The Road between Estes Park and Grand Lake that runs through Rocky Mountain National Park was supposed to open for Memorial Day weekend but the opening was delayed by weather. It opened on Sunday. We decided to check it out today (Tuesday) on our day off.
The weather looks good. Possible storms coming in later in the afternoon
The weather looks good. Possible storms coming in later in the afternoon
Snow staring to appear just before Rainbow Curve
Guess they had a lot to plow. You can see the plow markers, I'd guess they are 10-12 feet high
Reaching the Alpine level
The views are incredible
The Road twists and turns
Don't think we need to worry about pedestrians crossing before the snow melts
A view across the frozen tundra
We came prepared but we say people in shorts, sandals and espadrilles trying to walk on this stuff.
This was as far out as I dared to go, afraid that the edge might be a snow shelf and it's a long way down!
An eerie looking landscape with the rocks
About 1/2 way - the Alpine Visitor's center. The other route here is the Fall River road that we hiked on. It is one way from Estes Park and usually doesn't open until 4th of July
The Staff had some fun with the snow. It is the National Park Service's 100th Anniversary this year
Which way do we go?
To plow this road you need to bring in the big guns!
We cross the Continental Divide at Milner Pass. This is where rivers drain out to the Atlantic on one side and the Pacific on the other side.
The road makes a winding descent
Back down below the snowline
We made it! Decide to stop in at Grand Lake Lodge to see if my boss from Custer, SD is around. He is VP of Regency Hotel Management. We decide to have lunch here. I ask the waitress if Josh is around and she says no but she thinks he is due in that afternoon. We are eating in the enclosed patio and I look out and see him on the porch on the phone. He looks up and sees me and waves and stops by the table when he's done. Turns out he only comes here 3 times a year so just Karma that we ran into him.
Now that's a pool!
Grand Lake is beautiful
After lunch we head down to the Village
Tucson wants to go into the Bookstore to meet the resident dog. I say no.
He opts to meet the dog outside - though he was standoffish
It's a nice little town
A little shopping and an Ice Cream and it's time to head back
Back through the Park; I looked up saw at first what I thought was just another Elk - really we've seen so many that when we see tourists pulled over with cameras we say - what's the big deal? Anyway I think wow it's pretty dark for an Elk and realize it is a Moose but by the time I get the camera on - it has gone back down the hill.
I'll keep an eye out for Moose Mommy
Looks like weather is coming in. The clouds seem so low you can reach up and touch them
Back through Milner Pass
Clouds looming ahead
Guess we're driving through them
and back down to our side of the Park
The Elk are grazing and the males' antlers are getting more substantial in size.
Will miss seeing them in rutting season - but I am sure we'll find some in Montana!
