The track to Jewel and Black lake is another one of my favorite hikes in Rocky. The scenery on that side of the park is what you imagine the Rocky Mountains should look like. To me, winter is the best season to be in the park, you can hike for hours without seeing anyone, the peaks are all blanketed in snow, and everything feels more alive somehow. You always need to pay attention to what you’re doing in the backcountry but during winter my senses are heightened a even more. But when spring finally does come back to the park it’s really nice to hear and see the streams flowing again.