Off to a Rocky Start ( In a Good Way!)

We left the sand crusted terrain of the Moab high desert area for the snow crusted mountains of Rocky Mountain National Park. The drive was pretty as it had snowed a few days earlier and we enjoyed a little snow shower on our way there.

The early substantial snow affected an earlier than normal winter closure of the Alpine Visitor Center, parts of Trail Ridge Road and the corresponding trails. We were still able to get a really great hike in (and honestly the higher altitude would have probably killed us ) but we would have loved to see the Visitor Center with the highest elevation of all the National Parks! We drove the parts of scenic Trail Ridge Road that was open - really pretty.

Rut the Heck

It is rut season for deer and elk and we found the local elk pick up lawn is out the back deck of our Quality Inn hotel. We enjoyed watching this bull elk chase off 4 other bull elk as he oversaw his harem of about 20 female elk. Was also fun to watch the 4 bull elk return and try to edge their way back in. Rusty nor I ever heard an Elk bugle before - it was really cool. We kept hoping to see/ hear this at one of the parks - not the Quality Inn!

Emerald Lake Trail

This 3.6 mile round trip trail starts at the Bear Lake Trailhead which sits at an elevation of 9475 feet and gains ~ 605 feet in elevation. We took a bit of a physical hit from the altitude but thankfully, did not suffer the "altitude sickness" 75% of people feel at 10,000 feet.

The trail travels through the Tyndall Gorge. Along the way there are stops for Nymph Lake, Dream Lake and ends at Lake Emerald. We found it was strenuous going up due to the elevation and a little treacherous coming down due to the inches of ice and packed snow on parts of the trail. The weather was ideal - crisp, sunny in the 50s. The sight of the snow and smell of the pines was incredible. The snow covered mountains made us want to bust out in a chorus of Edelweiss! The trail gave us fantastic views of Flattop Mountain, Hallet Peak, Glacier Gorge, and Tyndall Glacier.

Nymph Lake

Dream Lake

The hike to Dream Lake is the steepest section of trail and there was a cool little log bridge to cross a little stream. The lake was beautiful and mostly frozen. As we walked the edge I told Rusty to look for fish. The very moment he laughed at the suggestion because of the frozen water - we spotted a trout!

Emerald Lake

When we reached Emerald Lake we enjoyed climbing out on the rocks to the Lake's edge. We were joined by a blue jay and a chipmunk ! The Lake was pretty and the mountain views fantastic!