John Sides
Tumbling Rock is an incredible wild caving experience. There's so much to see and explore, and you could easily spend 6+ hours in this cave, just seeing the highlights on the way to and from Mt Olympus. I used to lead trips with UAB's outdoor program, and we'd run a couple trips to this cave every year, and it was always a favorite for trip participants. I'd definitely recommend going with a group that includes someone who's been before. This cave is massive, there are plenty of places to get turned around, and as Christian points out, it looks completely different on the way out, so always be mindful of your surroundings and make mental notes along the way as you consult a map. The Christmas Tree makes a good halfway point, where those who prefer to mostly hike or scramble and not squeeze through very tight spaces can opt to turn around. To continue beyond the Christmas Tree, you'll have to crawl through several tight spaces (one section is even called the Birth Canal). After several tight sections, with extended crawls, the passage will open up to massive chambers, where the cave ceiling is over 100 ft high in places. The scale is truly amazing. More scrambling will eventually get you to the base of Mt Olympus, and a very steep and muddy climb will get you to the top of what many consider to be the final turn around point (although technically you can veer right before Mt Olympus and get to a section called Tigers Teeth, but I've never done this and I've heard it's tough to find). At the top of Mt Olympus, be sure to sign the 'summit' notebook. And be very careful on your way down. One really awesome chamber to try and find is called the Inner Sanctum. Branching off the main passage somewhere between the Christmas Tree and Mt Olympus (near the opening where the final tight section opens up to a large main passage), reaching the Inner Sanctum requires a tight steep climb that will open up into a massive room. If there's a lot of water in the cave, there's even a small waterfall at one end of this room. You can continue climbing up several levels of the Inner Sanctum to enjoy the scale of this room. The waterfall in the Topless Dome is also referred to as King's Shower. You may want to wait to climb up the entrance to this giant shaft until you're on your way out of the cave, because you can easily get soaked here depending on the water levels. But it's well worth it. Definitely wear a helmet, and definitely bring a minimum of 3 light sources with extra batteries. Let someone know when you plan to enter and exit the cave. Keep in mind that although it's only about 2 miles into the back of the cave, any serious injury would require a very involved rescue that could take a full day or possibly more. This is a really incredible place to explore, and it feels like such a hidden gem. Be prepared and have a great time!
5.0
Longs Peak is one truly epic 14er. As RMNP's only 14er, this peak gets a lot of attention, and as a result a lot of traffic. Go on a weekday to avoid the crowds. If you're a non native to Colorado like me, be sure you know what you're getting into before you attempt to reach the summit. Getting from the trailhead to the Keyhole is a very strenuous hike, and it's from this point to the summit that the route becomes more technical with a good deal of exposure in some places. Pace yourself and bring plenty of water. When we first started planning to climb Longs Peak, I found this article pretty helpful: https://rootsrated.com/stories/10-thing-know-hiking-longs-peak
5.0
My wife and I hiked to Bluebird Lake as a long day hike, taking our time and stopping off at Ouzel Falls and Ouzel Lake on the way. By the time we reached this epic alpine lake, it was late afternoon and we had the whole place to ourselves, even with Labor Day weekend crowds all throughout other parts of RMNP. We scrambled around the side of Bluebird Lake and on up to Lark Pond. I wish we'd had more time to see Pipit Lake and scramble to the top of Ouzel Peak.
5.0
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