Story:
Bluebird Lake (10,978') is a high alpine tarn, just below the Continental Divide, in the scenic Wild Basin. It's nestled in a granite cirque at the foot of Copeland Mtn (13,176'), Ouzel Peak's (12,716') East buttress, and Mahana Peak (12,632').
Bluebird Lake (10,978') is a high alpine tarn, just below the Continental Divide, in the scenic Wild Basin. It's nestled in a granite cirque at the foot of Copeland Mtn (13,176'), Ouzel Peak's (12,716') East buttress, and Mahana Peak (12,632').
Your journey to Bluebird Lake from the Wild Basin Trail-head will pass some interesting historical landmarks. The burn you'll see on the south side of Meadow Mountain, and you'll pass above Ouzel Lake, are the remnant scars of the 1978 Ouzel Wildfire.
The NPS wildfire policy in the 1st half of the 20th century was to suppress wildfires...remember "Smokey Bear"? The enlightened NPS policy mid-century was to let natural wildfires burn the dead undergrowth in the park, and self-extinguish. The 1978 Ouzel Fire was allowed to burn, but strong westerly winds pushed the fire from Ouzel Lake to Meadow Mountain, threatening the residents of Allenspark. As a result of the Ouzel Fire and others, the NPS changed it's policy in 1989 to one of accountability to the ecology and neighboring communities.
Next historical landmark....Bluebird Lake Dam. I tend to forget that what I see today on the trail, may not be what was. Bluebird Lake in the 1920's was a commercial enterprise, owned by the Arbuckle Reservoir Co., to bring water to the thirsty Front Range.
An 9-foot earthen dam was built on Bluebird Lake in 1904, and replaced in 1923 with a 55-foot high concrete dam. This link offers a good narrative including photos, of the history of Bluebird and other high alpine dams in RMNP. The Bluebird Dam was declared unsafe in 1967. In 1982, the Lawn Lake Dam failed in RMNP, causing $31 million in damage. The unsafe Bluebird Dam was removed by the NPS in 1989.
So what I see today, is not what was for nearly a 100 years!
Tips:
Plenty of water available along the way for filter/purification.
Plenty of water available along the way for filter/purification.
Awesome wildflowers at the Upper Ouzel Creek, below Bluebird Lake.
A NPS permit is required for access to this trail, with ranger station at trailhead.
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