They're Back!!!

 Before I get to WHO is back and where... let's frame the day.

Sue and I have officially made a deposit on a Tanzanian adventure in October. Our itinerary has us trekking Kilimanjaro for 8 days then switching gears to rest and recover while on a luxurious safari at 3 National Parks for the rest of the trip. 

2025 training has recommenced! This past weekend we killed two birds with one stone by re-upping National Park Annual Passes AND absorbing some Rocky Mountain energy.

Here is what I loved in the first minute of entering Rocky Mountain National Park:

The ranger who sold us the annual pass was gushing with enthusiasm and gratitude. She proclaimed that she has never seen a year where so many visitors were as eager to "throw money at us" as this year. That's right folks, the upside of uncertainty about our National Parks' welfare and that of the park rangers and their fellow workers is that the community (and by community, I mean park visitors, from near and far) is rallying to show support in whatever large or small way they can, and it is being FELT.

In the following minutes before we arrived at our trailhead, we glimpsed bighorn sheep, deer, mating hawks and a couple of wild turkeys. It was going to be a good day!

The trail of choice was Ypsilon Lake, high above the Alluvial Fan area. It was a 4.5-mile trek uphill, and the lake was the intended picnic destination. 

Near the bottom, 4 youngsters passed us. They had snowshoes tied on to their packs and munched on Cliff Bars. It is true that we laughed about how far they would have to climb to put to use the snowshoes - after all, the trail was dusty dry at this time. They were going to have the last laugh though!

The day was gorgeous, the birds sang, the squirrels and chipmunks scurried by. We crossed the cascade of water and kept climbing. At first the snow was patchy and not deep. With every 100' though, it got deeper, less firm and more like quicksand either side of an 8" wide packed trail. At just shy of 3.75 miles in and at an elevation of 10,200 feet (having climbed 2000') we called it. Better to live to fight another day!

It was meant to be. The universe was about to provide exciting times with wildlife!!

Check this out:

We (Sue!) named this superb find, a Rocky Mountain Forest Chicken. I believe it is also known as a sage grouse. Almost invisible in the woods if you don't catch the movement as it puffs up its neck. Without two super nice young men on the trail to point it out, we would have passed right by without seeing. (I wonder how many animals have quietly watched us go by?!)

As we moved to exit the park we found the bighorn sheep in plain sight high on the steep hill above us and for the first time, I got my elusive bighorn sheep pics!

Just 15' before we left RMNP, there were the first elk of the season. In velvet! Their beautiful nubby antlers catching the early evening light, their shaggy winter hair sloughing off. And they looked super relaxed. 

Further out of town, more elk.... A LOT more. They are migrating back into park right now. It's time for babies to be born and families to move into the high country for summer. 

If you are contemplating a visit to RMNP, go soon! Timed Entry reservations are required starting May 22nd. But right now, you can wing it, and I'll guarantee both stunning vistas and wildlife are the treat you didn't know you needed... until it's bestowed upon you.