Day 1 ReCap — Cog Railway up Pikes Peak (14,110ft), Ash & Tom’s engagement, Garden of the Gods drive-thru AND an hour-half lantern tour at Cave of the Winds. Kick back on Days 2 & 3? Nope, not on my watch 🙂
On the road at 730am, family breakfast, then up Hwy 36 to Estes Park for a day in the Rockies. Driving thru Rocky Mountain National Park on 4th of July weekend is about as all-American as it gets. Lotta picture opportunities this day. Wrong time of the year to see wildlife – but still viewed chipmunks, marmots & elk (far in the distance – good to have a zoom lens). ALSO kinda fun for folks to see snow & bundle up in sweatshirts and long pants in July.
Stopped at the Alpine Visitor Center for souvenirs & snacks, then back down the mountain, quick chocolate fix at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, dinner at Mimi’s Cafe, followed by game night at the hotel. LOVE LOVE family game night 🙂
- Youngest player starts with 2 extra cards (unspoken rule)
- Never wear glasses (safer to struggle & squint)
- Never go the bathroom (will return to extra cards in your hand)
- Stay alert (or you may miss a turn)
- Volunteer to be the score keeper (less chance for math errors in my favour)
Gotta say Uno ‘house rules’ did not help this year – all kids are now grown & wise to my ways 🙁
Up again early on Day 3 for a high altitude hike (it’s a vacation, right?) The 20 & under crowd stayed behind (& slept) while six of us older folks ventured to Chautauqua Park in Boulder. Plan A – hike to Devils Thumb. Plan B – hike to Royal Arch. Ok, ok these are Flatlanders (and family) – so went with Plan C: Mesa Trail to NCAR.
2.5 mile (one-way) hike through Ponderosa pines & panoramic views of Boulder at 6,200ft. Super fun day hike — very proud of my fit family. At NCAR, 3 of us trail ran back to Chautauqua to retrieve cars — in only 38 minutes!
Showers, hotel check out & airport departures. Unfortunately all good things come to an end.
Ro enjoyed last minute family time while Ash, Michaela & Maddie showed off souvenirs purchased for cousins who could not attend this year (closest to $40 total without going over). This year’s games winner: Madeline.
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- Day 2: Estes Park & RMNP
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- gal cousins
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- Rocky Mtn Nat’l Park
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- she picked the right brother to ask for a ride 🙂
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- Mile High smile
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- Beeeeutiful!
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- Ute Trail jazz hands
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- father/daughter love
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- don’t let the shorts fool ya – she was cold! HA!
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- quick – everyone take a picture!
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- marmot
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- Mushroom Rocks (RMNP)
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- Victory!
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- just another day in the Rockies – LOVE it!
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- Day 3: Chautauqua to NCAR day hike (Boulder)
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- our sweet Ponderosa pine (smells like butterscotch)
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- Ro enjoyed the extra lovin’ – Come Back Soon!
Having run races for 3 consecutive weekends, was very much looking forward to hiking again.
Signed up for a Saturday meetup hike in RMNP – hiking not just one mountain, but 2! Per protrails.com, this hike rated strenuous because of its almost 3,000 ft elevation gain. YES!
Running on little sleep (late night at the Rockies game), quickly pulled together hiking gear & supplies (poles, crampons, water, light snacks) for today’s day hike. Barreled north to Estes for a 7am group meetup. Took the opportunity to buy my RMNP annual pass at the Fall River entrance – unfortunately, I should have entered at Beaver Meadows. The extra 20 minutes needed to reach Bear Lake Trailhead from Fall River meant I missed my group. Argh.
No worries, I’m strong. All geared up, I’ll catch them on the trail. Hit snow early on. Post-holing in lower elevation slowed my pace so decided to hike straight UP & intercept them on the trail to Flattop Mountain – the first of two peaks attempted this day. Crampons on, poles steadying my climb – snow & boulders ahead. Slow hard work but eventually made my way UP. Looked high-and-low for signs of human life, having been isolated for an hour & not wanting to find myself food for bear.
Spotted 2 hikers, trekked across a snow field & glacier & asked if they were part of my meetup team. Nope – but Ft Collins hikers, Cammy & Erik said I could tag along. Wildlife biologist & a geologist – dream jobs, right? Snapped a few shots and snow scrambled the remainder up Flattop. 12,000+ ft, beautiful panorama. Exactly what I needed to re-energize & refocus. That said, my most unimpressive summit to date – completely flat for the length of a football field. Kinda odd so high up.
Cammy pointed to Hallett Peak & once again led the way. Supposedly only another 400ft but all straight UP. Was it worth it? Heck, yeah. Located smack on the Continental Divide – now this is the kinda peak I’m used to climbing. AND as luck would have it, my meetup group had also summited & were snapping group pics. Introduced myself & down we all travelled together…along with Cammy & Erik. Pelted with ice shards on the hike return (ouch), then watched marmots sunbathing on the rocks below.
Shower, sleep — ‘long run’ day tomorrow. I’m a beast!
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- two 12ers – first Flattop, then Hallett Peak
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- mmm…the smell of pines
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- (almost) above treeline – What a view!
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- climbed UP hoping to catch my hiking group
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- wind, rock & snow
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- Ft Collins hikers Cammy & Erik
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- USA!
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- breathtaking snow shelf
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- Flattop Mountain (12,362ft)
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- Cammy & Erik lead trek to Hallett Peak
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- almost there – only 200 feet further
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- ice clouds moving in fast
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- Hallett Peak (12,713ft)
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- descended with ‘Hardkore Hiking’ (caught them at Hallett summit)
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- sunbathing marmot
ESTES PARK, Colo. – Two people hiking at Rocky Mountain National Park on Sunday suddenly spotted a bear.
“Spotted this black bear at Cub Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park on April 6, 2013,” Doris Rummel wrote on YouTube.
Rummel was hiking on the relatively easy path, a 2.3 mile trek, with a friend when they spotted the bear about 100 yards away rolling in the snow across the lake.
“If you really watch, his meal is dead and he is rolling around on it and playing with it like a cat might,” Rummel told 7NEWS.
Rummel said she and her friend watched the bear for about 15 minutes until he decided to run off into the woods.
Rummel said she’s seen several bears at Yellowstone National Park, but this is the first bear she’s seen at Rocky Mountain National Park.
“This was by far the most interesting, fun, bear experience I have ever had,” Rummel said.
black bear video (RMNP 2013.0406)
black bear spotted at Rocky Mtn Nat’l Park
