Snow in May?

 It was time to head back to Rocky Mountain National Park before the summer crowds come.  There's a great little cabin I've stayed at before and luckily it had an open weekend, just before Memorial Day.  It's quite close to the park entrance so it makes it easy to come in and out of the park throughout the day, especially given the time entry hasn't started yet.  The Traveling Hillbilly had lots of moose sightings this trip, but most were from quite a distance.  It's still fun to sit and watch these creatures from afar.  Some people say they are majestic, I think they are more on the goofy, gangly side, but that makes them even more fun to watch!

Moseying along..

These were taken just as it was starting to snow.  Within 5 minutes of these being taken, the temperature dropped several degrees and the snow started to fall!  Decided it was time to leave the park and head back to the cabin  before the roads got slushy or icy.

Take the Scenic Route

 Time to head back to Colorado for a leaf peeping getaway.   Colorado is always beautiful, but when she's showing off her fall colors, she's exceptional!   The original plan was to head back last of September/early October.  However, Mother Nature is on her own time and all indications were the peak colors would be reached a little early this year.   Time to put a last minute road trip together.   Didn't want everything to planned out, but knowing it would be a popular time in Colorado, booked a place in Vail for Saturday and Sunday night. Due to getting a late start, I decided to head to Colorado Springs first and then take the scenic route up to Vail. 

After a long day in the car, it was time for me and the dogs to stretch our legs at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs.  

Spots of Color

Time to head up to Vail.  Given the purpose of the trip is to see the fall foliage, decided to take the scenic route up highway 24 vs the quicker I-25 route.  As expected, the higher we climbed, the more color we started to see.   It's interesting how some mountain scapes are mainly covered in evergreen trees and are just dotted with color, while others are flooded with the colorful Aspens.   One thing is for sure, up in the mountains today, Colorado was living up to it's Colorful Colorado moniker.

In a world were we are often rushed and in a hurry to get somewhere, sometimes it pays to take the scenic route!

Dominated by Aspens

Sharing my love for Rocky Mountain National Park with a Friend

 I had invited a friend to join me in Rocky Mountain National Park back in May but he was unable to make it work.  He has never been and was excited about exploring the park, so I head back again for a few days before the 4th of July.   We met up in Denver and then drove to Grand Lake.   

Once again, Colorado showed her beauty.  I typically try and avoid the summer crowds, so don't go to the park this time of year. It was so green, making the landscape even more beautiful. The weather was perfect.  

While there were hints of snow still, I missed the snow covered mountain tops. I also missed the peace and quiet of Grand Lake and the park pre-memorial day.  It was definitely much more crowded this time of year.  But we tended to go into the park early in the morning and later in the day.  This allowed for better wildlife sightings and avoided the timed entry reservation requirement between 9a and 2p.  

The wildlife was not as abundant as it was back in May.  The elk herds had moved to higher elevations.  So we only saw a few up in the tundra.  

We did luck out and had some great moose sightings!   The calves were already getting so big. 

All in all it was a great trip.  It was wonderful to share this place with my dear friend.  Now I have to convince him to come back again in the fall, when Grand Lake and RMNP show their true colors!

Moose, Moose, More Moose and Some Elk too

Look at those white teeth!

This is my fifth time visiting Rocky Mountain National Park in the last couple of years and I have never had so many moose sightings!   I've seen moose on most of my visits and have had some great sightings, but I have never seen this many on one visit.  I was thrilled when I saw five moose the afternoon I arrived. At the time, I thought how lucky is this? I also thought those sightings may just be the only moose I would see on this visit.  But lucky for me, that has not been the case.  I have seen several moose each time I've gone into the park.  I was even lucky enough to capture that mamma moose and her calf just outside the house I'm renting.   

Clearly this one doesn't like the paparazzi

As I noted previously, I don't know why I'm so fascinated with these guys, but I can't seem to get enough of them.  They just seem so goofy and silly.  I can sit and watch them munch on leaves and twigs for hours.  Finding one bedded down in the afternoon is equally thrilling.  I watch fascinated each time I catch them walking down the road or crossing the street.   My heart soars with each sighting and has yet to get even close to getting old. 

