Dear friends and Family,

Our firsts stop in Colorado was Steamboat Springs just over the border from Wyoming. It is a thermal town with natural hot springs.  We visitedone in the hills called Strawberry Hot Springs.  The water out of the spring is 148 degrees F and each pool cools down the further you  go down the hill.It was one of the most natural and lovely hot springs we have even soaked in.  We spent a relaxing soak uner the trees and blue skies. Steamboat Lake State Park was our campground for two nights. It was a very cold but beautiful lake surrounded by mountains.  Our second day there, we drove the jeep on a dirt road through the lovely valleys and some beautiful ranches and homes. We also saw deer and elk and other wildlife around the lake. From Steamboat, we drove to Rocky Mountain National Park.  We entered the park at the southwestern entrance at Grand Lake.  Then we climbed higher and higher over the pass which was 11,796 feet high. We stopped at the Alpine Visitor Center to learn about the high tundra country, above the tree line. It was a slow and steep drive up to 12,183 feet at Gore Range with a sheer drop off on the road. We drove the Trail Ridge Road to our campground in Moraine Park.

At the campground we had specactular views of the mountains and the meadow where we first saw a group of Elk.  It is the beginning of the Rutting season for Elk which is when they choose mates for the winter. The males make a bugling sound and walk around with their massive antlers raised high to impress the females. The male Elk can weigh from 600-1,000 pounds. In many ways, Rocky Mountain National Park reminds us of Yosemite with the huge glacial carved mountains and lovely meadows.

Our first full day, we were up early and at Sprague Lake by 7:15 am to view any wildlife. We were rewarded as a huge bull moose entertained us by walking in the lake, munching on grasses and groaning as he walked. It was truly a show never to be forgotten.  Bear Lake was beautiful in the early morning.  We then spent the afternoon driving Old Fall River Road.  The road was one of the original roads built in the park but today it is dirt and one way.  We were very glad to be in the jeep as the road was very steep and windy with sheer drops. We stopped to view Chasm Falls and then were rewarded by a resting Elk by the side of the road. We just made it out of the dirt road as it hailed on us at the Alpine Visitor’s Center. Back in our campsite, we saw thunderstorms rolling through the mountains and one produced two vibrant rainbows.

Our last day in the park, we drove to Beaver Meodows Visitor Center to view an excellent video mostly of all the animals in the park we have not seen, like big horned sheep and bear. We spent a couple of hours in Este Park the Eastern entrance to the park.  It is a cute tourist town and even though it was Sunday, many of the shops were open. Again thunderstorms rolled into the campground with steak lightening.  But as quickly as the rain appears, it leaves and the sun and blue skies are out to enjoy. We are so glad to have returned to Rocky Mountain again.  The peace and quiet and beauty are not to be missed. Our last night we were treated to a herd of elk in the meadow below our campground so we all jumped in the jeep and raced down to be very close.  A very large male elk was gathering his females and shooing away any challenging males.  It was quite a show.

Someday, you will all have to add this beautiful place to your travel lists.  We leave for Leadville, CO next.  Watch for more posts as we continue to discover all that Colorado has to offer.  Here are some photos to entice you.

Cheers,

Susan and Jim