RMNP Overnighter for Beginner?

[Skibbs]

I secured a permit for my wife and I at Odessa Lake coming in from Bear Lake on 8/21.  We are coming from 650′ elevation and are staying in Raton, NM (6700′) for a night during our drive from Texas, then driving to Estes park (7500′) the next morning to stay for two more nights before our trip.  I am hoping this will be enough to acclimate a bit.

This will be my wife’s first backpacking trip and I am still a novice and she is only in moderate shape.  Is this a doable hike for a beginner like her?  I’m worried a strenuous first hike for her will turn her off to the whole idea and I just finally got her to agree to go on a trip with me!  My total pack weight will be 19lbs with hers being 13 (I offered to carry more of her stuff but she refused).  I am still not sure how I will deal with the altitude, I have not hiked above 7000′ before and the trailhead is at 9500′, climbing to 10,700′ with the lake at 10,000′ over 4 miles.

[Skibbs]

I guess I should note we do hike but only on weekends but this is at little to no elevation and its usually consists of me carrying my daughter in her carrier for around 6 miles and my wife carrying 10lbs of water/snacks/entertainment items for our daughter… I think she will gut it out, just would hate for it to be miserable for her, I kinda want her to love it lol.

[Randy Nelson]

Dealing with altitude varies greatly from person to person. But you’re doing all you can to acclimatize. I think you’ll be fine. Stay well hydrated before and during the trip. If you feel good in Estes, go for a walk. Take it easy on the hike in, no need to rush. You can always turn around and descend. Good luck. Hope you have a great trip!

 

[Gary Dunckel]

I agree with what Randy said. Another consideration is that you will need to pick up your permit in the morning and then drive to Bear Lake. This takes a bit of time. From Bear Lake the trail gains elevation slowly but surely. There aren’t any views worth mentioning, but you do get to hike in the shade. Take it slow, do rest breaks, etc. to make it more fun. After the turnoff to the Sourdough campsite the views start getting good > pretty darned good > downright amazing. The scene at Odessa L. is one of the best in the Park. There are 2 tent sites, and if you can get there first you can be closest to the lake (with your own private beach and one of the sweetest views in the Park).

So…get up early (pack up the night before), pick up the permit at 8 AM, and get to Bear Lake. Then take all the time you need to get to Odessa L. – rest stops, a lunch break, etc. Also, know that there are no water sources until you actually get to Odessa, so carry all that you will need (2 L. each? Bummer, I know). Above all, enjoy a great place to camp!

[Skibbs]

Thanks for all the advice.  Am hoping the altitude wont be a major factor in our enjoyment.  I could have swore there was at least one water source on the way to Odessa from Bear Lake but that’s good to know… maybe I am just thinking of Lake Helene (which isn’t far from Odessa) or maybe the Fern Lake TH which is near the Thompson River.

I’m assuming I can pick up my permit a couple days before so we can get to the trailhead by 7:30 or so, I don’t need to pick it up the day of, do I?

[Gary Dunckel]

Yes, L. Helene is quite close to Odessa. When my buddy and I did that hike, we had to camp at Sourdough the first night. We drove from Boulder to the Park, and we knew that we wouldn’t have enough time to get all the way to Odessa, with the drive, the permit thing, and then drive to Bear Lake. We also had to shuttle a truck, as we were going to exit at the Fern Lake trailhead. We thought that there was a sort of “trickle stream” along the way, 3/4 of the way from Bear L. to the Sourdough campsite, but in late August it no longer existed. We needed to ditch our packs at Sourdough and walk 1/3 mile to L. Helene to get our water for the night.

If I were to hike directly to Odessa, I would just carry 2 liters of water per person and bypass Helene. I’m not sure how the permit thing works, actually, since we always pick up ours the day of the hike. Maybe you can do it a day or 2 earlier if you happen to be staying in Estes Park.

You will wish that you had 2 nights at Odessa…

[Gary Dunckel]

Hey Skibbs, I just now called the backcountry office at RMNP about your permit pickup. She said that it can be picked up 30 days in advance – so you’re good for that 7:00 AM start!

[Skibbs]

Wow thanks Gary, it was on my todo list this week, guess I can check that one off.  Thanks!

[Gordon Gray]

Odessa lake is magnificent.  Its like eye porn everywhere you look.

Here is on the trail coming from Fern lake in July 16.

And the lake itself.  I only spent a half hour here and headed back to Fern.  Wished I could have set up shop there.

[Katherine .]

You might want to avoid alcohol beforehand. It’s supposed to be a factor in adjusting to altitude. Not sure of how big of a factor, but I know for myself I’d just assume get any advantage I can.

[Skibbs]

Thanks for the pics!  We will be taking that trail to Fern Lake TH on the way out.. wondering if maybe it would be better on the way in since the Thompson runs along it and we wouldn’t have to carry much water.

It looks like Mill Creek in the Two Rivers Lake drainage is a water source just past Sourdough if we came in from Bear Lake but I know Gary said there wasn’t any when he went… carrying 4.5lbs of water each is obviously not ideal.

Thanks for the tip on alcohol, luckily neither of us are drinkers

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