•10:59 PM
October 12, 2010 10:58 p.m.
Day 17 was Sept. 20.
We woke up in Estes Park, Colorado.
Temperature was a relatively warm 64 degrees.
Altitude was 7,500 ft.
We heard that a wildfire had closed off the west entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park since the weekend. Fortunately for us, we would only need the eastern entrances, and the weather was beautiful again in the morning.
On the way through town toward the entrance to the National Park, we had to go slowly because several elk decided to cross the street in front of us. Chips got up out of his seat to come up to the dashboard and take pictures with his camera. We started to drive again, about 5-10 mph, when one last elk suddenly dashed across the road in front of us. We hadn't expected this one, and had to slam on the brakes. Well, Chips got a physics lesson then, as he got thrown into the dashboard. No injury, but a partially crushed Stetson (his daddy's) and the realization of how important seat belts really are.
We took time during the morning to drive up the magnificent Trail Ridge Road -- the highest altitude paved road in the United States, topping out at over 12,100 ft. altitude. We followed the road up past the highest summit, noticing the dramatic change in plant life, and arrived at the Alpine Visitor's Center around 9:00 a.m. We were just saying how proud we were of ourselves for getting up there so early in the day, when we discovered that the visitors' center would not be open until 10:30. We decided not to wait around for this, and to begin driving back down to another part of the park. It was very windy up there, anyway. You could hardly stand around. Using the chemical toilets up in that windy place was a unique experience, but I will leave that .... at that.
Suffice it to say that we were well up above treeline, and that we got another chance to wear our winter coats here.
We did get a chance to take a nature walk trail near the summit anyway, and see the alpine tundra landscape. This landscape is more typical of places like Yukon and Northwest Territories than of the United States. We did take some good pictures in this area, too. We never did feel any ill effects from the altitude; I suspect we weren't at the highest altitudes long enough to feel any different. Also, this is a good place to drive a diesel vehicle - no vapor lock can occur in the engine. It was a good thing our van is diesel, for we certainly have racked up the miles.
When we later arrived at lower elevations, we got to check out two other visitors' centers, see an interactive geology exhibit, and the children got another chance to work on Junior Ranger activities. We found a lovely (windy) picnic spot for lunch, and later took another short hike at Moraine Park. That's where I learned that Ponderosa Pine Tree bark smells like butterscotch! At the Fall River Visitor Center, Chips and Sweet Girl each met separately with a park ranger and demonstrated that they completed the requirements for the Junior Ranger badge. The ranger actually made an announcement to the other visitors there about our childrens' newest accomplishment. What fun! So now they have collected four Junior Ranger badges. The Junior Ranger program has been great in the weeks following Labor Day because there are few children in the National Parks now, and working on the badges has provided some nice one-on-one interaction with some very dedicated park rangers. It is encouraging to see so many people who enjoy and care about children, and their job, too.
Again, we shopped and dined with view of Lake Estes. This would be our last day of seeing the mountain sights before beginning our long drive back home.
Day 17 was Sept. 20.
We woke up in Estes Park, Colorado.
Temperature was a relatively warm 64 degrees.
Altitude was 7,500 ft.
We heard that a wildfire had closed off the west entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park since the weekend. Fortunately for us, we would only need the eastern entrances, and the weather was beautiful again in the morning.
On the way through town toward the entrance to the National Park, we had to go slowly because several elk decided to cross the street in front of us. Chips got up out of his seat to come up to the dashboard and take pictures with his camera. We started to drive again, about 5-10 mph, when one last elk suddenly dashed across the road in front of us. We hadn't expected this one, and had to slam on the brakes. Well, Chips got a physics lesson then, as he got thrown into the dashboard. No injury, but a partially crushed Stetson (his daddy's) and the realization of how important seat belts really are.
We took time during the morning to drive up the magnificent Trail Ridge Road -- the highest altitude paved road in the United States, topping out at over 12,100 ft. altitude. We followed the road up past the highest summit, noticing the dramatic change in plant life, and arrived at the Alpine Visitor's Center around 9:00 a.m. We were just saying how proud we were of ourselves for getting up there so early in the day, when we discovered that the visitors' center would not be open until 10:30. We decided not to wait around for this, and to begin driving back down to another part of the park. It was very windy up there, anyway. You could hardly stand around. Using the chemical toilets up in that windy place was a unique experience, but I will leave that .... at that.
Suffice it to say that we were well up above treeline, and that we got another chance to wear our winter coats here.
We did get a chance to take a nature walk trail near the summit anyway, and see the alpine tundra landscape. This landscape is more typical of places like Yukon and Northwest Territories than of the United States. We did take some good pictures in this area, too. We never did feel any ill effects from the altitude; I suspect we weren't at the highest altitudes long enough to feel any different. Also, this is a good place to drive a diesel vehicle - no vapor lock can occur in the engine. It was a good thing our van is diesel, for we certainly have racked up the miles.
When we later arrived at lower elevations, we got to check out two other visitors' centers, see an interactive geology exhibit, and the children got another chance to work on Junior Ranger activities. We found a lovely (windy) picnic spot for lunch, and later took another short hike at Moraine Park. That's where I learned that Ponderosa Pine Tree bark smells like butterscotch! At the Fall River Visitor Center, Chips and Sweet Girl each met separately with a park ranger and demonstrated that they completed the requirements for the Junior Ranger badge. The ranger actually made an announcement to the other visitors there about our childrens' newest accomplishment. What fun! So now they have collected four Junior Ranger badges. The Junior Ranger program has been great in the weeks following Labor Day because there are few children in the National Parks now, and working on the badges has provided some nice one-on-one interaction with some very dedicated park rangers. It is encouraging to see so many people who enjoy and care about children, and their job, too.
Again, we shopped and dined with view of Lake Estes. This would be our last day of seeing the mountain sights before beginning our long drive back home.
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| Caution! Courting elk crossing. One thing on his mind, and it isn't the traffic. |
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| Trail Ridge Road - alpine tundra. Over 12,000 ft. altitude. |
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| Sights along Trail Ridge Road. |
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| Along Trail Ridge Road. |
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| Near the summit on Trail Ridge Road. |
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| You guessed it - Trail Ridge Road. |
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| Do we have to hike here? It is so windy! |
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| Beautiful place to sit and rest. |
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| I love this happy family picture. |
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| Above..... and below the treeline. |
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| Heading down to lower altitudes. Aspen leaves changing color here. |
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| At our picnic spot. |
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| On Moraine Park nature trail. |
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| Sweet Girl consults with a nice ranger to earn her Junior Ranger badge. |
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| Got this shot of a magpie outside the Fall River Visitor Center. |
3 comments:
I drove my Suburban over that very road in 1993, with 7 jabbering kids in the back. When a Yugo parked next to us up at the top, I applauded the driver for his courage in piloting it up there. Yes, that was probably rude. I've never seen a magpie before, at least not that I know of, so I enjoyed that picture. You surely do have some terrific family pictures. Deciding on which one will be the Christmas card photo is going to be very difficult!!!
It's hard to believe that there's a road on what seems like the roof of the world.
How did your children bear up with the cold temperatures? They look a bit relieved to be back at lower, warmer altitudes.
The pictures are awesome!!!! What an adventure these are the memories our children will rememebr and talk about forever!!!
Thank you for coming by and talking time to say hello. With doing both orchestra this year it leaves little time, that time needs to be school. We go to O'town 2x a week all 4 of my children are in the MAYS. We are loving it. This Sunday the Symphony is playing at Knowles Chapel. Maybe in November you can come hear them. It is free admission I can send the info.
Enjoy your trip love hearing about your adventures.....Blessing blog friend