I love spotting elk too.  Seeing a herd at the base of a mountain or roaming across the valley is exciting as well.  I also love capturing a group of them bedded down, with just their little heads popping out above the grass.   It looks like someone planted a little elk garden with the heads starting to sprout!  But as much I love seeing elk, it is not quite as exhilarating as spotting a moose.

The elk garden is starting to sprout

These gangly, awkward, goofy looking creatures just make me smile, if not laugh out loud. 

The not so majestic moose!

The Beauty of Colorado Never Ceases to Amaze

I know I've written about this before, but Colorado is so beautiful.  I come here often, not often enough, but I'm blown away by how scenic and beautiful it is every single time.  The mountains, the trees, the creeks and rivers provide a majestic backdrop to this picturesque state.   The term Colorful Colorado doesn't do justice to how truly magnificent it is.   

Scenic mountain backdrop

Something about this place connects with me on a deep, spiritual level.  I wonder if this is were I'm ultimately  meant to be.  I have a vision that goes back to my childhood of me living in a small town, surrounded by mountains, unloading boxes of fruits and vegetables from a Jeep.   Like many things from childhood, this vision is often long forgotten.  But when I'm in Colorado, it comes to the forefront of my mind.   Maybe it's a memory from a previous life, if you believe in these types of things.  Or maybe it is truly a vision of where I'm meant to be.  

For a kid that grew up in beach towns and lived near the beach most of my life, I'd expect to feel at home near the ocean or at least a body of water.   But I'm frightened of the ocean.  I have a very difficult time relaxing on a beach.  I've had a recurring dream for years of seeing a tsunami heading my way and feel the panic of being swept away by the force of the impending waves.  Again, maybe this is a memory from a past life.    But maybe these two recurring thoughts are connected.   Maybe the deep seated fear of tsunamis has led to an unconscious need to be in the mountains.

It wasn't until I went to the mountains in the southwest that I realized I loved being in the mountains.  The mountains, brought me peace and tranquility.  It calmed my soul.   I ultimately bought a modest house in a small mountain town that became my happy place.  Unfortunately I lost the home in a wildfire and am now forced to make a decision to rebuild there or look elsewhere.  I loved that home and did a lot to make it cozy and comfortable, so my instinct is to rebuild.   But maybe the fire was yet another sign that is leading me to where I'm ultimately meant to be, here in Colorado.

As finish writing this, I looked out the window to see a mamma moose and her calf just outside the window of the rental I'm staying at.  It makes my heart soar to see these two so close. 

Back to Rocky Mountain National Park

 Rocky Mountain National Park has become one of my faves.   I love visiting here in May just before Memorial Day and late September to avoid the summer crowds.  I have developed an obession with moose.  Not sure why they fascinate me so, but these goofy looking creatures do.   Colorado is fairly close to visit and Rocky Mountain National Park provides a great opportunity to spot moose, along with elk, fox and other wildlife.   I first came here two years ago and have been coming back 2x a year since.    There's nothing like spotting that first moose of the trip.  It's thrilling every time and has yet to get old for me.

Where to Stay?

It really depends on what you're looking for.  I have stayed in both Grand Lake and Estes Park.  Grand Lake is a smaller, quieter town than Estes park and there's only one entrance to the park from Grand Lake. However, while Estes Park, has lots to see but I prefer the quietness of Grand Lake.  It has more of an small old lake town.

When to Come?

If you come before Memorial Day weekend, the Trail Ridge Road will most likely be closed, so you don't get to see the whole park. But I do think you have a great chance at spotting moose closer up.  And if you're really lucky, you might even see a mamma moose and her calf!  Keep in mind in May, moose and elk won't have their antl
ers yet.   They will most likely just have some stubs starting to grow.

In the late September/early October, which is rut season, the moose and elk will have their antlers.  And if you come at just the right time, you'll be able to see the beautiful fall colors of Colorado!  It is really hard to time optimal "peep leafing" but if you get lucky, you'll see why Colorado is called Colorful Colorado. 

