Day 12 – Glenwood Springs

Day 12 – 5/24/2021 – Glenwood Springs

This morning we head to Glenwood Springs and we wake to cloudless, crystal clear skies.  Yesterday when we drove the Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, it was cloudy and ran into a snow squall near Rainbow Curve Overlook.  This morning we will try the road again and as we drive on RT-34, and even before we are in the Park, we have a great view of the mountains. 

Now in the Park, we still have great views; fields, mountains, snow, we have it all. 

Making a quick stop at an turnoff, while looking at the snow covered mountains, I see this bird perched on a sign.  Now I’ve search to find out what this bird is, but have so far failed to find a reference to it.  It could be a Lark, Sparrow, Finch, or even a Warbler. 

Not too long after leaving the bird, we see a couple more elk.  They were too busy eating to look up.

As we make our way back up the road we drove on yesterday, I am able to get clear sky pictures of the same mountains that were cloud covered.  I find the snow covered mountains fascinating. 

Back at the road where the snow bank is located, Carmen gets another picture of the snow as this truck drives by for size perspective.  The bank must be at least 4-5 feet high and it will probably take several more weeks before it clears.  I can understand now why the road through the Park to Grand Lake is not open, especially since it is not cleared.

At Rainbow Curve Overlook, we have a fantastic view of Fall River leading into Estes Park and the Park road leading up to here.  The river is visible by the reflection of the sun. 

Looking in the other direction and along the mountains, we can see Sundance Mountain on the left and Chaplin Mountain in the center.  Chaplin Mountain at 12,500 ft and Sundance at 12,260 ft and the 14,000 ft mountains in the park are impressive to look at. 

Before we leave Rainbow Curve Overlook, I see where water has been running over the rocks by the road.  Icicles have formed and as cold and early in the morning as it currently is, the icicles remain. 

Back down in the valley before leaving we get yet another fantastic picture of the fields and mountains.  Did I say that I could not get enough of this view?  We could stay here all day, but we must be on our way. 

Because the Trail Ridge Road is not opened through the Park, that means we have to backtrack and go around through Boulder to get the Glenwood Springs, which will take more time.  Well, we have enough time to stop for more elk pictures.  There is always time for elk pictures. 

Back on route 36 and somewhere near Boulder, we see this house in the middle of a burned out area.  Either the owner was lucky or did some major preparation and planned for a fire.

Before or after Golden, Colorado, not really sure which, we pass a couple of Monster trucks.  This one Named King Kong had a giant skeleton standing next to it.

The other one Godzilla, has a tail and fins along the back or top.  Check out the frame work under the truck.  Not sure which came first the trucks or the movie, Godzilla vs. King Kong.

Even around Golden Colorado, the mountains are impressive.  We are near Lookout mountain, having seen the signs, which is where Buffalo Bill’s grave is located.  We have been there, but not on this trip.

Passing through Apple Meadows and still on route 93, we pass several stegosaurus dinosaur sculptures on a hill by the road.  

We have not traveled far from the dinosaur sculptures, we see this white stone cliff.  Again, we are amazed as we see the hills and mountains along the roadways. 

Not sure what is going on here, but at first I thought there were a number of people taking pictures of birds or an animal, but after reviewing the picture it appears that they are surveyors.  Probably learning how to use and practicing using laser survey equipment.  You can just make out a person to the right who seems to be carrying a measuring pole. 

Now on I-70 and as we head west we are at the Veteran’s Memorial, just before reaching Idaho Springs.  It is a short tunnel, only 765 feet long, and we are through quickly. 

Once again, we are seeing mining buildings along the I-70 route we are driving.  This is a big building and not sure why the building is so large.  I’m not really sure if these are indeed mining building.

These buildings are definitely buildings used for the mining process.  You can even see some of the tailings or waste rock generated by the extracted stone when looking to get to whatever ore the mine was digging.

Traveling through more mountains along this section of the road, we can see why there are so many ski resorts along I-70. 

Speaking of ski resorts, we travel through Eisenhower Tunnel, and just over it is Loveland Ski Area.  Some of the ski trails run over the tunnel as does a chair lift. 

Not long after passing through the Eisenhower Tunnel, we come to a scenic turnoff overlooking Dillon Reservoir.  From here, we can see Swan Mountain and I think Keystone and Independence Mountains in the distance. 

Continuing past other ski resorts like Copper Mountain, Vail and Beaver Creek, we pass through a couple more tunnels, this one, Hanging Lake tunnel one of them. 

As we travel through Glenwood Canyon, we begin to see some steep mountain faces.

The canyon has nice rock formations.  The rock weathered both horizontally and vertically and with names like French creek, dead horse creek, blue gulch, deadman’s gulch, grizzly creek, and grindstone creek it is easy to see the ruggedness before getting to Glenwood Springs. 

I am not sure, but I think this is the Shoshone Hydroelectric Facility.  You can see where the water funnels down, from where I do not know, into the generators. 

One last tunnel before we get into Glenwood Springs where we are staying for the night.  Glenwood Springs is where Doc Holliday retired to because of his tuberculosis, which was the thing back in the 1880’s, move to Colorado for tuberculosis.  He died in 1887 at the age of 36 and buried here in Glenwood Springs. 

