About 50 miles northwest of Denver is Rocky Mountain National Park. As we enter the town of Estes Park, CO on US-34 we let out a collective “Daaaaaamn Gina…” Four 11,000+ peaks jut out from the horizon with their rugged bowl shaped faces. Since it’s early in the season there is still ample snow on the mountains. Our clock reads 6:45pm, and the sun’s rays are playing with the clouds, rock and snow before us. For Brian, who is from Hawaii, this scenery is jaw dropping. For me…it’s no different: I am also inspired. Within two minutes of driving into the park we need to stop for a herd of elk that crosses in front of us. Captivated, we asked ourselves as we asked many times on the trip, “…Where are we?…” Dense pine forests and winding rivers from the snowmelt accompany us all the way to Glacier Basin, which is to be our home for the night. With it’s well-maintained campsites, clean bathrooms (with Purell in the soap dispensers!), and the ridiculously photogenic field adjacent to where we would sleep, it was the Ritz Carlton of campgrounds. I heard from a friend’s uncle’s step sister’s cousin’s baby’s mama that Paris Hilton stayed there.
After the Midwest Tour d’Gluttony we went on in Chicago, Milwaukee and Lawrence, it was time to get off our lazy bums. An early morning hike to two pristine mountain lakes? Sounds pretty average to me, but we gave it a try. The reflection off the lakes was so clear we could look at the photos we took upside down and not be able to tell the difference between earth and water.
In order to get out of the park we decide to drive through it on the 47 mile Trail Ridge Road rather than double-backing out of it despite warnings that our 12’ Penske would not be the most ideal vehicle to go climbing through the tundra. The road has been cleared of snow so the drive proved to be a breeze. In fact, we saw many Winnebagos doing the drive. Our decision was rewarded with spectacular views of the valleys, peaks and forests we were just in. It took all our will power to stop only three times on the drive to take pictures! We make it out of RNP. Only eight more hours to Arches National Park…
No comments:
Post a Comment