RMP...Part 2

This day we entered the park from the east side through Estes Park.  You know, the town crawling with tourists!!!

But first, let's start at the beginning of the day.  We left our abode traveling through the refuge on county road 31 (Allard Road) at 6:45am.  Our trip started out with three groups of Greater Sage-Grouse, a total of 19.

We are off to a wonderful day.  This county road connects to highway 14 that goes through Poudre Canyon, an earlier blog.  This is where one of the fires burned, closing the road for a while.  One photo I left out last time, and some of the fire below.

To enter Rocky Mountain NP from the east meant going through Fort Collins, but that was what we wanted to do anyway since we were switching from ATT to Verizon for our internet needs.  My goodness, what a difference this has made.  I can now blog from our rig!!!  We had lunch at the Black-eyed Pea where we purchased two bottles of their famous Fort Collins honey...the best honey we have ever eaten.

We entered the park at the Fall River Entrance Station where we were soon in West Horseshoe Park.

This is a good area where you are likely to see Bighorn Sheep grazing, but not while we were there.


There are many pull offs for photos...

Estes Park can be seen from this area...wayyyy over there.

In this shot you can see the road below in the bottom left corner.

Another one of my favorite shots.

This big 6 by6 bull Elk grazing in the tundra.  It won't be long until one can hear the bugling.  This we will experience in September when we return to Wichita Mountains NWR.

I found this American Pika at one of the spots, and learned they do not hibernate.  Always a neat find.


The highest point on the road is 12,183'.  We went from treeline to tundra.


We are thinking of making yet another trip back.


Until next time...