Rocky Mountain National Park (7-1-08)
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My two (approximate) Routes...
Rocky Mountain National Park Boundary - 8,500'
The western entrance to the park, just north of Grand Lake...
Grand Lake Entrance - 8,700'
You actually get a ways inside the park before you get the nice welcome sign...
Kawuneeche Valley - 8,850'
I believe this mountain is known as Mineral Point (11,488'). This is looking west from the Kawuneeche Valley...
Kawuneeche Valley - 9,350'
Looking back down the Kawuneeche Valley as the Trail Ridge Road starts to climb...
Trail Ridge Road - 9,600'
The road got increasingly twisty as we climb out of the valley towards Fairview Curve...
Fairview Curve - 10,120'
The Never Summer Mountains from Fairview Curve. The peaks here reach elevations just shy of 13,000 feet...
Fairview Curve - 10,120'
False Lupine lined the parking area at Fairview Curve...
Fairview Curve - 10,120'
Looking through the trees at the Never Summer Mountains from Fairview Curve...
Never Summer Mountains from Fairview Curve - 10,120'
The Never Summer Mountains. From left to right are Red Mountain (11,605'), Mt. Cumulus (12,725'), Howard Mountain (12,810'), Mt. Cirrus (12,797'), & Lead Mountain (12,537') which is the pointy one near the right-hand side...
Trail Ridge Road - 10,400'
Warning signs as we get closer to treeline...
Continental Divide - Milner Pass - 10,759'
Crossing the continental divide at Milner Pass (10,759'). All water to the right of the sign will eventually flow to the Pacific Ocean while water falling on the near side will end up in the Atlantic...
Milner Pass - Poudre Lake - 10,759'
Poudre Lake at Milner Pass with Trail Ridge Road to the left
Milner Pass - Poudre Lake - 10,759'
A lone Elk grazing in the tall grass near Poudre Lake...
Trail Ridge Road - 10,950'
Beyond Milner Pass the road continues its climb towards treeline...
Trail Ridge Road - 11,350'
Treeline along Trail Ridge Road with the Medicine Bow Curve area in the distance...
Trail Ridge Road - 11,360'
I can't imagine how much snow there was here back in March!
Medicine Bow Curve - 11,800'
We stopped to take in the panorama at Medicine Bow Curve. This view looks down the Poudre River Valley with Specimen Mountain (12,489') to the right...
Medicine Bow Curve - 11,800'
Looking north up the Poudre River Valley from Medicine Bow Curve. The high peaks to the right are that of the Mummy Range...
Alpine Visitor Center - 11,796'
The Alpine Visitor Center at the top of Trail Ridge Road
Alpine Visitor Center - 11,796'
The snow-covered tundra surrounding the Alpine Visitors Center
Alpine Visitor Center - 11,796'
The view down to Chapin Creek from the visitors center was amazing...
Alpine Ridge Trailhead - 11,850'
I decided to make the quick hike up the Alpine Ridge Trail from the visitors center to see what I could see...
Alpine Ridge Trail - 11,880'
A group of Alpine Primrose growing alongside the trail...
Alpine Ridge Trail - 11,900'
With as busy as the trail was and is I can see how protecting the tundra would be a serious concern...
Alpine Ridge Trail - 11,930'
Looking down the Chapin Creek Valley from the Alpine Ridge Trail...
Alpine Ridge Trail - 11,950'
Wallflower...
Alpine Ridge Trail - 12,000'
Looking back down the cattle trail to the visitors center...
Alpine Ridge Trail - 12,005'
Despite all the company the views atop the ridge were amazing. The snow-covered high peaks of the park surrounded me...
Alpine Ridge Trail - 12,005'
Looking back south from the top of the Alpine Ridge Trail. Trail Ridge, which the road through the park follows is front and center...
Alpine Ridge Trail - 12,005'
The Alpine Ridge Trail drops off the north side of the ridge a ways for more views of the Poudre River Valley...
Alpine Ridge Trail - 12,005'
Like the sign says, 2.5 miles above sea level...wow!
Alpine Ridge Trail - 11,980'
Another look up the Poudre River Valley with the Mummy Range in the distance...
Alpine Visitor Center - 11,796'
As we were leaving the Alpine Visitors Center it was really looking like it may storm...
Trail Ridge Road - 11,900'
Looking across Forest Canyon at the park's central peaks...
Trail Ridge Road - 12,000'
Looking ahead along to the highest point on the Trail Ridge Road at 12,183'. There are precious few pull-offs along this stretch of road...
Trail Ridge Road - 12,000'
Elk grazing in the tundra below us...
Trail Ridge Road - 12,000'
A closer look at the Elk...
Trail Ridge Road - 12,100'
Passing Lava Cliffs as a particularly dark cloud passes overhead...
Trail Ridge Road - 12,080'
I believe this is a view of the southern Mummy Range with Mt. Chapin (12,454') in the center...
Trail Ridge Road - 11,800'
A typical scene along the Trail Ridge Road as it wanders through the alpine tundra...
Trail Ridge Road - 11,770'
Another elk lounging on the tundra along Trail ridge Road...
Trail Ridge Road - 11,770'
Looking across to the central peaks of the park from near the Tundra Trail...
Tundra Communities Trailhead - 12,120'
Another clogged parking lot at The Tundra Communities Trailhead...
Tundra Communities Trail - 12,120'
The Tundra Communities Trail winds for half a mile amongst the uniqiue biome that is the alpine tundra...
Tundra Communities Trail - 12,130'
From a distance the tundra looks quite smooth but up close you see that is not the case...
Tundra Communities Trail - 12,130'
Dwarf Clover...
Tundra Communities Trail - 12,140'
Wallflower...