30 July, Moraine, Rocky Mountain National Park

View from the camper

We feel so fortunate to have this campsite at this time.  The campsite is surrounded by grasses and wildflowers and is frequented by does, fawns and an occasional buck - several times a day.  There is a very short summer season (6-12 weeks) in which the flowers bloom, and we hit it perfectly.

A doe and fawn through the camper window

Today we headed back into Estes for some more Pickleball.  This time we played for a couple hours against, and with, some great players, Lance and Larry.

After a quick change, we headed back toward Sheep Lake where we were fortunate to watch a bull moose being a “swamp donkey”.  We continued back up Old Fall River Road for a second time, this time we stopped at Chasm Falls, which was unique to any falls I’d seen before I’m that it was at that back of a chasm. 

Old Fall River Road and beyond 

 

Chasm Falls

Continuing up the dirt road, we saw a large yellow-bellied marmot as it ran across the road in front of us.  This time, the Alpine Visitor Center was open and we were able to learn much information about the area in the Exhibit Center.  On the way back down,  we were stopped by a large field of elk spanning both sides of the road.

Dramatic skies of impending thunder showers made for new views as we headed back to camp to pack up for a travel day tomorrow.

We feel so fortunate to have had such a great weather during our stay here. We had a light drizzle this evening, and over night the gentle tapping of rain made a pleasant white noise for sleeping.

28 July, Moraine, Rocky Mountain National Park

Today started with pickleball at the hockey ice rink in Estes.  We met nice people with helpful advice on where to go and how to avoid traffic in downtown Estes.

One piece of advice lead us to Rock Cut Brewery where their wide selection of beer was all tasty.  Food truck Fish and Chips hit the spot.  Upon leaving, in an effort to avoid traffic, we headed north-east up to Glen Haven on a great road along winding roads bordering a river and then looped back on highway 34 to the Fall River entrance.  

At the Visitor Center, masks were mandatory and the exhibits were chained off; next door at the gift shop it was business as usual.  We continued on to Sheep Lake where we stopped to view a moose (“swamp donkey”) feeding in the lake with her baby.

Back to camp, viewing a field of elk on the way, we relaxed with cocktails.

Some tile rummy and an after dinner MTB ride around the campground finished off the evening

29 July, Moraine, Rocky Mountain National Park

Today was a BIG hike day: 11 miles, 2,000’ elevation gain, maximum elevation 10,860’

An early start to hike Sky Pond let us realize we weren’t early enough. The lower and upper parking lots were full, and the Park and Ride was also quite full.  We were able to sneak in with Motorcycle Parking (thank you KTM) at the Bear Lake parking lot.  After a quick detour to Bear Lake, we headed on to Sky Pond.  This was a spectacular hike!  Traveling along Glacier Creek with continual waterfalls, Aspen trees, and many bridges, we came upon Alberta Falls, a popular tourist attraction at less than a mile from the parking areas.  After passing many more falls and bridges, we came to The Lock, a beautiful mirror lake.  Continuing on, we eventually came to Timberline Falls.  These falls were quite impressive.  To continue on to Glass Lake, we had to climb up a 30’ water fall at the side of the big falls - it was quite challenging, and left Dave with a knee scrape and me with intrepidation for the return climb down.  We came up to Glass Lake which we initially thought was Sky Pond (surely we must be high enough).  It was a cold lake to chill our feet and a refreshing place to relax and enjoy quick nourishment.  Once we got our shoes back on, we continued on to Sky Pond.  Sky Pond was a beautiful glacier lake with the snow dropping into the water in several places, but few trees.  

The hike was filled with so many amazing large rocks with beautiful strata, swirled and striped.  Climbing back down the challenging waterfall left me with confidence

Sky Pond Trail

Timberline Falls

Bear Lake

Glass Lake

and wanting to try more rock climbing - probably best that there were no other opportunities.  We also encountered several elk alongside the trail. One particular cow with her calf got a little protective and strode on the path, directly in front of the hikers close behind us.  

View through the saddle to Glass Lake

Sky Pond 

We also saw elk bedding down in the abundant lush green grass alongside the trail. The last half mile was the hardest and we strolled back up to Bear Lake, for a last look, then hopped on the KTM back to camp for a well deserved G.T. and hors d’oeuvres followed by fillets and a bottle of Decoy Cabernet, Ahh…..

27 July, Moraine, Rocky Mountain National Park

A memorable day for sure!

The day started with an early morning so that we could moto up the Old Fall River Road. 

Old Fall River Road

 This road is a one-way, winding dirt road, just the way it was in the 1920’s. At the top of the road (11,796 ft) we hiked up Huffer’s Hill, a path with many steps to the top (12,005 ft) and 360 degree views. The Alpine visitor’s Center was 1-1/2 hours from opening.   To descend back down we took the paved Trail Ridge Road (Hwy 34)which is the highest elevation road in the US at 12,183 ft.  It was amazing!  So fun; great views!  While the traffic was light, we were surprised to see so many cars at the parking areas where there were trailheads and vista points. 

Huffer’s Hill

Cut Rock

Looking down on Alpine Visitors Center 

Continuing down to the Moraine Visitors Center, we had other hikes recommended to us such as Long’s Peak.

After a bite to eat, we rode our bikes down to the Fern Lake Trailhead.  We locked our bikes to a tree and headed up.  The trail was beautiful with wildflowers and, of course, many ferns.  Unfortunately, in was not as beautiful as it would have been a year ago before a large fire from the other side of the Continental Divide ravaged the area.

Fern Lake

See Dave at the base of the rock?

  There were many bridges and small falls along the way.  When we got to Fern Falls, we welcomed the cooling mist.  Before we turned back, another hiker sold us on continuing up another 1.2 miles to Fern lake.  Up at elevation 9,530’, the water was cold and refreshing - Dave jumped in twice.  After eight miles of hiking we were happy to get back to our bikes.  But alas, some “one” destroyed the lock by jamming it with a piece of metal (maybe a key they were trying to open it with) so we could not use our key to open it.  After walking another 3/4 of a mile to the closest shuttle stop (I dug out a sprint for the last 100 yards when I saw the shuttle and feared missing it) we shuttled to the campground entrance , then walked a 1/4 mile before hitching a ride (so lucky) from a neighbor for the last mile to our site.  We contacted a Ranger who had bold cutters.  He drove us to the bikes, cut the lock, and we were able to ride our bikes the three miles back. A 9 mile hike & 5 mile MTB day, with total 1,700’ of climbing - we solid nights sleep tonight.