We decided to explore the National Parks this summer, which included, Rocky Mountain, Glacier, Yellowstone, and the Grand Tetons, enjoying some hiking, fishing, reading and just plain relax-
ation.
Our first stop was Estes Park, Colorado. It's located west of Boulder, Colorado in the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of around 7,000. We spent a week at Mary's Lake RV Resort located a few miles from the park entrance.
Our days were spent hiking several trails up to the mountain lakes where Don fished for native greenback-cutthroat and brook trout and biking on the downtown walking/biking path that surrounds Estes Park Lake. While there we had a surprise visit from our
rv'ing friends, Bernie and Davvie Ruple, whom we had met two years ago
in Green River, Colorado.
Taking the "Many Parks Curve" on the seven mile Old Fall Mill Road-Time for a 4WD vehicle!
Don looking out at the Rocky Mountains
Chasm Falls
Elk grazing at
Alpine Meadow
Our next stop was Rawlins, Wyoming. This is a real honest-to-goodness western cowboy town. There are more horses than people! We toured Wyoming's Frontier Prison, used for 100 years, as well as the the Carbon County Museum to soak up some local history. On Thursday night there
was free music at the city park, and we finished our stay with a day-trip to Sarasota to dip in the Sarasota hot springs.
The view at 12,000 feet
Wildlife and wildflowers on the trail to Nymph Lake
Time out at Dream Lake.
Emerald Lake
Cutthroat caught at Big Thompson River
Rawlin's latest cattle-rustler
Lander, Wyoming is where our niece, Rose and her husband Walter used to
call home. They are now living in Michigan, but hope to retire in Wyoming.
Some of our highlights were: hiking the Middle Fork Trail in Sink Canyon, witnessing the original Oregon trail in the Red Canyon, touring Lander's famous bronze foundry, visiting the old mining towns of South Pass, Miner's Delight, and Atlantic City where we feasted on aspen-grilled steaks at "The Mercantile."
Of coarse we're still enjoying geo-caching as we travel. We found a great one near the mining-ghost town of Miner's Delight, making it three for the Lander area.