I have yet to come in the depths of winter, but I imagine it would be beautiful and there would still be plenty to do.  As for summer, I try to avoid as much of the summer crowds as possible.  It's hard to find places to stay and don't forget between Memorial Day weekend and mid-October, you'll also need a timed entry permit in order to access the park.  Basically you have to have a reservation, that allows you a certain window of time to enter the park.   

There's just something about Colorado that touches my soul whenever I visit.  It truly is a beautiful place and Rocky Mountain National Park is a must for me, especially when I need my moose fix!

Denali a bit of Disappointment

 Part of my disappointment was my own doing.  When I travel, I like to be settled and not jumping around every night or two to a new hotel or destination.  I also like to avoid not having two or three days in a row completely booked/planned out with events.   Given this was a last-minute trip, I had to do Seward and Denali back-to-back, which meant a few long days of travel and adventure back-to-back.  So, after a 15-hour magical day in Seward, I hopped on an 8-hour train ride to Denali early the next morning.

Day 4 started off great, with another scenic train ride.  This time on the Wilderness Express to Denali.  The train ride to Seward was more scenic given the variety of terrains, but this ride was surrounded by beauty as well, just not as much variation.  I love taking the train and being able to have a comfortable ride, having a meal or two and way less stressful than flying these days.

So, the train ride was great, but when I got to the hotel there was an issue with my reservation.   For some reason, they were showing that I still needed to pay.  I showed them my confirmation, which showed I’d already paid and even showed them the charge on my Am Ex.   They were very pleasant but couldn’t seem to figure out why it wasn’t showing on their end.   After a long train ride, I planned to check in, change clothes and head to the park to get a short hike in before having dinner.   Unfortunately, it took an hour + to get checked in, then I didn’t have my luggage.  Rather than letting my frustration ruin my first day in Denali, I decided to head to the park anyway.  Despite not having my hiking shoes, I figured I could at least check the park out.  And hoped by the time I returned, my luggage would be there.   The hotel has a shuttle that runs to the park every 15 minutes, but the shuttle didn’t show up as expected.  Turns out there was an issue, and the shuttle was delayed.  By the time I finally got to the park, I had less than 30 minutes before the last shuttle back to the hotel and everything was closed.  Need less to say, my frustration level was rising. 

All ended well though.  When I got back, my luggage was in my room.  I took a quick shower and then headed to the hotel bar for dinner and a drink, maybe two!

After a good night’s sleep, it was time for my first adventure in Denali.  I booked a Jeep excursion
along the Denali Highway. The Denali Highway is the original road used to get to Denali before they built the George Parks Highway.  So it’s no longer used by many folks and it’s basically a dirt road that doesn’t go through the actual national park.   While the guides were great, the excursion itself wasn’t really exciting.  

After I got back to the hotel and had a quick lunch, I hopped on a “Tundra Wilderness Tour.”  I had not planned to do this, but shortly before I left for my trip, I learned from a couple of folks you can’t get more than 3 miles into the park, unless you do this.  These tours go 43 miles into the park (they used to have an option that went all the way to the end, but that’s no longer an option since the road washed out a few years ago), so you can see a lot more of the park.  Basically, you are sitting on a school bus, driving through the park, hoping to see some wildlife.    As we all know, wildlife is most active at dusk and dawn.  When I booked this, I booked a late afternoon tour.   After I booked my tour, my confirmation stated, my actual tour time would not be available until the day before and it could be anywhere between Noon and 5pm.   Well, I found out the day before, I was on a 1:40p tour.  

After an 8+ hour travel day, I spent the day in a Jeep for 4 hours and then on a school bus for just over five hours.   It was just a lot of sitting two days in a row and not nearly the adventures I was hoping for.   I would have preferred more time to explore the area and park on my own.  I did get to see lots of caribou.

Time to head back to Anchorage for a couple nights.  I have another day and a half free.   We’ll see what else I can get into.