Notice the bear safe in the foreground!
After reaching the park late in the day, we set camp up quickly and fixed supper. Sadie and I walked the "C" loop where we were camped. The air was cool at the high elevation. After we ate, we stowed our cooler, stove, and food box in the bear safe and enjoyed the views that surrounded us.
Day 7 was an eventful one. We got up early (5 am again) since none of us have fully gotten used to sleeping in a tent when the sun comes up at 4:30 and our biological clocks are still on central time. I was up before everyone else and took some pictures of the surrounding mountains as the sun began to light them. By the time the coffee was made everyone was up. I fixed breakfast quickly, then we visited the park visitor center near Estes Park. The ranger that we spoke with was from Texas, now living in Boulder, and she gave me some advice on summer internships and jobs with the National Park Service - something definitely to look into. She also gave us some advice on hikes that we could do on our short visit here.
Rocky Mountain coffee!
Panorama
Early morning visitor.
As mentioned, the visitor center is near Estes Park, and since we are low on supplies we went to Safeway, which was near the Stanley Hotel. A tour of the historic inn would have to wait, however, as we decided to head into the park again and hike to Sprague Lake. One of the trailheads was in our campground, so we drove to group camping and lit out through some beautifully forested walkways to the alpine lake.
Last year when in Yellowstone, Sadie kept referring to the rocky shoreline of Yellowstone Lake as a "beach," and Sprague Lake was no different. It took us a while to circle the lake because Sadie kept wanting to wade in its cool waters. The mountains which rose above the lake were the stuff of dreams. There were many people here, however, since one side of the lake was near a major road, but the area was large enough that no one got in each other's way.
Say "Family Christmas Card!"
The Continental Divide from Sprague Lake
Storm coming across the mountains while on Trail Ridge Road
Snow!
Another vista!
This little marmot was a camera hound!
While fixing supper in the evening we were visited by two elk who wandered through camp as if we were not there. Stephanie ran for her camera, careful to keep the car in between her and the wildlife. After eating, Sadie played with her horses in the dirt, making up stories that went on for hours. This was her favorite pastime when in camp!
Oh, the imagination of a child!
We read a bit more of "Little House," and Sadie turned in. Stephanie and I sat outside the tent and enjoyed the views, wishing we could have gotten another night, but the weekends were full and therefore, bookended our trip.
Day 8 was an early one again, but we had bought supplies to make breakfast in camp, so we fixed Canadian bacon and southwestern eggs with coffee and made plans for the day. We knew we wanted to hike another trail, and Alberta Falls was by all accounts an easy one that didn't take much time but had good views. The trailhead was between our campground and Bear Lake, a very congested area, and the park provided park-and-ride services, but we thought that being early we could find a parking spot; we were wrong. All lots were full, so we returned to Glacier Basin to catch the bus. We were among the first there, but by the time the bus came, there was quite the line. It didn't take long to get to the trailhead, and us three offloaded with many others. The trail was not a bad one, and at the falls Sadie and I climbed the rocks to near the top. Stephanie stayed a bit lower with her camera.
Visitors to camp.
The beauty of the mountains
At Alberta Falls!
Once back down we caught the park-and-ride again, and the line at the bus stop where we got off was amazing. Back in camp we broke down the tent and packed the car for the trip home. The couple at the site next to us were breaking down as well, and we visited with them for a short time. They come back each year or try to. We had lunch and hit the road by noon, none too anxious to leave this beautiful place! I know I mentioned more than once my desire to get back here again, perhaps before the end of summer.
We took Hwy 7 by the perimeter of the park and went through Nederland (I had to ask directions there) and Central City, bypassed Denver and headed south the Pueblo where we had our reservations for the night. We were all tired, but the decision was made to go all the way home the next day.
Up early with breakfast in the hotel, and on the road again! The high point of our trip was Capulin Volcano National Monument, and we hiked into the vent, and then around the rim of the crater. It was a tough walk, and we spent a little over an hour on our hikes. Sadie got another ranger badge and got to wear the rangers "flat hat" as she took the oath. Stephanie had stayed in the car to make sandwiches, and I had left my phone so much to my regret we didn't get a picture.
From the crater rim at Capulin.
The drive south from there into Texas was boring, and the south wind was strong and caused our gas mileage to drop tremendously. Supper was a Taco Bell in Childress, the first fast-food we had on our trip since the first day at a McDonald's in Hillsboro. Traffic was detoured in Ft. Worth, and it prevented us from getting home when we thought we would. It was 12:30 before we got in the drive.
This was a great trip, but given it to do over again, I would like to have stayed a few more days in the Rocky Mountains. There seem to be many great trails, and I have found a new favorite destination! Our Annual Pass has definitely been worth it this year, with sixteen national parks, monuments, and sites visited this year. We will definately be going back to the west!
All of Sadie's Junior Ranger badges except Capulin, which she got on the last day.
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