Rocky Mountain National Park

First of all let me say it really is all it is cracked up to be.

We are staying in Estes Park which is a stones throw from the park.  We drove up Sunday evening while it was still light and were just amazed at the views.  It was a twisting and turning road along the Big Thompson river.  I almost felt I could turn around at the top and I'd be happy with the trip.

Today we headed into the park proper.  I had been looking at the map and trying to figure out what to do.  There is so much it was kind of overwhelming.  I checked in on Facebook last night and Karl mentioned to give Old Falls River Road a go.  That at least gave us something to start with.  There is construction on the road to Bear Lake which seems to be the hot spot on the northeast side so I was a bit wary about going there.

We started at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center which is right up the road from our hotel.  I spoke with one of the rangers there and told him we wanted a nice drive with some hiking.  I mentioned Old Falls River Road and he agreed it was worth the trip.  We could go up that road and then back down Timber Ridge Road.  By afternoon Bear Lake might not be so busy if we had time.  In the basement the auditorium runs a 20 minute HD video on the park so we stopped and watched that.


This picture is while waiting in line at the park entrance.  Just a tease.
The ranger mentioned a couple places where we could stop along the Old Falls River Road.  The first was a place called the Alluvial Fan Trail.  An alpine lake burst one of its earthen walls and basically ripped a big gouge creating an awesome display of boulders all the way down into the valley.  A creek coming down the middle.
There was a trail that kept going and going farther up the fan.  The cool thing was that you had to climb up these boulders using your hands sometimes.  By no means was it treacherous (I saw one woman wearing sandals) but it was definitely a place where one slip could put and end to your day or at least a sprained ankle away from trying to figure out how you are going to drive back to the hotel - let alone all the way back to Chicago.
We probably climbed for at least half an hour.  Every time you thought that the trail was going to end there was someone else just a little but higher.  Which of course makes you want to keep going.  Dayne had an extra step in his walk and got a little ahead of us.  
There came a point where we had to turn back if we wanted to get going and see the rest of the road.  Dayne wasn't happy.  He was determined to make it all the way the the top and insisted that we come back some day and finish what we started.
The way down was probably more risky but we made it down fine.  Definitely a great start to the day.

The road is one-way going up which is nice being the driver.   You only have to worry about cars behind you and there are plenty of pull-offs.  It is a dirt/gravel road with steep drop offs.  The speed limit is only 15 mph so it is pretty safe but you have to be careful.

Chasm Falls was next on the itinerary.  Another stop the ranger told us about.  It was narrow with a nice payoff at the end.
.....more later.