Rocky Mountain High: Part 2 - the East side

We spent the last 2 nights at an inn right by the West entrance of Rocky Mountain National park (the Gateway Inn, on Grand Lake, I recommend it if you are in the area).  That’s - by far - the less visited part of the park, because the East side entrance is so close to Denver.  So yesterday, we had mostly explored that side (although, once we got past Estes pass and took the high, unpaved road, we were technically on the West side.  But today, we planned to get up early (that's a picture of the meadow in the morning light), try to see more moose on the West side (where they are more likely to be), and then go back to the top of Estes pass, and from there, down to explore the other side.

We did not do well moose-wise.  But we got stuck in an elk traffic jam.  I guess it was rush hour....  A big herd decided to cross the road, and again, we were able to see how the herd functions:

 One large male, many large females, a bunch of youngsters and babies...  It was worth getting stuck in traffic for....  (throughout the meadow, we kept hearing the calls of male elk, ready for action....).

Besides, we had some time to kill:  it got cold last night: after we went over the pass (remember the hail from yesterday?), they actually closed it because it was too icy.  It’s good we were out by then, because it’s a long way around.....

So this morning, we were worried about being able to go there, or having to drive 3 1/2 hours around to get to the East entrance.  But, by the time the elk traffic jam was over, the road had just reopen and we managed to make it through.  As we got to the top, we understood what the issue was:  it was still VERY cold up there (that’s -2.2C for my European friends), and it had indeed snowed and iced up last night.....  I guess they mean it when they post - just about everywhere in the park- that the weather can change very quickly and to be careful.

So we made it to the Bear Lake area.  We were very surprised by how crowded it was, given this is off season.  But Joe had to drop me off, so that I could go on a hike in that area.  He just could not park at the trail head.  The bottom part of the trail was almost too crowded but, as is often the case, the more you go up, the fewer people there are.  I "only " went up 745 feet, but that’s starting at 9450....  to Lake Haiyaha.  The trail is mostly very good, and easy, if uphill.

Until you get to this.... trail???  It was just crazy and I was glad that a few hardier hikers had made it up, because I was honestly worried about twisting an ankle or worse.  But I did not, and it was beautiful. It was also VERY windy.  And still cold.  I had 2 windbreakers and 2 fleeces with me and wore all of them in different combinations.  I also took gloves this time (but not a hat, which I could have used....  I’m a slow learner).

Haiyaha Lake is part of a whole string of glacial lakes in this area, all beautiful. 

 From on high, I could see several of them.

 I stopped by Dream Llake on the way down,

met this grouse just hanging around (I'm pretty sure it's a grouse....), and then met Joe.

 In the mean time, since he had been unable to park, he had gone to another area, where he took pretty pictures of mountains and streams,

where brook trout where swimming.  

We walked around Bear lake:  a 1/2 mile loop that is handicapped accessible, and provides many areas to sit and admire the area.  We had a picnic on one of the many benches.  One reason this area is crowded is that it is accessible, and also has many easier trails that go to beautiful lakes and vistas.

That’s great.  And I’m really happy so many people enjoy the outdoors and the national park.....  but I was happy to get above it all on the higher trail (it must be unpleasantly crowded in the high season).  

In the afternoon, we drove into the beautiful Moraine Meadow, where fishermen were catching (or, rather, trying and failing, to catch) some trout.

The colors are really amazing. A herd of elk was grazing nearby, making the entire scene almost too picturesque.  I loved it!

 We went out of the park through the East entrance and are spending the night in the little town of Estes Park.  Our hotel is just a few hundred yards from Estes Lake, and the path that circles it. Since we were early, I took a stroll around it.  What a pretty place!

It even has a great view of Long’s Peak - the highest peak in Colorado (if we had more time, I would have tried to go up....).

Tomorrow, we continue our trip north, toward Grand Teton and Yellowstone Nation Parks!
As often, I'll end with a few wild flowers....