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Tag Archives: Colorado ice caves

Grottos Trail Near Aspen: Hike to Ice Caves, Cascades, and Glacial Erratics

Explore Colorado / Explore The Outdoors

Grottos Trail Near Aspen: Hike to Ice Caves, Cascades, and Glacial Erratics

Posted on July 29, 2020 by Jennifer Broome • 4 Comments

Hike Grottos Trail near Aspen to explore ice caves, waterfalls, glacial erratics, and unusual rock formations along Independence Pass. Continue reading →

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jenniferbroometravel

Travel inspo, weather, & climate insight
🌍Adventurer | ✈️Journalist | 📺Meteorologist
63 Countries | 50🇺🇸States | 301/433 NPS
52/63 National Parks🥾🏞️

How many @nationalparkservice sites can I visit in

How many @nationalparkservice sites can I visit in a day?

New York Edition

This got me to my 298th NPS site!

STOP 1: Home of FDR National Historic Site

Presidential history at Springwood in Hyde Park and home to first presidential library in U.S.

STOP 2: Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site

Gilded Age grandeur and only Vanderbilt property managed by National Park Service. Also in Hyde Park.

STOP 3: Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site

Enjoyed “Eleanor’s Walk” - the peaceful walk she did daily at Val-Kill. Also in Hyde Park.

STOP 4: Thomas Cole National Historic Site (affiliated)

Where American landscape art took shape in Catskill.

STOP 5: Martin Van Buren National Historic Site

Home of President No. 8 and first President born in U.S. in Kinderhook.

STOP 6: Kate Mullany National Historic Site (affiliated)

A pioneer in women’s labor history in Troy.

What if the thing that “ruined” your day, was actu

What if the thing that “ruined” your day, was actually the gift?

That’s exactly what happened to me. Grief doesn’t disappear. It changes.

This year, missed timing, road delays, and unexpected pivots led me to a place I hadn’t planned to linger. That’s where I found the joy.

Standing at Devils Postpile, I didn’t just see columns of lava. I saw organ pipes, and thought of my mom playing the piano. ❤️🎹🎶

Healing isn’t about perfect days. It’s about finding joy in the hiccups.

Where have life’s hiccups led you somewhere better?

Scenes from Sequoia - has a great time exploring @

Scenes from Sequoia - has a great time exploring @sequoiakingsnps. Sequoia was my 51st national park in quest to visit all 433 units of @nationalparkservice.

Stops included: Tunnel Rock, Hospital Rock Pictographs, climbed Moro Rock, General Sherman Tree (large by volume tree on earth), and hiked Congress Trail

Such a fun adventure in the towering trees!

Some days on the calendar are harder than others.

Some days on the calendar are harder than others.

16 years ago, I lost my dad on July 29, 2010. Today I’m choosing to celebrate him.

Travel and the outdoors became part of my healing journey, reminding me to keep moving forward and embrace every moment, especially after losing my mom 7 years ago tomorrow on July 30, 2019.

Today, I’m celebrating my dad in Sequoia National Park, my 51st national park. He loved road trips, history, and seeing as much of America as he could.

Grief is a never ending journey, and celebration is part of it. We grieve because we loved.

How do you celebrate the people you love who are no longer here?

Hiked from base to summit on Mt. Crested Butte wit

Hiked from base to summit on Mt. Crested Butte with @living_journeys, a non-profit helping those with cancer and their families in Gunnison County. Loved every step (and scramble) of this hike yesterday.

I hiked in memory of my mom, other family members, and a dear friend’s spouse who recently lost his battle. I also hiked in honor of friends fighting and surviving.

Last time I stood on this summit was 13 years ago. The route I took - base to summit back to Silver Queen Lift - was about 6.5 miles with elevation gain over 2,800’. It was a great event!

This is life. 💙🏔️ Fresh mountain air. Alpine lake

This is life. 💙🏔️

Fresh mountain air. Alpine lakes. Miles of trail. Wildflower wonderment.

Not the emails. Not the deadlines. Just this. I like this.

POV: You hit pause. Not because you’re tired…becau

POV: You hit pause. Not because you’re tired…because this is why you came.

Sometimes the trail asks you to slow down and simply reflect.

When your head is in the clouds, it’s exactly where it should be.

These are the moments I hike for. The ones where the only things on my to-do list are to breathe, dream a little, and be grateful for the beauty around me.

