Rocky Mountain National Park

Following the Trail Ridge Road along the Alpine (above tree line) in the Rocky Mountain National Park is amazing!  From Rainbow Curve to the Lava Cliffs; the curving road is over 2 miles above sea level.  The Tundra Community is extraordinary; how these creatures and flowers survive in this harsh environment is hard to comprehend.

American Pipit

Yellow-bellied Marmot

Alpine Forget-me-nots

White-tailed Ptarmigan 

White-tailed Ptarmigan

Lava Cliffs

Brown-capped Rosy-Finch

Light colored Coyote eyes Marmot

Alpine Buttercup

Clark's Nutcracker

We headed to the continental divide at Milner Pass - altitude 10,758 ft.  Stopping at Irene Lake picnic area where Clark's Nutcrackers and Gray Jays were ready to clean up the left overs.

Gray Jay

We camped at Timber Creek in an Elk Meadow - and there were plenty of elk.

Dusky Grouse near the campground

Moose were also enjoying the abundance of submerged vegetation nearby.  We also had two yearlings run right between the campers and tents - wondering who took over their favorite grazing area.

Weather turns quickly in the mountains from sunny and 70's to rain and hail at 40 degrees.  We had almost an inch of hail on the ground in 30 minutes of pounding on the roof of the RV.



Here's a sample of more flowers and birds in the park.

Skyrocket

Cordilleran Flycatcher

Ponderosa Pine pollen "cones"

Western Blue Flax

Fiddleneck

Colorado Columbine

Old Man's Whiskers

Redstone Cliffs

Our week at RMNP was ending but only the beginning of our Colorado adventure.

We headed southwest by the Lake Grandy Reservoir to the Kremmling Cliffs.  Then through the magnificent Glenwood Canyon and camped at the Redstone National Forest campground.  Many beautiful areas.

So much of God's creation to see.
Ty & Ida Baumann