The Mountains are Calling and I Must Go!!

Estes Park, Colorado and Rocky Mountain National Park    (8th National Park, 1915)

Estes Park, Colorado

Just an 1 hour 45 min NW of Denver, sits the town of Estes Park, Colorado.  We left Denver early in the morning to gain a day of sight seeing in Estes Park.  I was so excited to visit this picture post-card town after all my planning because of its one-of-a-kind-attractions.

Stanley Hotel 

The Stanley Hotel has a rich history in Estes Park, Co.  The hotel was built in early 1900's by F.O. Stanley, the founder of the Stanley Steam Engine, and opened in 1909.  The hotel was built in the Georgian style architecture.  This was built as a luxury hotel complete with running water, electricity and telephones.  It did not, however, have heat because it was built as a summer resort.

The hotel has hosted many famous guests, such as Theodore Roosevelt, Molly Brown, and Steven King.  It was this hotel that inspired Steven King's book, The Shining.

The hotel is said to be haunted by Mrs. Stanley, who likes to play the piano in the ballroom, room 407 is said to be haunted by Lord Dunraven, who owned the land prior to the Stanleys, and Room 418 are said to be haunted by children's spirits.  There are also stories of a ghost of a small child calling for his nanny, that Steven King has said to have seen.

Can you picture the twin girls at the end of this hall?  There really was a set of twin girls that did spend time at this hotel during the summers and were a favorite of Mrs. Stanley.  

Writing desk 

One of the most popular rooms in the hotel is room 217, which is the room Stephen King occupied.  It is also said to be haunted by the spirit of the once head chambermaid who was in a terrible accident that destroyed part of the hotel.  She survived to work at the hotel until she was in her 90's and through multiple owners.

This was a beautiful, historic hotel.  Can your stay in the haunted rooms, yes.  Woud I want to?  Hmmmmm, I think I'll pass on this one and stick with my camper.

   

Rocky Mountain National Park 

Established in 1915, Rocky Mountain National Park is our nation's 8th National Park.  415 square miles of hiking trails, beautiful vistas, and amazing wildlife.  This park is bisected North to South by the Continental Divide.

Beaver Meadows Visitor Entrance Station to Cub Lake and Fern Lake Trail.  

We entered through the Beaver Meadows Entrance after visiting the National Park Visitor Center.  Our goal for the day was to hike the Cub Lake Trail to the Fern Lake Trail to Fern Lake Falls and back.  We hiked approximately 9 miles and gained 1380 feet in elevation, which basically means it was all up hill going and down hill coming back.  We saw tons of elk, including a baby.  Some were hanging out in a meadow, a few I took pictures of from the truck window after they walked across the road, and a few we encountered on the trail.  We also were accompanied by lots of friendly chipmunks. 

Parts of the trail were empty but did encounter quiet a few people. It was a beautiful 70 degree day and perfect conditions for a long hike.  

I also had fun taking pictures of the boys, some for Dunovan's Senior Pictures (My baby is so grown up!)

Cub Lake Trail that started in Moraine Park

Herd of Elk in Moraine Park 

Up close, taken from the truck. 

Doug and kids had fun taking pictures of me taking pictures. 

Mama and baby Elk right off Cub Lake Trail .

Cub Lake, burnt tress are reminants of a fire.  Lots of new growth on the forest floor, better known as secondary succession. 

These little chipmunks were everywhere and very photogenic

Fern Lake Falls 

Preview of Dunovan's Senior Pictures 

Can't forget Brodey....

Brodey doing what Brodey loves to do most!! 

Can you find Brodey? 

Look at my "little boys"

Trail Ridge Road

We left Estes Park and enter RMNP through the Fall River Entrance Station and drove west on Trail Ridge Road (open usually Memorial Day to the first of October) to the Grand Lake Entrance Center on the west side of the park.  Along the way we stopped to take lots of pictures as we gained elevation going over the mountain.

Alluvial Fan 

I have to admit that I had to look up why this area is called Alluvial Fan.  Well, it is a "Triangular shaped deposit that is made up of sand, gravel, and silt called alluviam.  This usally forms where water interacts with mountains, hills or walls of canyons," as defined by National Geographic.   We definately walked on sand to get to the water fall area so, I guess this makes sense.  AND I learned something new today.

Many Parks Curve Overlook 

I have to give a shout out to the fellow Pittsburgh teacher and his mom who we chatted with at this overlook.  I am sorry I didn't get your name but I hope you had a good rest of your trip! 

Alpine Visitor Center 

                                       

 If Brodey sees a chance to hike, it doesn't matter if it is 40 degrees and very windy, he must go!  He was on his own for this one.  Here he is at the bottom and then all the pictures he took at the top!

More Views and Yellow Bellied Marmots

So, what is a Yellow Bellied Marmot anyways?  Well, according to the discription on the back of the post cards we bought, "one of the largest members of the squirrel family and cousin to the woodchuck or groundhog.  Marmots area a familiar sight in Rocky Mountain NP and inhabit all elevations from the montane to the alpine tundra."  We saw them on Mt. Evans and a family of them basking in the sun at the Gorge Range over look.  

Brodey has such an eye for landscape photography.  He loves when he gets the tundra, mountains, and clouds in the photos.  

Kawuneeche Valley

My dream came true...we got to see lots of Moose!! Dunovan said I was as excited to see Moose as he was to see Avengers: End Game.  I guess that is a good compliment coming from my 17 year old.

Large Bull Moose 

This one will probably end up on canvas, hanging in my house somewhere. 

Taken with my telophoto lense, we kept our distance. 

Mama and Yearling 

Young Bull 

We also stopped at the Holzwarth Historic Site and hiked the short distance to the Colorado River.  Now, this doesn't look like the mighty Colorado but a winter melt stream.  That is because 10 miles up stream from this point is where the Colorado River strarts, close to the Continental Divide.  But the Kawuneeche Valley is the source of the Colorado River.

On our way back we were very fortunate to see 2 mature male elk, one on one side just grazing and another on a small hillside on the other side of the road.

12 points in velvet.  Unreal! 

8 point in velvet! 

Then Doug spotted a herd of Big Horn Sheep just hanging out on the side of the road.  They just stood there and posed as we took their picture.

There are 7 of them together. Just feel so lucky to be able to see them.

Today is a "day off."  Which means, I am letting the kids sleep in and not dragging them out to do anything planned.  We have been gone 1 day shy of 2 weeks and need a day to rest and relax.  Tomorrow we leave for the southern part of Colorado, where will start this leg of the journey at Great Sand Dunes National Park.