Travelog from a recent trip to Rocky Mountain National Park with family and friends — big alpine views, wildlife around every bend, and wildfire scars from 2020 are being filled in with wildflowers and new tree growth forging the new landscape. Kicked things off with a stop at the Denver Art Museum before heading up into the park. Good times were had by all.
The Hamilton Building at the Denver Art Museum — that unmistakable angular architecture.“Rocky Pool, New Hampshire” by Albert Bierstadt (about 1860), part of the Denver Art Museum’s collection. Storm clouds building over the high peaks from one of the park’s overlooks.A rocky creek bed cutting down through the forest, peaks fading into the mist beyond.One of our wranglers leading the way on a backcountry horseback ride.Lisa taking in the view — the whole valley spread out below.Framed by pine boughs: high peaks under a big Colorado sky.Trail Ridge Road country — rolling alpine tundra above the treeline.More big sky over the high country.A curious little friend on the trail — a golden-mantled ground squirrel.A mountain stream tumbling over granite boulders.The same creek, wider view, choked with deadfall from past winters.Success! Daniel with a nice rainbow trout on the fly.Ghost forest — white and orange trunks left behind by wildfire, new growth filling in below.A mule deer buck, antlers still in velvet, keeping a close eye on us.Fireweed in full bloom, thriving in the wake of the burn.A bull moose ambling through the burn scar meadow.Standing dead timber marching off into the distance.Making our way through the burn zone on foot, storm clouds building overhead.More of the burn scar, high peaks rising beyond the standing dead timber.Lisa heading down the trail through the burn as the weather rolls in.A bull moose grazing through the tall grass.Wildflowers blooming right where the fire came through.Aspen trunks, that unmistakable eyes-in-the-bark pattern.A moose and her calf bedded down in the tall grass.A quiet lily-covered Cub lake, burn scar climbing the hillside beyond.Daniel taking a break in town.A cow moose wading through the lily pads on Cub lake.Ponderosa pines holding on among the boulders.A mountain chickadee perched on a lichen-covered rock.Cub Lake Trail, Moraine Park — evening storm light over the meadow.The whole gang. Fun was had by all.
