I was in Colorado from September 11 until the 19th where I visited with Andria's family in Colorado Springs. Four of those days Dave and I hiked and camped in Rocky Mountain National Park. Dave picked a very spacious campsite at Moraine Park Campground.
Dave and Bierstadt Lake.
Tame Mallard Duck at the lake.
The aspens were starting to turn, creating big patches of yellow on the mountainsides.
Our first night camping we hardly got any sleep. There were several bugling bull elk in rut with their harems moshing around the campground. Sometimes I was sure they were brushing up against my tent.
This bull moose was at the edge of the campground. We weren't expecting to see moose!
The elk here go wherever they please, but it is dangerous to approach them during the rut.
On day two, we hiked from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead up to Loch Lake and beyond.
The weather was quite good throughout our stay in The Rockies, with just a few sprinkles and distant lightning and thunder in the afternoons.
The beautiful Loch Lake with distant peaks and glaciers in the background.
To continue from Loch Lake up to Sky Pond, we had to scramble to the right of this waterfall.
We made the scramble up this chute.
Lake of Glass.
Nice trail work on the final stretch to Sky Pond.
Sky Pond and it's fanged guardians.
This Yellow-bellied Marmot seemed to be begging for food close to the trail.
On the way back down, we watched this American Dipper diving for insect larvae.
American Dipper
Looking back at the waterfall we scrambled up.
A good foot soak was in order, so we stopped the car at a stream near our campground.
Day three, and we were off to see more waterfalls and lakes.
We hiked up to Fern Lake and had lunch.
Someone else was eager to share my lunch!
We saw a number of Steller's Jays.
From Fern Lake, we backtracked and continued on the loop to Cub Lake.
Getting closer to Cub Lake, we spotted some bear scat on the trail.
Not far away was this bear scratching tree.
...and these ripe berries.
Cub Lake is in a burn area, and is covered in lily pads.
Near the lake was a community of Lewis's Woodpeckers.
Past the lake, we came upon a bull elk and his harem who were very close to the trail. We paused, not sure what to do. The bull was very anxious about another bull at least a quarter mile away.
His harem, awaiting direction. The bull finally herded his cows up a steep hillside and away from the threat.
Elk scat.
Near our campground was this magnificent bull with a harem of 32 cows!
The bull with his harem.
Those antlers are shed every year.
What a rack!
On our last day, we hiked to Ouzel Falls.
Dave scrambled to the top of the falls while I ate my lunch at the bottom.
Dave and the falls.
More aspen and cascading streams.
The best breakfast spot in the Estes Park area!
The last few days I spent with the whole family in Colorado Springs. Susanna in her new genie costume gives me a show.
We all went to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Soren, here, about to get slathered.
You have to love those giraffes!
Susanna and Soren tempting danger.
Andria packed us a great lunch which we illegally devoured in the zoo restaurant, then it was time to head home.
