Was just looking at the y. I might just pay for the cheapest thing they have just to support them and then go to my car haha.

Thanks. Yeah definitely brining cold/wind gear. Ive been checking alltrails and the recent consensus seems to be that spikes are borderline needed (so Im bringing mine) but snowshoes are not needed. This was a few days ago and its been pretty sunny too. I dont see any snow in the forecast for the whole week. So I think it should be ok. And yeah bringing poles.

Yeah I heard about Aspenglen. I have a North Face Inferno sleeping bag that should do the trick. Rated to -20F. Its so close to Estes it might just be worth going to town though.

haha well thats pretty intense. Way to get back on the horse.

Yeah I dont plan on it from what I've read.

I see, so they just want you to actually be doing something. Thanks. Curious if your car is there overnight without you there and without a permit do they just toe it? Or do they assume you're doing something in the park like hiking. (I dont plan on doing this)

Yeah I'm so glad I had them. The lakes were completely frozen over and there was a lot of ice on the trails. Alltrails had it as "intermediate" but I think that is underselling it quite a bit as least in November. I would say its "intermediate" until you get to the lakes section on the back end and then its in solid "hard" territory. Climbing up those ice waterfalls you can definitely slip off and fall quite a ways down onto rocks and break a limb or possibly die if you hit your head and you need a lot of strength getting up there. Theres definitely going to be some people who have to get helicoptered out of there this winter. So anyway....that was a journey and I really enjoyed it. Was a challenge for sure though.

Appreciate the tips especially on the hikes. Not just sticking around the parking lot/bear lake haha. But I appreciate you pointing that out in case that was my plan. And for the other suggestions.