Rocky Mountain Meadows

Today’s hike was our favorite and longest so far, 6.2 miles. We decided to stay an extra day, so this hike was unexpected and had we not stayed we’d never have gone.



The first part was the hardest and even then, it wasn’t that bad. No switchbacks like Walter’s Wiggles in Zion or the Lost Mine Trail in Big Bend. We gradually ascended 540 feet over two and a half miles to get to Cub Lake.


Cub Lake. The brown/red trees you see on the hills are pines killed by a bark beetle infestation.

From Cub Lake we descended 295 vertical feet over a mile to The Pool and then the remaining 245 feet we descended over 1.7 miles. It’s probably the flattest hike we’ve taken this year and one of the most enjoyable.


Marmot Rock. Do you see all three?

I won’t try and describe the hike. I’ll let the pictures do the talking.


Working on the Junior Ranger packet next to Big Thompson River.




A Colorado Blue Columbine, Colorado’s state flower, and a Paintbrush of some kind, perhaps a Giant Red or Wyoming.


A hard-working flower and some coating on the maple leaves we can’t figure out.




Two Field Crescents (maybe, hard to tell) and a Two-Tailed Swallowtail who wouldn’t stop long enough for me to get a clear picture of him!

We are heading into Kansas today. We leave a state with 54 mountains over 14,000 feet tall to a state whose highest point is 4,039 feet. Once we get down the mountain from Estes Park, it’s gonna be flat, flat, flat. We are spending Fourth of July weekend with Bobby’s cousin Matthew and his family. We will take advantage of their kindness, courtesy park in front of their house and use their laundry and showers with impunity (insert evil laugh here!).


Quaking aspen.

I sent an email out today to all who expressed an interest in joining us in Shenandoah on July 27. If you want to come and did not get the email, leave a comment on the blog or email us so I can send you the information.