quite a few variables to consider. The kids settled into a medieval jousting pace with sticks serving as swords in their make believe world. “Malrok, swordsmaden of the high pines” battled her way up the mountain. The adults basked in the warm sunshine and enjoyed the refreshing breeze as they too marched up toward the lake.
Mohawk Lake appears like an infinity pool as you arrive at the destination. The Michiganders enjoyed frolicking in the left over snow rimming the lake. We spotted a large trout swimming near the shore and then it was time to descend out of the thin air. The hike down reversed the views and we slowly descended back to reality taking with us memories that will last a lifetime.
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