Backpacking RMNP: Sandbeach Lake (Day 2)

Something unusual happens when the rhythm of civilized, industrialized, and connected life falls away and basic human needs takeover.  There is no TV, no computer, no home project, no work, no errands, no alarms, dings or vibrations. Attention is placed on staying dry, eating when you're hungry, making sure you have water and finding a safe place to go if things take a turn for the worse. At some point you forget to look at your phone (it doesn't work anyway) and stop worrying about what you're not doing or might be missing.  It doesn't matter.  For me, the rocks become grounding, the silence meditative and the surrounding vistas humbling. You wake up with the sun, sleep under the stars and generally slow down to a moment-by moment pace.

We hiked another 2.5 miles on Day 2.  The hike was hot and beautiful.  The last mile was steep and rocky.  Tucker and I grumbled the way up and stopped often for snacks and breaks. 

We had so much time to just sit and play at camp on Day 2. It has been a long, long time since we've done that; just sitting.  We had a huge flat rock next to the tent pads with views of Sandbeach Lake, Mount Meeker, Chief's Head and Copeland Mountain.  The sun was out, the breeze sometimes gusty but the temperature was perfect. The clouds floated by. We thought about nothing and enjoyed the dappled light surrounded by the sounds of nature.

Of course we threw rocks in the lake.  Don't worry the fisherman were gone.

Kenedy is trying to smile while watching Tucker throw rocks just a little too close, i.e. within splash radius.