Tomorrow we head to Moab where we will spend several nights while we visit several Parks. 

Day 11 – Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park

Day 11 – 5/23/2021 – Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park

Today we leave Colorado Springs for Estes Park.  We’ll be traveling along I-25, US-36, and then finally CO-7 to Estes Park.  It is very cloudy as we leave the hotel this morning, but the closer we get to Denver it is beginning to clear. 

We have good view of what I think is downtown Denver with all of the high-rises.  Notice that the skies over Denver are clear, not so much over the mountains.

Buildings and other roadside obstructions obscure our view after passing the Mile-High stadium, but we are able to get a picture before that happened.

After passing Denver, the weather begins to clear over the mountains and we can begin to see blue skies.  Notice the lone building on the hill before the mountain, quite small in comparison. 

While still three miles from Boulder, we pull over, stopping at a viewing area, and have a full open view of the city.  Where we stop is a rest area along an 18-mile bike path between Boulder and Denver; many bikers pass by while we are here to take a picture. 

Once we reach Lyons on US-36, we get on CO-7 for the scenic road to Estes Park.  US-36 is also a scenic road, but if the Ridge Road is closed to through traffic in Rocky Mountain National Park, we will need to come back this way.  We have just past Allenspark and find Saint Catherine’s Chapel on the Rock along the side of the road.  It looks like a quaint stone chapel, but do not have time to stop and explore.

Shortly after passing St. Catherine's Chapel, we get a clear view of Longs Peak, and at 14,259 feet, it is an impressive mountain within the Rocky Mountain National Park.  You can see how much snow there is still on the mountain.  It is not looking good for our through drive on the Ridge Road.

Near the Twin Sister’s Peak, at a pull-off, occupied with this old car, looks good with the mountain as a backdrop. 

We are about 5 miles from Estes Park and pass one of recreation areas in the Park.  Here Lily Lake offers a picnic area, hiking trails, and catch and release only fishing. 

Now that we are in Estes Park, we decide that we are very early to check into our hotel and decide now is a good idea to have lunch.  We decide to eat at a diner called “You Need Pie” and after sandwiches, we do indeed have pie; strawberry-rhubarb pie to be exact.  Everything was good and the old time Route-66 décor, enjoyable; if you are in Estes Park we recommend you try the Diner.

As we are driving west along route-36 to the entrance to Rocky Mountain National park, we drive by a store that sells bears, carved by chain saw.  Carmen wants one, but we have no room in the car to bring one home.

We were in a line of about 25 cars, three lines exactly. And after passing through the entrance, we happen to see these elk at the edge of the trees.  We just had to stop and fortunately, for us, there was pull-off so we were not blocking the road.  I think these are doe, but not sure.

Having seen the previous elk, we are on the lookout for more animals.  We have gone no more then a half mile when we see a bunch of cars parked along the road and sure enough, more elk.  Unable to help myself, I had to stop to get pictures. 

These are definitely buck elk having antlers beginning to emerge.  This one has the largest spread of antlers and seemed to have the presence as the dominant male as he chased others away if they were to close.

Driving by the Fall River Road, which is route-34, we continue along Trail Ridge Road until we get to Many Parks Curve.  I see this tree growing out of a group of rocks, meadow below and the mountains in the background.  This would be a nice place to just sit and look at the surroundings.

Moving around the rocks to a different view, I can see the full meadow below. 

I am interrupted from my musings when this squirrel shows up.  Having struck a pose, I have to get a picture.  The animals have been accommodating on this trip, posing for me as they have.

Before continuing on to the next viewpoint, I get a picture of the valley below us.  We seem to have increased our elevation fast and now look to the distant rivers and meadows.

Nearing Rainbow Curve Overlook, we find ourselves in a snow squall.  Carmen tried to get a picture of the snow and the size of the snow bank at the same time.  You can imagine the height of the snow bank by the size of the cars next to them.

Not staying very long at the overlook, because you could not see very much with the snow flying, we started down early.  On the way down, unable to believe the amount of snow on May 23, Carmen got another picture of the snow banks.

Retracing our route back to the park entrance, we see more elk in the distance.  Stopping at the next small turn-off, I made my way back to get a picture and find out that they are deer.  Two deer, not elk, were eating around a bush.

Approaching the park exit, we see three female elk lying in the grass.  Now that it is getting dusk I wonder if they are beginning to bed down for the night.

After having left the park entrance gate, we see, what appears to be the buck we saw earlier, the buck elk again.  They also seem to be bedding down for the night.

One of the male elk, up close and personal, and no I did not get too close to get the picture, just some cropping.

On the way to our hotel, I had to make a quick stop at the Stanley Hotel.  The Stanley Hotel built by F. O. Stanley in 1909.  F. O. Stanly made his fortune in photographic plates and co-founder with his brother of the Stanly Motor Carriage Co, which built steam-powered automobiles.  Also, the Stanley Hotel also hosted the horror novelist Stephen King, serving as inspiration for the Overlook Hotel in his 1977 bestseller The Shining and the 1980 film adaptation.

