RMNP lakes, frozen?

[ChrisRoberts Profile 14er Peak List (7) 13er Peak List (8)Trip Reports]

Howdy folks, I was wondering if anyone could report whether some of the easily accessible lakes in RMNP are frozen? In short, if anyone knows anything about Bear, Beirstadt, Sprague, Dream, Emerald, Haiyaha, Mills or The Loch, that would be great. Was there snow on the lakes or blown off? Estimated thickness?

...I kinda want to go ice skating.

Thanks.

[FireOnTheMountain Profile 14er Peak List (50) 14ers Skied (1)14ers in Winter (10)13er Peak List (198)Trip Reports]

Awesome!

Chasm is frozen solid. Hit it up!

[Tory Wells Profile 14er Peak List (39) 13er Peak List (15)Trip Reports]

Be careful on Chasm though. The ice near the shore wasn't real thick and was still moving around when I was up there two weeks ago.

[ChrisRoberts Profile 14er Peak List (7) 13er Peak List (8)Trip Reports]

Be careful on Chasm though. The ice near the shore wasn't real thick and was still moving around when I was up there two weeks ago.

As high up as Chasm is, it wouldn't be much of a problem to hear it moving. Especially if that was two weeks ago. Generally I wont step out unless there's two inches along the shore, and away from any moving water. It always seems to get thicker farther out.

Chasm would probably be one of the coolest places in the park, I'm definitely thinking about it now.

[mike_kadow Profile 14er Peak List (22) 13er Peak List (2)Trip Reports]

Was out on Haiyaha and The Loch this past weekend (and a few unnamed ponds) - all were frozen very well (many inches thick) except for some obvious east edges that had open water. Of all these, the ice was relatively smooth.

No snow on them as it was quite breezy. So breezy in fact, we put our arms out and were pleasantly pushed across the smooth ice.

[mts4602 Profile 14er Peak List (1)]

Was out on Haiyaha and The Loch this past weekend

How were the trails in the area?

[mike_kadow Profile 14er Peak List (22) 13er Peak List (2)Trip Reports]

Was out on Haiyaha and The Loch this past weekend

How were the trails in the area?

The maintained trails had a little ice, but I imagine that's gone by now. No need for yak trax regardless.

The unmaintained trails had a bit of snow - still, no need for gaiters.

[ChrisRoberts Profile 14er Peak List (7) 13er Peak List (8)Trip Reports]

Was out on Haiyaha and The Loch this past weekend (and a few unnamed ponds) - all were frozen very well (many inches thick) except for some obvious east edges that had open water. Of all these, the ice was relatively smooth.

No snow on them as it was quite breezy. So breezy in fact, we put our arms out and were pleasantly pushed across the smooth ice.

Awesome, thank you for the update! I was hoping either of those two would be locked up. The open water on the east is likely from the moving water at the outlet, luckily those lakes are big enough it will be easy to avoid!

[mike_kadow Profile 14er Peak List (22) 13er Peak List (2)Trip Reports]

Was out on Haiyaha and The Loch this past weekend (and a few unnamed ponds) - all were frozen very well (many inches thick) except for some obvious east edges that had open water. Of all these, the ice was relatively smooth.

No snow on them as it was quite breezy. So breezy in fact, we put our arms out and were pleasantly pushed across the smooth ice.

Awesome, thank you for the update! I was hoping either of those two would be locked up. The open water on the east is likely from the moving water at the outlet, luckily those lakes are big enough it will be easy to avoid!

Indeed; outlets are still a bit open. Very easy to navigate and hop on. Off trail had some snow drifts up to knee-high, but mostly around 12" in areas.

Bear Lake construction was easy too; not the half hour wait it used to be.

[tlerunner Profile 14er Peak List (27) 13er Peak List (57)Trip Reports]

The unnamed lakes on upper Hunter Creek looked frozen last Saturday.

[Dave B Profile 14er Peak List Not Entered Trip Reports]

Mills and Jewel Lake were frozen well as of today.

So was the delectable water that slides down the granite slabs above Jewel lake. I'd recommend two tools and crampons for that instead of ice skates.