Juneteenth brought the first bluebird day after several weeks of unusually cool and wet weather just before summer solstice. For hikers willing to risk soggy feet near snowline, the glacier lilies are the bedazzling frontrunners of the season’s wildflowers in the Fourth of July Valley. Local bees agree that they are delicious. The snow patches beyond that were firm enough early in the day to be easy traveling.

Neva Ridge and other northerly slopes are still holding a lot of snow due to the recent monsoon weather. A pair of skiers descended Skywalker Couloir, which is tricky to get the timing right so that the snow up top in earlier sunlight does not get too warm and unstable, while hoping the snow in the shaded middle has softened enough to be safely skiable.

Two experienced hikers from Boulder found out the exciting way that the east facing snowfield they were using to glissade down from the summit of South Arapahoe had gotten too much sun already and they triggered a small wet slide. They were unharmed but surprised that the slope was steep enough to produce a release. On the way down two very healthy looking coyotes made some of the same route finding decisions that the humans did. After noon the snow was soft enough that many people postholed through it into whatever was beneath, hopefully avoiding the many opportunities for orthopedic injury when that happens.

Another aspect of mountains at this time of year is that snowmelt makes creek flows peak around 2 or 3 p.m., so any crossings will be the most sporty in the afternoon. The waterfall crossing on the main trail is always a fun balance test when the hike is almost done.

No matter where the adventure goes and what sports are enjoyed, the chances of things going well are always better with an early start to the day. You might even get a parking spot...but don’t count on it!