Enjoy the journey, not just the summit. 💙🏔️

Thanks @fatmanlittletrail for capturing this epic pause moment during our hike.

Sometimes the best picnic tables don’t have tables

Sometimes the best picnic tables don’t have tables. 🏔️🧺

Nearly 2.5 miles of climbing led to this perch above Lower Square Top Lake, where lunch came with one of Colorado’s best alpine lake views.

No crowds. No cell service. Just mountain air, clouds reflecting on the water, and a reminder that the best views are usually the ones you earn.

📍Upper Square Top Lake via Guanella Pass
🥾 4.8 miles round trip
⛰️ Just under 1,000 feet of elevation gain

Would you eat here? 🙋‍♀️

Thanks @fatmanlittletrail for capturing the picnic view during our fun hike!

Want to picnic at 11,500 feet? 🏔️🧺 After bouncing

Want to picnic at 11,500 feet? 🏔️🧺

After bouncing up a rugged OHV road, climbing through the pines, crossing creeks, and stopping at treeline for views of Mount of the Holy Cross, an over-the-top picnic was waiting in the alpine tundra.

Stunning charcuterie boards paired beautifully with sweeping views across the Sawatch, Gore, and Mosquito Ranges, with Camp Hale spread out below.

Then we climbed to nearly 12,000 feet on Resolution Mountain, searched for fossils, learned about the 10th Mountain Division’s WWII training, spotted wildflowers, and finished with a steep descent through pine and aspen forests into the glacially carved Pando Valley.

This is Colorado adventure…with a side of luxury. I’d do it again in a heartbeat in @discovervailcolorado.

📍Peak Indulgence Jeep Tour with @vail4x4tours
🧀 Picnic by @thegrazingfox + @picnicvail

We were 200 feet from the summit…and turned around

We were 200 feet from the summit…and turned around.🥾⛰️

Crazy? 🤔 Smart? 💯

Uneva Peak is one of the most underrated hikes near Vail, and the wildflowers are putting on a spectacular show. As a meteorologist, I’ve noticed they’re peaking weeks early with warmer-than-normal temps.🌸🪻

When we reached the ridge, the winds were howling. The summit isn’t going anywhere, and 3 experienced hikers made the smart call to avoid an unnecessary wind beat down on the fully exposed final 200 vertical feet.💨

Instead, we hiked down to get out of the wind, found a quiet spot for lunch, soaked in the Gore Range views, and enjoyed the alpine wildflowers.

A great day in the mountains isn’t measured by a summit. It’s enjoying the trail, views, and friends…and knowing when to call it so you get home safely.

📍Uneva Peak off of Vail Pass near Vail, CO 🥾 6–7 miles | ⛰️ ~2,000’ gain

Thanks to @jimboguide from @paragonguides and my friend @kristinyantis for a fun hiking adventure near @discovervailcolorado!

Happy Birthday America! 🇺🇸 I love you! 🥰 It’s the

Happy Birthday America! 🇺🇸 I love you! 🥰 It’s the home of the free because of the brave. Thank you to those who serve/served this country filled with incredible people, wild landscapes, opportunities, and dreams. I’m proud to be an American!

Thankful for another year around the sun. 🎉 From c

Thankful for another year around the sun. 🎉 From catching sunrise to a great leisurely lunch @cafeterigo in Park City to a fun evening @oakleyrodeo it’s been a great day.

Now on to America’s birthday!🇺🇸

They are 3 humans who have done extraordinary feat

They are 3 humans who have done extraordinary feats. What a day yesterday at @travelgoodsassociation @hellotravelcon facilitating 1-on-1 90-minute masterclasses with @jimmychin @alexhonnold and @jimwmorrison and hosting the 1 hour fireside chat conversation with all three.

About a month ago during prep calls, each said “ask me anything.” I spent hours researching, watching documentaries and films, and taking deep dives into their lives. What unfolded were conservations that were impactful, meaningful, and at moments hilarious.

So many moments:
Jim - “l live in a forced present” talking about his grief journey
Jimmy - “Nobody benefits in a crisis situation by panicking” talking about decision making in high risk environments
Alex - “What are you willing to risk to achieve the thing?” throwing the question out to audience…and “I do cardio on rest days” talking about his fitness routine (I quickly replied - that is not a rest day. 😂)

While they have achieved superhuman feats, what I found is they are super humans who are kind, curious, loyal, humble, and funny. Thanks guys for incredible conversations!

