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!

Amazing Moose Sighting!

The Traveling Hillbilly lucked out and on the first morning exploring Rocky Mountain National Park, had the best moose sighting! It was such a great angle and the zoom lens on my simple camera allowed for some great shots.



It’s surprising that as big as they are, they are still quite difficult to spot. They like to hide deep in the bushes and seem to be able to blend right into nature.

 

Peek a boo

We heard him first. You could hear the antlers brushing against the trees. The sound of branches breaking was right out of a movie. Sounded just like a dinosaur stomping through the woods. Then the trees started to sway. The antlers emerged first, then we get a glimpse of the snout as he munched on the trees.

As he continued to dine, more and more of him emerged from the trees, until we finally got to see all of him. What a huge and beautiful creature. While I think Elk are quite majestic, that is not a word I would use for a moose. They are remarkable creatures but seem more like a chocolate lab; big, gangly and kind of goofy. Don’t get me wrong, they are still wild animals and deserve our respect and fear. But being able to watch them from afar is a sight to see.

Nom, nom

Look at my green teeth

Just snackin'

The Traveling Hillbilly could spend hours watching and admiring these great creatures. This particular one, we got to watch for at least an hour before he went back deep into woods. I guess he got tired of the paparazzi and wanted to finish his meal in peace.

Can't a moose dine in peace?!

Estes Park, First Impressions

As many of you know, the Traveling Hillbilly loves Colorado. Around every turn is a sight more scenic than the last.  After spending some time in Grand Lake, CO back in May, I decided to head back to Rocky Mountain National Park on the Estes Park side.  I was hoping to see moose again, but this time with some antlers.  

I had read that Estes Park is for those looking for a little more hustle and bustle and Grand Lake is for those looking for something more low-key.  That is a great way to describe it and hand’s down, I’m more of a Grand Lake person.  I arrived on Sunday evening, hoping a weekday post labor day  stay would avoid the crowds.  There was quite a bit of traffic and people everywhere.   Way more packed and crowded than my trip to Grand Lake.   I was immediately worried about the crowds I would encounter at Rocky Mountain National Park.   If the city was this crowded, I expected the park to be crazy.

 

storm rolling in

Lucky for me, I like to go to the park early and later in the evenings, when I have a better chance of spotting and watching the wildlife.   This did help avoid some of the crowds.  Just about the time, I was leaving the park in the morning, the crowds were coming in.  It was still quite crowded when I returned in the evening, but luckily the park is quite large so no one particular area was too crowded.   Well that is, unless some sort of wildlife was spotted.   You could usually tell something had been spotted by the crowds standing in the road, cameras up.  This is not a judgement, as I was in the park for the same reason.   But the crowds sometimes made it difficult to watch the wildlife safely.  

Now maybe Grand Lake is just as crowded this time of year, but when I come back to RMN Park again, I’ll choose Grand Lake.

Scenic Colorado

 

The Traveling Hillbilly was excited to see lots of the wildlife Rocky Mountain National Park had to offer and was happy to not run across any bears along the way.  There  were lots of elk, some moose and even a large rabbit!

Rocky Mountain National Park is more than just wildlife sightings.  The scenery does not disappoint!  

It lives up to the beauty standards Colorado continues to deliver.   It’s simply stunning.  

The beauty of Colorado never ceases to amaze the Traveling Hillbilly!

                     

Rocky Mountain National Park - Moose Sighting!

 After some brief research, the Traveling Hillbilly booked a place in Grand Lake Colorado for a couple of nights.  The hope was to see some moose!  In all the Traveling Hillbilly’s adventures, I have yet to see a moose.  The place I rented turned out to be perfect, it was less than 10 minutes from the Kawuneeche entrance to the park, making it easy to come and go into the park multiple times a day.

The Traveling Hillbilly was in luck and spotted a moose just minutes after entering the park early the next morning!  Not just a moose, but a mama moose and her baby calf.