Report on Comet Falls and Reflection Lakes

The image of Comet Falls is not for critique. I just wanted to let you know what it looked like at the moment, although with this heat, it's probably changing rapidly! On Monday, I hiked with a neighbor from Christine Falls to Comet Falls, Van Trump and down Rampart Ridge to Longmire and back up to Cougar Rock. It was supposed to be a start-to-get-in-shape hike that turned into a 13 miler in close to 100 degree heat. And I left Arizona ! Luckily, we bummed a ride from Cougar Rock back to the car.

There is still quite a bit of snow all along the trail. The first bridge is out so we crossed in below the knee water a couple of times. Past Comet Falls the trail is under snow so we used the GPS and found it again near the top of the falls. The Avalanche Lilies are out in abundance along with some purple flowers similar to Columbines? And some yellow Columbinish flowers. The hellebore are just coming up.

We made a quick stop at Paradise, still snow near the parking lot. Reflection Lakes is still mostly snow covered, with patches of open water.

Well, time for another dose of Ibuprofin...

JT

Thanks James!! This is very helpful and well timed for Nancy & I since we have 6 days off after I spent the last two weeks for Boeing on the road in St. Louis. The midwest just doesn't do it for me..... Getting some "quality time" back in MRNP will fix that right well!!

It will be interesting to see the timeline for the actual bloom. I've already told our HR person that my week off has to be flexible...able? anyway...Thanks for the detailed update!

Which bridge are you referring to as being out? The one above Christine Falls or the one just before Comet Falls is visible?

The one just before Comet Falls is visible.