And thanks @adeinaanderson for capturing moments during each conversation.

#TGAShow2026

Recently I’ve been super busy, even by my standard

Recently I’ve been super busy, even by my standards, on projects and this one is my mountaintop summit. I’ve put in a lot of work prepping to moderate a fireside chat and facilitate 3 masterclasses with @jimwmorrison @alexhonnold and @jimmychin tomorrow @travelgoodsassociation @hellotravelcon.

Can’t wait for these conversations with 3 of the coolest adventurous guys on the planet.

If you could ask them a question what would it be?

#TGAShow2026

Last week I got to spend 2 nights in a part of my

Last week I got to spend 2 nights in a part of my home state of South Carolina that I hadn’t spent much time in….and left wondering how quickly can I get back here to adventure more. It’s @santeecoopercountry and here’s a few of my stops:
Pics 1-3 - I walked the labyrinth then strolled through the peaceful gardens at Mepkin Abbey where Trappist monks have lived since 1949.
Pic 4 - Francis Marion gravesite. Known as the Swamp Fox he was an American Revolutionary War hero
Pic 5 - Eutaw Springs Battleground Park - this was the last major battle of American Revolution before the victory at Yorktown
Pic 6-7, 15-16 - Stayed in a cabin on a pier at Santee State Park and it had a freestanding tub! Nicest state park cabin I’ve ever stayed in. Plus direct access to Lake Marion and gorgeous views
Pic 8-9 - Santee Indian Mound and Fort Watson - didn’t know this history so enjoyed the stop in Bluff Unit of Santee National Wildlife Refuge
Pic 10-14 - Did the scenic drive in Caddo Unit of Santee National Wildlife Refuge - didn’t see any alligators but did see a gorgeous egret and snapping turtle crossing the road

From outdoor adventures to multiple American Revolutionary War sites, Santee Cooper Country is a 5 county region between Charleston and Columbia with small towns and big fun. Can’t wait to visit again!

What a fun day in @explorenorthmyrtlebeach filled

What a fun day in @explorenorthmyrtlebeach filled with paddling, riding, eating, tasting, and dancing.
🛶Paddled through the marsh to Waites Island with @jandlkayaktours
🐴Went on a horseback ride on the beach with @inletpointplantationstables
🍴Had lunch at @theshackcherrygrove including fried okra and sweet tea😋
🍷Enjoyed a fun wine tasting @duplinwinery
💃Carolina Shag lessons At Fat Harold’s Beach Club
🍦Enjoyed a scoop @cravemelt

And my dear childhood friend @phenfish who I’ve known since we were 4 got to experience it all with me. Great day in NMB!

In 1997 I drove out of the Grand Strand leaving my

In 1997 I drove out of the Grand Strand leaving my first television weather job for the next one. 29 years later I returned to work on a television project for @explorenorthmyrtlebeach.

Excited to be back on the South Carolina coast and share what’s special about North Myrtle Beach. Loved getting in a late afternoon walk on the beach enjoying the iconic Cherry Grove Fishing Pier built in the 1950s.

Spending some time back in my home state of South

Spending some time back in my home state of South Carolina. Had a fun day in @visit_beaufortsc and checked off my 290th unit of the @nationalparkservice visiting @reconstructionnps.

Had a great lunch @fillinstationbeaufort and a fun time @haroldscountryclub for happy hour turned dinner, line dancing and karaoke. 😂

Always love visiting @discover_sc and spending time with dear friends @phenfish and @coach1971!

Such a fun event of balloons and classic cars last

Such a fun event of balloons and classic cars last night @balloonmuseum in @visitabq during @prsatravel. If you visit Albuquerque, check out the museum for lots of ballooning history and to learn about the unique “Albuquerque Box” weather phenomenon.

Loved getting to speak about the Great American Road Trip to fabulous travel PRs reps from across the country yesterday.

✅ to my first speaking engagement of the month!

One of my favorite weekends of the year @mountaing

One of my favorite weekends of the year @mountaingamesvail was made even more special with a last minute reunion with some of my @drjonsadventures Kilimanjaro trek team. Of course we had to hike up Vail Mountain. 😂

@drjonkedski @brooke_casacalenda @anisasondhi @tomcophoto and Vijay - SO loved seeing you! Grateful for the joy each of you bring to my life.

One team….one dream!🥰

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