Rocky Mountains NP

We had seen a very wintery RMNP in December 2008 and so it was exciting to be back and to stay in the park during summer.

We arrived at the entrance late in the afternoon and were not surprised to find the campgrounds full (it was summer holidays after all). So we backtracked to an over flow campground at Meeker Park for the night. Early the next morning we waited in line at the Glacier Basin Campground with no expectations…we could easily drive back to Meeker Park for the night if no sites were available.

We walked away from the check in booth with big smiles on our faces. This was our home for the next two nights. The snow capped mountains enhanced our view of elk grazing in the meadows around the campground. They munched right by Dude as we watched in excitement. Some idiot decided to imitate the bugling, which got the elk’s attention….he was lucky it wasn’t rutting season and another happy camper decided to speed around the campsite so they could get as close to the herd as possible. It was a great wildlife moment and as the herd grazed on into the cover of trees the crowd dispersed.

We really got to experience just how busy the park was when we waited in line for the shuttle bus to take us out to Bear Lake, as the road had a vehicle size limit on it. After some time we made it to the front of the line and boarded the third bus out to the lake.

Our plan was to hike up to The Loch along the Glacier Gorge Trailhead which joins the North Longs Peak trail. At first the trail was an endless line of people until we passed Alberta Falls then the throng of people thinned out and the lush scenery overtook our senses. We hiked over some snow hugging the ground, defying the melt happening all around, as we reached the lake. We sat on a boulder taking in the view and eating our lunch and promptly got blasted with a mountain breeze that howled ominously through the mountains. With jackets on hand and the beautiful scenery before us…..and no visible thunderstorm clouds, the wind really didn’t really bother us. We decided to loop back via Lake Haiyaha and followed the trail sign but somehow ended up back at the trailhead. Perhaps the trail was a locals shortcut to go fishing at The Loch but it remains a mystery and we never did get to Lake Haiyaha.

Nearing The Loch

Driving Trail Ridge Road over Milner Pass we watched marmots scamper around in the tundra

Milner Pass

We had some wonderful wildlife encounters while camping at Timber Creek.  I was sitting at the table and chairs in our campsite and an elk walked right up to me and started to forage in the fire ring. He looked at me and kept on foraging in the ashes before sauntering off to another fire place. Then a crowd started gathering along the embankment near the marshes and we got to see our first Moose and her calf. Awesome !!

My close encounter with an Elk

Our first Moose sighting at Timber Creek Campground