Twin Sisters
Rocky Mountain National Park
The Twin Sisters ridge runs nearly two miles along the east-central boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park. A short but strenuous trail leads to a small saddle, and splits up scrambling routes to the respective summits (11,413' and 11,428'). A landslide caused by the 2013 floods wiped out a portion of trail, and has since been re-routed across and up the far side of the slide. Visitors will enjoy rangy panoramas across Longs Peak, Estes Park and the Continental Divide, along with interesting alpine ecology leading to the summits.
The Longs Peak massif was likely a single rounded summit before glacial movements carved out distinct summits
Subalpine fir, limber pine and bristlecone pine comprise the upper forest
The final half mile crosses a steep, exposed talus field below the summits
The Twin Sisters' broad, west-facing slope is frequently buffeted by strong winds coming off the Continental Divide - conditions are typically windy and brisk on the summits
View of Mt Chapin, Mt Chiquita and Ypsilon Mountain in the Mummy Range, which are among the tallest peaks in the Park
The Longs Peak Keyhole was formed by freeze-thaw cycles between vertical rock slabs, and glacial ice atop the rock acting as a wedge to pry rock loose
Though the summits are virtually identical (11,413' and 11,428'), the east summit requires a more challenging scramble up loose, sharp talus
Bristlecone Pine may take a century to add just 1" in diameter, and can become nearly dormant during a drought
Relatively younger granite forms mountains north and south of Estes Park, including Estes Cone (pictured), Twin Sisters and Twin Owls
Looking south down the Longs Peak - Highway 7 valley from the West Summit
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