Rocky Mountain High: It's June Already!

June 5th, 2017

Can it be June already? I guess it's been almost a month since I've blogged. Where did the time go?
Well, our store opened last Friday, June 2nd, after the road opened the afternoon of May 31st. Here's a look backwards (most recent events talked about first) at what's been happening here in Colorado the last few weeks:

Yesterday, Porscha, Brad and I hiked the Deer Mountain Trail. We picnicked at the summit at 10,300 feet, and the trail was about 7 miles. Spectacular views!
Trail Ridge Store & Cafe's opening had A LOT of hiccups, but 2400 guests walked through our door and were just excited to be there! There's plenty of snow and spectacular sites to experience on your way up on Trail Ridge Road.
The afternoon of Tuesday, May 30th was our first trip with our new colleagues up the mountain. NPS opened the road only to administrative travel. The store/cafe needed to be shoveled out, and BOXES and BOXES of our products had to be loaded up in Estes Park, and transported up. Lots of teamwork and labor in two and a half days allowed us to open the doors.
Our camp is growing. My colleagues have come from Connecticut, Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Colorado,California, South Dakota, Arizona, Minnesota, Ecuador, Bulgaria, and of course, WISCONSIN! There's six Sconnies here, all returnees!
Three feet of snow fell in Estes Park May 18th & 19th, and more fell up on the mountains, so the store didn't open up for Memorial Day weekend, but the delay allowed us time to get to know each other and explore the area. Here are some of the highlights:
I went on a Pika Scavenger Hunt in Estes Park with Nancy.
I arose EARLY and caught a sunrise in the Bear Lake area and struggled in the snow to get to Bear Lake for some photos.

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Evening stroll around Sprague Lake with Nancy, Brad, David, Alec and Porscha
I appreciated a woodwind trio concert performed by Trident Winds (Navy group out of Springdale, WA with Sharon.
I worshipped with Greta & Sharon at Rocky Mountain Church.
Eric, Sharon, Brad, Nancy and I browsed at the Estes Park Art Fair, and sampled some local brew at the Stanley Hotel.
Jonas, Mark, Nancy, Sharon, Brad and I hiked up part of Old Fall River Road (it's a one way gravel road built by convicts in the 1920s which will open the July 4th weekend) to Chasm Falls where James proposed to Karen last summer. The waterfalls are raging with snow melt right now!
Nancy and I hiked to Alberta Falls on a trail that was still snow covered at 9500 feet.
I was given a tour of YMCA of the Rockies where my Luther friends and I will stay in early August to celebrate entering our sixth decades. We drove around the Summit cabins that offer beautiful vistas of the Rockies, and then located a historic Mountainside Lodge and outdoor chapel high in the mountains.
On May 18th and 19th, we received almost three feet of snow, paralyzing everything. We unloaded our deliveries using a toboggan and a sled. Lots of WET snow was shoveled, but it allowed Nancy and I to go snowshoeing!
But earlier on May 15th and 16th, we were allowed clearance to go up the mountain, and about eight of us shoveled the store/cafe out partially and brought up some product. We were remarking that there was so little snow on the tundra. Later, we found out this was only a trial run for shoveling!
I ventured to western Colorado and visited Colorado National Monument and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. I made a few side trips as well.
Two moms celebrated Mother's Day at Moon Kats, a tea shoppe/cafe.
Brad and I hiked around Lily Lake after a full day of first aid training.
My car needed an oil change so I drove to Longmont, but had to visit Left Hand Brewery and enjoy some samples.
And of course, I have been enjoying the wildlife and birds,

wildflowers and spectacular scenery in and around Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. I've seen three bears, but not been able to photograph any of them.