Rocky Mountain National Park

On Tuesday September 30, we headed to Rocky Mountain National Park.  But first we had to get there and the drive was beautiful with all the leaves changing.  The majority of the yellow leaves are the aspen tree. 

And we were welcomed to the town - Grand Lake- with this double rainbow. 

Next morning, we drove into the Rocky Mountain national park.  

First, we saw meadows and evergreens and the aspens.  

Then we took a short 1 mile hike around Lake Irene.  When we woke up it was 37 degrees so we were still bundled up.  It was pretty early so I kept my eye out for bears! (Spoiler, didn’t see any) 

Next we headed up to the Alpine visitor center. It is the highest elevation point in the park that visitors can reach.  As you can see from the pictures, less and less trees, snow showing and barren tundra. 

Bob didn’t want his picture taken - Again! 

We are headed up to the top, because, why not.  The wind was whipping, but we made it. 12,000 feet above sea level. 

Next we decided, just for the fun of it, to take another mile hike across a frozen tundra.  This area we were walking in has a growing season of 6 to 8 weeks each year.  

I posted this picture to show that I was cold! I had on every layer I brought.  If you visit Rocky Mountain National Park, you can spend all your time in the low lands by streams, forests and meadows, and miss the snow and cold, but we did both!  

As we headed back down to a more reasonable temperature zone, Bob patiently waited for Laura to take some pics. 

In another spot, and a two track, that wound 8 miles all the way back up the mountain, we came upon this cute waterfall called Chasm Falls. 

Last but not least, in a meadow, I finally got to see the elk that I was looking for all day.  There were 2 herds very near each other and the 2 males, were bellowing to each other.  I know the picture is grainy, but it is from far away.  

I know my narrative for the park is sort of disjointed, but I was having so much fun seeing things, that I forgot to take notes or take pictures.  Oh well, maybe another time.