Rocky Mountain NP, July 12, 2010

Today was our first hiking foray of the trip into Rocky Mountain National Park. We had planned to do a longer hike in one particular area of the park. We drove down a dirt road to the trailhead, and checked the sketchy map at the kiosk. OK, we can do this--5.2 miles. Backpacks on, water bottles filled, some snacks in our bags. Off we go. But after about a half mile, we failed to see the cut-off we should have. We backtracked, looking for any trail sign to point us in the right direction. No luck. No signs. Not wanting to get lost in the wilderness, we went back to the car to consider our options. Neither one of us felt comfortable hiking unmarked trails. We then stopped in the nearest ranger station, and were told that they didn't have maps for that area, that very few people ever went there because the trails were poorly marked. She told us to just head uphill and that we'd come to Trail Ridge Road. Right. So our next decision was to try a trail that goes out to one of the many lakes in the park.

The first leg was 1.7 miles out, that took us to a pool where the stream rushes by. At this point, we decided to continue to Fern Lake, another 2.1 miles along. Feeling good, and enjoying the cool breezes, and heavily scented piney air, we said, "Sure, no problemo". we started up the trail then.....it started to ascend. Not just a little, but A LOT--1338 feet, to be exact. The trail from the pool--all 2.1 miles (4.2 miles round trip) of it was a steep incline covered with rocks and roots. Essentially, the trail ascends a hill (mountain) with switchbacks. Every time we'd round a corner, I'd take a peek up the next stretch, and mutter to myself "Oh S***!". On the return trip downhill, we were surprised when a large moose crossed the trail about 20 feet ahead of us. Completely unconcerned, it just lumbered by. All in all, it took 2 hours 40 minutes to go up, and about 2 hours to come back. The picture above was taken at the top of the trail at Fern Lake, just before our descent. Yay! We made it!

I'm wiped.

We made a delicious dinner of ham and 2 canned vegetables, then headed to the Visitor's Center for the nightly ranger talk. We usually find these informative and entertaining. For example when we were at Glacier last time, the local Blackfeet Indian tribe performed indian dancing in full dress. At Little Big Horn, we listened to one of the most moving interpretations of the history of the place I could possibly imagine. That guy was amazing. Then there is this night's speaker. Have you ever gone to a meeting where the speaker has a prepared PowerPoint presentaion, and proceeds to read it to you? And the PowerPoint presentation really bored you to tears? And the guy repeats the same point over and over ad-nauseam? And has a droning voice that makes you want to cut his vocal chords? And goes so far afield of his main point that you want to stand up and tell the guy to show his audience mercy? That was our nightly entertainment.

We left early.

With a hankering for ice cream, we stopped at Dairy Queen, but declined to wait in line for a half hour to 45 minutes. But we did stop in to Safeway where we bought a large container of ice cream and pigged out.

Since my eyes are red and burning (man, it's bright!), I'll sign off. My love to everyone.