Well, Kristine is still going strong even at 24 weeks pregnant with our little girl! As I had never actually driven over Loveland Pass before and there were some easier hikes accessible from the pass itself, we decided to make a pit stop at Loveland Pass for some en route to Denver for our good friend Jesse Hill’s 13th annual summer solstice extravaganza this past Saturday. We joined the tourist trap by parking on the pass and hiking up the mellow east/northeast ridge to 13er Mt. Sniktau’s summit.

Kristine topping out on Mt. Sniktau (13,234')

Kristine topping out on Mt. Sniktau

We didn’t get hiking until maybe 11:30am and returned to our car at around 1:30pm.

The Tuning Fork Couloir on 14er Torreys Peak looking pretty good for late June. Our friend Brian Miller actually skied this line this same morning

The Tuning Fork Couloir on 14er Torreys Peak looking pretty good for late June. Our friend Brian Miller actually skied this line this same morning

The mellow rigge over to Grizzly Peak D and eventually Torreys Peak from Sniktau's summit

The mellow rigde over to Grizzly Peak D and eventually Torreys Peak from Sniktau’s summit

Left to right: Hagar Mtn, The Citadel, and Pettingell Peak to the north from Sniktau's summit

Left to right: Hagar Mtn, The Citadel, and Pettingell Peak to the north from Sniktau’s summit

Eisenhower Tunnel and Interstate 70 from Sniktau's summit

Eisenhower Tunnel and Interstate 70 from Sniktau’s summit

Rainie and Kristine

Rainie and Kristine

Mt. Sniktau's summit (13,234')

Mt. Sniktau summit (13,234′)

Kristine did excellent and it was a fun little Chalk family outing before an afternoon and evening filled with beer, brisket, 87 lbs of pork straight from a whole pig, and late night taco bar all courtesy of Jesse’s extraordinary generosity.

24 weeks!

24 weeks!