Rocky Mountain High!

Now he walks in quiet solitude the forest and the streams
Seeking grace in every step he takes
His sight has turned inside himself to try and understand
The serenity of a clear blue mountain lake

And the Colorado rocky mountain high
I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky
You can talk to God and listen to the casual reply
Rocky mountain high

How's that for a trip down memory lane?  It's hard for me to say "Rocky Mountains" without John Denver's lyrics ringing in my head!

We arranged to have six days off in a row so we could take the trip to Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) and Estes Park.  We left on Sunday and it took us longer than we thought it would because we made a couple of "dumb" stops that didn't pay off (useless gas stops), so by the time we got to the park it was already 4:00 p.m.  Just enough time to get settled in, check out the campground, and have dinner.

I was driving when we entered the park and did (hating to admit this) hit a few tree branches on the way into the park.  One place I really swiped the side of the RV was where the national park sign was on the side of the road.  The sign snuck up on me so I really did a quick right turn into the parking area and whipped through some tree branches.  But, you know I can't pass up a good national park sign for anything!

The first two nights we spent in Moraine Campground inside RMNP.  It was a beautiful national park (NP) campground and we really liked the fact that we get 50% off at NPs as well as free entry to all NPs ... sometimes it pays to be old :).  The downside of staying in a NP campground is that frequently there are absolutely no hook-ups ... no electric, no water, no sewer.  We had forgotten how to scrimp on water (it's been so long since we stayed somewhere without hookups) that it was a good thing we only had two nights because the fresh water tank was empty and the grey water tank was full!  Here's our beautiful campsite, though.

Here's Gary with Sadie on the hill taking her for a nice stroll and potty break.

The next three photos give you the view of the mountains from that slight hill.

 

The next day we took off on Bear Lake Road (one of the main roads in RMNP) heading up towards Bear Lake (which is where Bear Lake Road ends).  On the way, we stopped at one of the shuttle parking lots and had our first (but definitely not our last) wildlife sighting.  A deer ... in case you were wondering!

We also stopped across the street from the parking lot at a roadside fishing area and got a shot of this cool little fishing creek.

 Here we are at the creek.

The next three pictures are samples of the beautiful flora and fauna ... and COLOR that is splashed throughout the park.

 

We finally arrived at destination #1--Sprague Lake--for our very first RMNP hike.  This "hike" is basically a 1/2 mile "stroll" around the lake, but its elevation is 8,710'.

Here are some photos of this beautiful alpine lake in a Rocky Mountain High setting.

 

 

In the photo below, behind us starting at the left is Hallett Peak (elevation 12,713), in the center--Tyndall Glacier, and on the right--Flattop Mountain (elevation 12,713).

 

They have beautifully maintained trails throughout the park, and the one at Sprague Lake is just one example of how great they are.

 

From here we continued to drive up Bear Lake Road to our next stop, the Glacier Basin area to the Glacier Gorge Trailhead (9,180'), but that is the subject of my next blog.  Stay tuned for more Rocky Mountain High!

Psalms 68:16

Why do you look with envy, O mountains with many peaks, 

At the mountain which God has desired for His abode?  

Surely the LORD will dwell there forever.