Each summer I renew our annual National Parks Pass at one of Rocky Mountain National Park's Ranger Stations, usually in July after the 4th holiday. I guess its become a summer tradition!
Marie and I got Sable and Eli out of bed early and into the car headed into Rocky Mountain National Park, over Trail Ridge to enjoy a Grand Lake lunch (and sell a few spinners).
It's a beautiful time in the Rockies. There's still lots of snow and the runoff leaves big white snow fields. Each beautifully bordered with gray rocks and emerging wild flowers and multi-colored green tundra.
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| Snow fields and blue Colorado skies |
But still a lot of work to do!
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| Rocky Mountain ice cream sandwich anyone? |
Many a happy survivor was out to greet the Colorado sun and the stream of visitors on Trail Ridge Parkway.
We saw and heard pika
and many a relaxing marmot,
Elk are back on top in numbers, silhouetted against snow fields (my favorite!)
and even a cow moose headed across a far side meadow, before the Kawaneche Visitor Center.
Had lunch in Grand Lake and even sold a batch spinners to a new customer at a bait shop in Grand Lake
Made it back to Estes valley in time to watch the sunset over the Divide.
