Arapahoe Pass, Caribou Lake, Devil's Thumb Pass hike

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Kelly and Rachel and I left early Friday morning and were on the 4th of July Trail to Arapahoe Pass by 8am. By the time we reached the pass, the clouds were already well formed: the Monsoon kicked in!

We hiked over Caribou Pass to Caribou Lake then up over the pass to Cabin Creek down to Devil's Thumb Park. Up towards the pass, we camped to the right of the trail about 100 yards off trail near a clearing below some pretty rock outcroppings. That was a thundery and sparkly day! Sat on our packs for 40 minutes while watching countless strikes on the ridge above us near Jasper and Neva peaks. Crazy non-stop thunder. Not too much rain though but enough to make this off-trail jaunt in meadows very soggy.

Up and hiking by 6:40 towards Devil's Thumb after all night rain. Higher cloud base in the morning and a reprieve from precip while up on the tundra. Down past Jasper Lake and around to Diamond via that nice trail near Chitenden Mnt. Very cool.

Saw a moose and 2 calves in Cabin Creek, a herd of elk near Chitenden, and a handful of marmots and pikas along the way. And, of course, countless varieties of wildflowers.

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