05-14-11 Estes Park

Weather is very unpredictable in Colorado. One day it rained. Another was warm and overcast. High winds another day.,The day I went hiking in Estes Park, it was snowing. Not much, but just enough of a nuisance to keep the vacationers at bay. Visibility was clear in front of me but obscured the mountain tops.

I could tell by the foot prints all covered with snow only one person had hiked there before me. Foot prints heading back to the parking lot were the only visible prints. It made it easy for me to follow where the footprints had gone.

There is a beauty about hiking alone through the woods with no one else making noise. The peace and tranquility hiking along the trail soothes my inner dialogue and allows me to listen and hear what is going on around me. Since snow was falling when I started the trail, silence and stillness was the sound. The visual images were stunning. Big huge boulders with a dusting of snow intersperse between the stands of pines allowed for many changes in shapes and sizes.

This trail was called Cub Trail. It looked like it followed a lot of rain run off areas. When the snow stopped and the temperatures started to rise, the trail became slushy as the new fallen snow started to melt.
After a while I found myself avoiding the small streams that were growing larger with each passing minute. My boots were getting wet from all the water I was stepping in.
When I could no longer see any more foot prints and the stream was heading up the mountain getting wider with the ascent, I decided it was time to head back to the parking lot. I had either lost the trail or the person before me turned around at this point too. On the way back, a family was ready to pass me. The dad asked if I had made it to Cub Lake. I told them why I stopped and wished them well. I did happen to notice the mom's turquoise canvas gym shoes and the girl's pink ones. My hiking boots were wet at the front half of my toes. I could not imagine what their feet were going to feel like by the time they finished that hike. It was 2.5 miles one way.
As I was sitting in my car in the parking lot getting directions to go pick up my girlfriend who was in a seminar in Estes Park the family came back. They got in their car and took off flying down the road as if they saw a ghost. My guess is the dad wanted to do that long hike. Mom and the girls started complaining when they feet got cold and wet.

 Several times driving around the park I saw herds of elk grazing in the fields. They are instant attractions for us city folk who rarely see more than squirrels and rabbits.
This one with a mouthful of grass was quite amusing. They are not afraid of people. They graze and roam around the fields.

All us tourists were so lucky to see Elk everywhere in the park. Cars were pulled over on many of the roads.

This was the best picture of the day. This elk decided to lay down very close to the road. I zoomed in and captured this special moment. I was surprised he lay there as long as he did. Folks were snapping photos of him at very close distances.

This Magpie landed by the front of my car. I was taking pictures of the herd of elk. He kept squalking at me and walking closer. My guess is he wanted food. He had no fear. Walked right up to me. Finally he realized I was not going to give him what he wanted and he started to walk away.  What an interesting character he was.
I got in my car and went to go pick up my girlfriend.





 What a great hike and trip to Rocky Mountain National Park.
Best part was the $20 daily fee was waived. It was the Easter weekend.
I was able to get in for free.
And my feet were dry unlike the family who left in a huff.

Teena Akiyama Copyright © 2011
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