Moose are excellent swimmers and readily cross lakes and rivers (this moose was photographed entering Lone Pine Lake)
Fourth Lake is located .7 miles east of Spirit Lake on a relatively mild section of the unimproved trail
Granite domes on the south side of Spirit Lake separate the East Inlet drainage from the Paradise Park Natural Research Area of RMNP
Parry's Primrose favor moist soils and are common along the East Inlet Trail; despite its beauty, the plant has an unpleasant odor, which is intensified when disturbed
Lone Pine Lake (9,885') is located 5.4 miles from the East Inlet Trailhead on relatively moderate grades
The first two miles skirt the north edge of East Meadow, where moose are frequently seen browsing willow-lined oxbows on the East Inlet
A series of powerful cascades are located just past the 4.35 mile bridge crossing from the north to south side of East Inlet
The unimproved trail is fairly rugged until reaching Lake Verna's open east shore, where it clarifies on mild grades to Spirit Lake
Globeflowers grow low to the ground in damp subalpine and alpine meadows and stream corridors
The trail climbs steeply over Lone Pine Lake to open rock ledges with great views back down at the lake
Fourth Lake's west side opens to a level meadow dotted with small ponds
About 1/3 of Colorado's water drains west of the Continental Divide
Bluebells or Chiming Bells (Mertensia genus) are common in damp subalpine areas; the flowers have both male and female organs
In the fall Wild Rose bushes produce red fruits called 'hips', a vital food source for bears as they stock calories for hibernation
Looking down valley toward Grand Lake, the largest natural lake in Colorado
The forest is notably healthier at higher elevations where spruce and fir gradually replace the beetle-inflicted lodgepole forests lower down
The west ends of Lake Verna and Spirit Lake are similarly bound by steep walls and thick timber, but the east end of Spirit Lake is considerably more open and airy
Moose calves can browse alongside their mother after just 3 weeks and are typically weaned in 5 months
Paintbrush is a semi-parasitic plant that can attach to roots of other plants and siphon away nutrients and water
At least 4 trout species exist in the Park - brown, brook, rainbow, and cutthroat
Red Columbine is a perennial herb in the Buttercup Family
The trail runs by 3 large pools along the East Inlet created by logjams and rockslides on the final approach to Lake Verna
The unimproved trail past Lake Verna fades near Fifth Lake, where boot tracks continue on a very steep to Boulder-Grand Pass on the Continental Divide
Spores of bluestain fungi are transmitted from pine beetles into the tree, which assists in killing the tree; lodgepole pine are particular susceptible
View over Lake Verna from a crest near the Upper East Inlet backcountry campsite
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