Camping at Thunder Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park

[@SheepdogPreparedness]

What a gorgeous area! If lived near RMNP, I'd be there all the time. There's no way to ever see it all. The vastness is awesome! Great video!

[@Davespates]

So true- there is so much to see out here 😀

[@michelel439]

Love your videos, love RMNP, thanks as always for sharing. Your channel is a great source for ideas for interesting hikes.

[@Davespates]

Thank you Michele really appreciate that!!

[@grantskidmore6921]

Sounds like you are having a more relaxed time with the free form blogging style Love it

[@grantskidmore6921]

I guess as I watched it there was a story that developed and a summary at the beginning, nice video man

[@Davespates]

Thank you Grant 😀

[@ArbitraryLifestyle]

15:42 man this view/terrain/elements brings back some memories. LOVE being up high on a windy pass so much

[@melaniegarden3416]

Brilliant! Love the narration. I do a RMNP backcountry trip every year and also mad about the lakes! Lakes and saddles and passes, those are my goals!

[@laurenbouchie2394]

I like the new videos with the talking! The lakes were beautiful ! Even got a bonus sighting of a bear! So I Goggled how many lakes in RMNP it said 156 so your almost halfway there! Looking forward to seeing more!

[@Davespates]

Thanks Lauren! Just got a few more. :)

[@RodneyClang]

So much on our bucket list here. Your vids are so great and keep us motivated. Brings us much joy thank you !!

[@Davespates]

Thanks for the support Rodney !! Trying to spread the Rocky Mountain hiking trails to the world :)

[@davidh516]

Thanks for sharing! Did two nights at Thunder Lake in 2021, but storms denied my dreams of going up Alice and coming down Boulder-Grand pass. Also been up to Box and Eagle Lakes twice, but never farther sadly. Good to know the Boulder-Grand Pass to Cleaver "pass" down to Indigo Pond is possible.

[@Davespates]

Nice! Ya being up on the pass is not a good place to if storms are around.

[@reginabaruth3753]

i like this format.

[@Davespates]

Thanks I'll be doing more like these :)

[@martinglenn1355]

Another great video, and I like the more personal style. I can see scenery just about anywhere, but I come here for the personality. I'd love to know what Emily's book list is for all these hikes. I appreciate an avid reader who's not afraid to carry in the extra weight for a good read.

[@Davespates]

I'll ask her. I know she gets like 12 books at a time from the library she really goes through books lol she never buys them

[@TheFishingJunky18]

You are the goat bro! Honestly, this is my favorite KZbin channel. I dig the vlog style videos man keep at it, 💪! We have similar goals in common, you with wanting to get to all the named lakes in RMNP, and I want to fish every lake in the JPWA and IPWA. I’ve said it before bro, you 100% inspire me to keep getting at it, keep exploring, and to keep pushing myself to find the most beautiful places Colorado has to offer! You absolutely make the most of being out there, you literally knocked out a bunch of lakes in this one!! Till the next adventure brotha, thanks for sharing!!!

[@Davespates]

Thank you so much Fishing Junky! Lets get those lakes !

[@rivertrees4733]

Nice! Thank you!

[@TrekkingTheRockies]

I can't tell you how much we've been looking forward to this video ever since I saw your teaser photos on FB. Coincidentally, we also had a one night permit at Thunder Lake last Wednesday just after you were there. Our first time there and because we have watched your previous video to Thunder and beyond, we knew we wanted to do Box and Eagle Lake too. Love seeing Falcon Lake and the route you took up to Boulder Grand Pass and down to Indigo Pond. Also, I like to hear you narrating throughout your video.

[@davidh516]

And did bushwack my way from the campsite to Fan Falls, not that bad. That shelf below Alice is so scenic.

[@Davespates]

Thanks Vickie - Glad you got out to Box and Eagle and you got to camp at this wonderful site - will try and do some more narrating if I'm able to get out a little more 😀

[@Davespates]

Ya we should have pushed for Fan Falls after Falcon but unfortunately I didn't research the route or know where the end point would be

[@TrekkingTheRockies]

@@Davespates , On pro trails someone climbed up Fan Falls to the side. You end up on the alpine flats with Lion Lakes due east . Thunder Lake - Lion Lake Loop. This was our original plan but turns out I had asymptomatic covid and I didn't discover it till I did a solo hike to Flat Top Mountain the previous week. I was so weak and completely lost my stamina. Never had one symptom except extreme fatigue after exerting my self.

[@Davespates]

@@TrekkingTheRockies Thanks, I'll keep that in mind when in the area next. Every time I get fatigued I always think I have covid now :(

[@ruggedland]

More into mountains myself but lakes are cool too, especially those with mountains around them :). When I saw you posting pictures of Boulder Grand Pass, I thought you’re going up to Mt Alice as it’s so close. Hopefully next time you have more time to explore

[@Davespates]

I wanted Mount Alice...it was only a 1/2 tundra walk away lol. The Cleaver looks fun I want that one as well. Next time. Thanks for watching bro :)

[@katzsteel]

Yup, much more immersive when your talking. By the way, what’s the whiskey of choice? Keep up the great vids. Love RMNP and all the other places you visit. Also, are you a full time photographer?

[@Davespates]

I love Screwball. It's good warm, cold, alone, whatever. It's by far my favorite lightweight drank of choice lol. I am not a full time photographer, I just like taking pictures and try to improve that skill everyday:) Thanks for watching Katz.

[@samwell7640]

Awesome stuff just subbed! Do they have a certain amount of sites specifically for walk up reservations?

[@Davespates]

Hi, Thanks Samwell!. They are generally campsites that get cancelled, or the permit not picked up the day prior. There are also many Llama and group sites that never get filled. So it's always a luck of the draw on which area is open :)

[@samwell7640]

@@Davespates Ah gotcha, really appreciate the info!

[@melaniegarden3416]

Also, how easy is it to get a permit for a stock site or are those only offered to non-stock people on the day of/walk ups? I know at opening in March you can't get a stock site if you have no stock in your party!!

[@Davespates]

It all depends, last year there was quite a bit of availability on stock sites but they are only for walk-ups if you don't have stock. You can check online the night before if they are availble and get to the ranger office first thing in the morning the next day, that's what we do anyways