I was up at 5:50 to get ready for my 6:30 guided drive looking for wildlife. If nothing else, I figured we would get some great sunrise scenes. Unfortunately, the day broke very cloudy - it had rained much of the late afternoon and evening on Tuesday. But, it wasn't raining, yet, so I was hopeful we would see some wildlife. There were only 2 other guests on the trip (another overslept) plus another employee learning about the trip so she could guide it in the future.
I was not to be disappointed. Just after turning onto Highway 7 (the Peak to Peak Highway), we saw a coyote, who ran off when he saw our van. Then, a couple miles up the road (we were heading to the Rocky Mountain National Park), we saw a huge herd of Elk off to the left. We quickly turned around and pulled off the road to get a better view. There was one large bull elk and several male yearlings. Plus, a large number of females and one small, very young calf. (Yes, I know, where are the photos? Well, they will just have to wait until I get back - it takes long enough to write this stuff up and copy the photos to the computer and we're having too much fun to spend all my time on the computer. But, yes, I will post them and will let everyone know when they are here.)
We spent a long time there taking photos and admiring the Elk. But, then it was time to continue our journey, with everyone wondering if we could possibly top seeing this beautiful herd so close up. We continued north, entering the park at the Beavers Meadow entrance. We did a nice scenic drive around the eastern area of the park, managing to see a mule deer female and her two fawns and a wild turkey. The most interesting place we visited was the alluvial fan caused by the Lawn Lake Dam failure on July 15, 1982. (Wikpedia had a good article on this topic.) I made a mental note to return with Ali and Rebecca.
The trip back to the ranch was uneventful except the grey clouds turned to rain clouds. Uh, oh, not likely any of us will fill like riding. Maybe today is the day we take the drive town Trail Ridge Road, in the Park. I'll talk to Ali and Rebecca when I get back.
Ali and Rebecca were just finishing up breakfast when I got back so I joined them and we decided to take the day off from riding and instead drive along Trail Ridge Road at least to the Tundra Region. Would we luck out and also see the Bighorn Sheep Rebecca so wanted to see?
Next Up - Little Bo Peep in Search of Her Sheep
I was not to be disappointed. Just after turning onto Highway 7 (the Peak to Peak Highway), we saw a coyote, who ran off when he saw our van. Then, a couple miles up the road (we were heading to the Rocky Mountain National Park), we saw a huge herd of Elk off to the left. We quickly turned around and pulled off the road to get a better view. There was one large bull elk and several male yearlings. Plus, a large number of females and one small, very young calf. (Yes, I know, where are the photos? Well, they will just have to wait until I get back - it takes long enough to write this stuff up and copy the photos to the computer and we're having too much fun to spend all my time on the computer. But, yes, I will post them and will let everyone know when they are here.)
We spent a long time there taking photos and admiring the Elk. But, then it was time to continue our journey, with everyone wondering if we could possibly top seeing this beautiful herd so close up. We continued north, entering the park at the Beavers Meadow entrance. We did a nice scenic drive around the eastern area of the park, managing to see a mule deer female and her two fawns and a wild turkey. The most interesting place we visited was the alluvial fan caused by the Lawn Lake Dam failure on July 15, 1982. (Wikpedia had a good article on this topic.) I made a mental note to return with Ali and Rebecca.
The trip back to the ranch was uneventful except the grey clouds turned to rain clouds. Uh, oh, not likely any of us will fill like riding. Maybe today is the day we take the drive town Trail Ridge Road, in the Park. I'll talk to Ali and Rebecca when I get back.
Ali and Rebecca were just finishing up breakfast when I got back so I joined them and we decided to take the day off from riding and instead drive along Trail Ridge Road at least to the Tundra Region. Would we luck out and also see the Bighorn Sheep Rebecca so wanted to see?
Next Up - Little Bo Peep in Search of Her Sheep
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