Icy trees driving up Trail Ridge Road. There was a dusting of snow our first morning. Here in the park as you gained elevation the trees were covered with ice and thick fog covered the valley.
Ice turned to snow covered trees higher on Trail Ridge Road
Higher on Trail Ridge Road as you approached the ridge crest, we broke out of the clouds and it actually warmed up with no trace of overnight snow on top.
Elk grazing above the timberline near Trail Ridge Road
Above the timberline on Trail Ridge Road we could still see the low clouds toward Estes Park. This road crosses the continental divide and reaches more than 12,000 feet.
The road winds for several miles above the tree line. Notice the mountains have unmelted snowfields. There are still a few small glaciers in RMNP.
Long's Peak Rocky Mountain National Park from the Visitor's Center
We took a short hike up to Nymph Lake in RMNP. It is a very popular hike on a Saturday so we had to take a shuttle bus from an intermediate parking lot to the trailhead. High temps this day were in the high 50's.
Nymph Lake
After our hike we ate a picnic lunch at Sprague Lake, just a mile or two from where we parked. The snow field on the peaks in the background is actually a small glacier.
Sprague Lake has a trail around it. Nymph Lake is up toward the peaks in the background.
Sprague Lake
Walking around Lilly Lake, Roosevelt National Forest. This was a scenic day use area near Estes Park.
This was the notice at the start of our hike to Mitchell Lake in thew wilderness area.
Mitchell Lake in the Indian Peaks Wilderness
Mitchell Lake with at the continental divide on the far crest
We are driving through Brainard Lake Recreation Area which borders the Indian Peaks Wilderness. There is parking up ahead for various trailheads.
This is our "rustic" accommodations at 2 Eagles Resort in the Big Thompson River Canyon about 14 miles from RMNP.
Highway 128 follows the Colorado River into Moab and is very scenic. The river runs through a canyon and then it opens up into desert with buttes and red rock.
Just down from the previous photo the canyon opens up and you drive by a rock formation called Fisher Towers.
This is a view of the La Sal Mountains at sunset from near the B & B.
Breakfast at the Ezpeletas Bed and Breakfast at Moab. It was served on a covered porch with eggs from their chickens, fruit, yogurt, cereal and scones this morning.
Park Avenue in Arches is a beautiful canyon. Notice the trail going down along the bottom.
Balanced Rock in Arches
Window Arch
Double Arch. It was about 94 degrees when we walked out to it in the afternoon.
More red rock formations in Arches. The La Sal Mountains are in the background.
Besides arches or natural bridges, the park has numerous, huge red rock formations
