Sun and warmth add up to melting snow, but Estes Parks's weather has not cooperated, nor has the rest of Colorado. Twenty-two out of 24 days in May have produced rain, and the rivers are really flowing. Nothing like the destructive flood of the fall of 2013. But we REALLY need melting snow weather so we can get up to the top. In the meantime, we have made use of the free time we have been given unexpectedly. Here are some of the highlights:
- Estes is celebrating the centennial of RMNP by creating 100 year events, so a friend and I went to the public library to see "Of Human Bondage," a movie based on a book published in 1915. Quite a provocative theme for a hundred years ago.
- My first roommate arrived, a beautiful 19 year old. Rachel and I drove into the park to Sprague Lake, only to be met by drenching rain. We drove on to Bear Lake at an elevation of 9,500 feet that was totally shrouded in clouds, but we tromped around and built a snowman while singing "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?"
- Several of us went to the historic Mary's Lake Lodge to hear Celtic music and try out a few of the local craft beers.
- Roxanne, Teresa and I ventured on Deer Mountain Trail, not getting to the summit as rain was approaching, but hiked 4.5 miles. Wildflowers, elk and mule deer greeted us along the trail. The vistas were amazing!
- Two free tickets were given to me to hear the adventures of a local climber @ the infamous Stanley Hotel. It was amazing to walk around the Stanley-over 100 years old! Tommy Caldwell and his partner free climbed the Dawn Wall of El Capitan @ Yosemite for 19 days. Several of my colleagues here are climbers so it's fun to hear of their adventures.
- Lars, Sherri, Teresa and I hiked to Lake Bierstadt on Saturday. What a wonderful adventure! The day started out beautifully, going up the switchbacks, admiring the snow-covered mountains, the wildflowers, and mule deer. Then in the higher elevations, we encountered snow, Thank goodness for the little orange tags that mark the trail. We eventually witnessed the clear alpine lake, surrounded by ponderosa pines. Following a different route down the mountain, we encountered grapple (pellets of snow/hail) and then a drenching rain. We rode my first RMNP shuttle to get back to the Jeep.
- Teresa and I returned to Bear Lake on a sunny day and I snowshoed partway around the lake. Hallett Peak loomed down on us, and the lake was partially ice covered.
- Great-horned owlets - what a treat!! I have never seen them in the wild, and when a friend saw I was interested in the birds here, he told me of their location. Quite a treat! A coyote and many velvety antlered elk came a calling, too. I drove up Trail Ridge Road to Rainbow Curve where the road is closed. It's freaky to see snow banks higher than your Jeep along the sides of the road on one side, and a dramatic dropoff to the valley below on the other.
- The Estes Park Museum hosted a play about the pioneers of their city, "Impassible Paradise." Estes Park has a colorful beginning with its homesteaders and their visitors. Enjoyable entertainment with a very simplistic backdrop.
- Pentecost was celebrated at an ELCA church I found here, "Shepherd of the Mountains." Later I took a 2.5 mile hike alone before a thunderstorm approached. Then I learned Mexican Train Dominoes, a new variation, from Pat.
- We have a temporary shoveling date of tomorrow, Memorial Day. If you get a chance, look at RMNP's site, webcam, Alpine Visitor Center to see the snow level on the store. It's incredible.
- I have a moved to a different room as my original room will acquire three more youngsters in early June, so my boss suggested I move to a two-person room. It's really cozy and I'm the only person here until mid June.
- We're all getting to know each other and enjoying the majesty of our surroundings. The chaos will begin soon!
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