The Twin Sisters Mud Slide

The hike to the top of Twin Sisters, just across from Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park, is a gem in all seasons. It has some great views across the valley to the west of Mount Meeker, Longs Peak, Mount Lady Washington, and Estes Cone.

To wit:

Meeker, Longs, and MLW, Clearing Storm. From Twin Sisters Trail, Colorado, 2015

But that is not the focus of this post.

If you drive the Peak-to-Peak Highway (State Highways 72 and 7) between Nederland, Peaceful Valley, and Estes Park, perhaps you have glanced up at the steep slopes rising up to the Twin Sisters rocky twin summits. Perhaps you have even noticed the huge fresh mud or rock slide that has left a mammoth gash in the fir forest on the lower section. This slide occurred in September of 2013 during the Great Colorado Flood.

Here is a winter view of this slide as seen from atop Estes Cone on the west side of the highway (photo made on January 1, 2015):

Twin Sisters from Estes Cone, #1. (Note the huge slide area on the far left.)

A couple of days ago, I was doing some trail reconnaissance on Twin Sisters and was able to see this slide from close up. Incredible.

It had to have made apocalyptic noises when it cut loose. It also came very, very close to taking out the ranch down near the highway.

Here are four images of the slide as you’ll see it on your Twin Sisters hike:

Your first view. The trail now works its way through the debris (arrows) for 50-100 yards or so to the other side…

The Slide, #1. Twin Sisters Trail, Colorado, 2015

The view down the hill. Note how the slide split to either side of the large ranch structure (arrow)…

The Slide, #2. Twin Sisters Trail, Colorado, 2015

Another view from standing in the middle of the slide, looking down…

The Slide, #3. Twin Sisters Trail, Colorado, 2015

Looking up to where the slide began…

The Slide, #4. Twin Sisters Trail, Colorado, 2015