Comments:dougalbutler@yahoo.com

"Rocky Mountain National Park Dayhiker's Guide" by Jerome Malitz

Published by Johnson Books in Boulder

Ouzel Lake

Distance: 4.9 miles one way

Elevation Change:    1,510 feet

Elevation at Destination:    10,010 feet

The trail to Ouzel Lake is a continuation of that to Ouzel Falls, so you get to see the Copeland Falls, Calypso Cascades, and Ouzel Falls along the way.  The additional 2.2 miles offer sweeping views of Wild Basin and the surrounding mountains, as well as the area devastated by the Ouzel Lake fire of 1978.  The hike ends at a pleasant lake surrounded by forest and set against Copeland Mountain.

Aug 31, 2002

This is another excellent starter hike for getting used to the mountains with some decent views.  As per popular request, I did have a picture taken of me on this hike.  Sorry, but it sucked and was destroyed.

I was startled by a fairly young deer as I rounded a corner of the trail.  I have never been closer to a wild deer before and he stood in a perfect Bambi-esque pose for just long enough for me to think I could zoom in for the perfect picture.  I never got the picture because he moved into the bush just as the camera zoomed in and I started kicking myself for not taking the quick distance snapshot first.

I met another squirrel at the end of this trail much like buddy from my Banff 2002 Hike.  His technique wasn't quite as refined as buddy and was more skittish.  He kept running around me to let me know he was there and willing to accept food, but wasn't going to reduce himself to begging.

Here's the pics (Click on the picture to see full size):

These are low res pictures.  I can send you higher quality pictures if you want them