Four Wheelin' on Pole Hill 8-6-22

 

Saturday Gordon took us 4 Wheeling . We went to Pole Hill which is on the top of the first hill before dropping into Estes Park. It is opposite the entrance to Hermit Park which my friend Ken helped transfer from its corporate owner to Larimer County.

We went with my niece Katelyn, her friend Morgan and Dave 'Muns' Monroe and his friend Joy. Katelyn and Morgan just moved to Englewood from Florida. Dave and Gordon were the scoring leaders on the Kirkwood Pioneer Hockey team back in the day. Here we are except for Morgan. that’s Dave’s new jeep in the background.

 

 

Before starting we 'pressured down' by letting the air out of the tires from 40 to 22. This allows for smoother ride and better grip of the tires on the rocks.

Pole Hill is a series of roads on National Forest land. Some are easy and some less so. Images never do justice to 4 WD roads.

There were several really nice areas along the way.

Gordon is justly proud of his 1989 Range Rover.

I would love to be here in 6 weeks when the dwarf aspen have turned.This was Katelyn and Morgan’s introduction to Estes Park - they never got downtown for salt water taffy or fresh fudge. They road with Dave and Joy.

 

The roads wound all around several ridges and although we were never lost we were absolutely not found either. Somehow we wound our way back to the entrance. Here is Katelyn's rare shot of Lake Estes and EP on the way back. We were glad to have the sun to help guide us.

 

A Hike on the Top of the World III 8-5-22

Ken and Jackie on the tundra - there is  silence here except for the constant hum of the wind. It is a place of inestimable peace.

And right on the top was this alpine sunflower.

Here is our spectacular view of the peneplain and Mount ida and Mount Julian. Just being here is  an indescribable blessing. 

To bring me down to earth my iPhone camera lost its charge and died. Its what we all have to look forward to. On the way down the trail Jackie identified the alpine flowers. Here is her image of one of her favorites: Pygmy bitterroot (Least lewisia). Its a beauty.

As I slowly descended the trail to Milner  Pass I was amazed at how easily Jackie had come up the very steep parts to join us.

It was another 'hike of a lifetime'.

Hiking on the Top of the World II 8-5-22

Much to our wonder Jackie arrives after ascending the steep trail from below to join us. We leave the trail to go up the ridge to the tundra. My legs do amazingly well but at this elevation I am out of breath when going up even several steps. I go slow and they are patient.

There are many alpine flowers which Jackie identifies with ease. This is moss phlox (Phlox hoodii). 

In almost no time we are on the tundra sometimes walking on elk trails.

There is moss campion (Silene acaulis) which is my favorite arctic tundra flower.

On the tundra peneplain  'dreams are real'.  It is level enough for easy breathing.

Hiking on the Top of the World I 8-5-22

Ken and his wife Jackie took me to the top of the world. We started early at Rocky Mountain National Parks Alpine Center at 11,796'.  Jackie dropped Ken and me off and then drove down the other side to Milner Pass which is the Continental Divide.

As Ken and I headed downhill on the trail Jackie was to climb up and meet us from below. Jackie is training for climbing the Grand Teton in Wyoming in several weeks but took the day off to hike with us. Trail Ridge Road is to  the left and our trail. This is all on the tundra.

As we descended I noticed a marmot to our right. There were two at our feet and they were amazingly tame.

The trail is in great shape. We are descending to timberline.

Several miles down the trail were several tarns - heaven on earth.

Afternoon Jaunt to Endovalley II 8-4-22

After lunch we took a short walk along the trail.
 

There were trees down over the trail.

and a nice little waterfall.

We ended up at the Rock Inn for a good trout dinner. Because Jan called we got a great outside table.

 

Afternoon Jaunt to Endovalley I 8-4-22

 We went to Endovalley which is at the start of the Fall River Road. It was cool and restful. This is the wonderful color of the Fall River.

Beaver Meadows Visitor Center II 8-4-22

And the building:

 

 

It has some real similarities to our neighbor the Kraus House.

Beaver Meadows Visitor Center I 8-4-22

 The Beaver Meadows Visitor Center at RMNPwas designed by a Frank Lloyd Wright apprentice.

Some Flowers 8-3-22

Here are some wildflowers from Rocky Mountain National Park -very different from the Heartland. This is Wood's Rose which is also called mountain rose, Mojave rose and Western wild rose.

This is Sego Lily (Calochortus nuttallii).

The ubiquitous fireweed (Chamaenerion augustifolium), shown here at Bear Lake, is known in North America  for its rapid appearance after a fire. In the United Kingdom it is known as bombweed, since it showed up rapidly on city bomb sites during the blitz of World War II.

And here is my long time favorite : Prickly poppy (Argemone polyanthemos). Those who drive the Bear Lake Road will recognize this gorgeous wildflower which grows in several spots on the right side of the road arising in bunches from the gravel. It has been a particularly difficult flower to photograph. Here is an image from photographer Chris Sessions.

You might enjoy some other images on his site: chrissessionsphotography@gmail.com

A Stroll on the Lawn Lake Trail 8-2-22

 Ken and I started early to the Cow Creek Trail. When we got there the one car ahead took the last parking place sowe switched gears and went into the Park to the Lawn Lake Trail. This trail parallels the Roaring River which famously flooded all the way into Estes Park in 1982 when the dam at Lawn Lake failed. It thus formed the Alluvial Fan.

The trail is immediately steep from the trailhead and then levels off for a long distance.

Here is the gradual part of the trail looking down at the Roaring River which is the major tributary of the Fall River.

The trail to Lawn Lake is six miles long  and we were essentially out for a stroll so we did not go too far. You can see how green everything is.

Thoughts of Covid were past.

There were multiple hairbells.

and a beautiful Bolete.

The trail was inviting but I am just rounding back into shape so I made the trip a treat instead of a treatment as we turned around early.

Here is the Roaring River with its classic coloring just above a bridge on the trail to Ypsilon Lake.

I love being on the trail.