Tomorrow we head to Glenwood Springs, our stopover on our way to Moab the following day.

Day 9 – Colorado Sand Dunes and Broadmoor Seven Falls

 Day 9 – 5/21/2021 – Colorado Sand Dunes and Broadmoor Seven Falls

We stayed at the Quality Inn last night in Canon City.  This morning I noticed that several of the room doors had names on them like Goldie Hawn, Sam Elliot, Glen Ford, and my favorite John Wayne.  Apparently, these stars stayed in these rooms when they were here, apparently while making a movie. 

Anyway, we leave Canon City heading east on route 50 for I-25.  On our way, we happened to see a number of pronghorn antelope.  These are females and there were about five in the bunch.

Right behind the group of female antelope was another female and a male.  Both standing broadside with heads up so we could get a good picture. 

Shortly after I took the last picture, all of the Pronghorn ran through a break in the barbed wire and running away with the mountain in the background.  I thought it was a great frame so I took the picture. 

As we are heading south on I-25, we can see windmills and the snowcapped Spanish Peaks.  We know they are the Spanish Peaks because the sculpture further on the right that looks like a dinosaur, behind the gusty winds sign, has it printed on the side. 

After heading south on I-25, we turned west on US-160.  We still have some fantastic views of the snow capped mountains and the sagebrush fields. 

Well, I think Carmen and I have found our Colorado fixer-upper.  It has the sage field, hills in the back yard, and it is already fenced in.  All it needs is a little work.  LOL!!  Maybe park a camper on a pad. 

Not long after turning north on, route-150, Carmen happens to see these Pronghorn antelope on the hillside.  It is always good to see wild animals while we are on a trip.  Having them close enough so we can get a picture is even better.

We see sand dunes in the distance and even at a couple of miles away; we can tell that the dunes are high, but not nearly as high as the snow-capped mountains behind them.

Having reached the Great Sand Dunes we have parked.  Carmen has decided not to hike out to the dunes since we have to cross Mendano Creek, then a half-mile hike, just to get to the dunes.  The creek was about 9-inches at the deepest, but about 150-feet across.  That is High Dune, just to the left of center and is 700 feet high from the base.  Look at all of the people that come to the dunes, pitch a tent, easy-up, or beach umbrella. 

I get about half way to the dunes.  The sand is very fine and soft.  I get a picture of the dunes with people on it and looking for those that brought snow/sand board to ski down a dune.  

Check out the path leading up the side of the dune.  Many people follow the same route to the top.  I wonder if walking in other peoples footsteps in the sand makes it easier to climb the dune.

Standing in the sand with a full view of the dunes, I decided to get a panoramic picture of he dunes.

Since Carmen is not with me and I do not want to leave her in the car for hours while I hike to the top of High Dune, I turn around and head beck.  While I was still in Mendano Creek, I see where the dunes and the mountains come together.  I thought the snow-capped mountains and the dry sand dunes are in stark contrast with each other.

Before leaving Colorado Great Sand Dunes National Park, I get a picture with Carmen with the Dunes in the background.  If you ever get a chance and have a half or even a full day, this would be a great stop.

After leaving the Sand Dunes National Park, we are retracing our steps back to I-25.  Back on I-25 we head north to Colorado Springs, we are soon making our way to the Broadmoor Seven Falls.  This is a series of seven falls and the 181-foot drop of water.  This is the bottom portion of the falls, named Hills Falls and is a fan waterfall that sprays outwards as it descends.

The staircase that follows the rock wall on the left side of the falls has 224 steps leading up to the top of the falls.  Halfway up, I get a picture of one of the other falls in the series of seven.  I think this is Bridal Veil Falls, which is a horsetail waterfall that sprays outwards as it descends from the rock wall. 

After climbing to the top and seeing each of the falls in the series, we head back down.  The climb was not as bad as I thought and we are back at Hill Falls.  I get a picture with Carmen in front of the falls and she gives a good idea of the height of this section of the waterfall. 

Next to the waterfall, there is an elevator up through the mountain to a platform overlooking the falls and valley.  Carmen is ready to enter the tunnel to the elevator and if I wait any longer I’ll be left behind.

On the platform at the top of the elevator, because I did not want to climb the stairs, we have a fantastic view of the falls.  From here, you can see each of the seven drops; Ramona Falls, Feather Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Shorty Falls, Hull Falls, Weimer Falls, and at the bottom Hill Falls.

Besides the falls, you can zip-line or rock climb if you so choose.  From this platform, it is just a little way to either of those activities.  I think I’ll just take another picture of Carmen and the waterfall in the background before we head back down the elevator and back to the car.

On the way to the car, we hear someone above up whooping and hollering as the cross from one side of the canyon to the other.  Not able to get a picture of the person on the zip-line, Carmen settled for the daffodils and tulips. 

Back in the car, we checked into the hotel, got something to eat and settled in for the night.  Tomorrow we stay in Colorado Springs and will visit the Garden of the Gods, Manitou Cliff Dwellings, and the Wild West Ghost Town Museum.