9/8 Moraine Campground, site B202
8:04 PM while the Bull Elk bugles to his friends.
Today we came into Rocky Mountain National Park, which promised if we came in the Grand Lake entrance, we would see wildlife. That side of the park was torched coming up on a year ago, hence no wildlife… Coyote Valley trail let us stretch our legs at the edge of the burn area, strolling beside the Colorado River, and a huge meadow. The Colo (as the locals call it here) was but a tiny creek, having the headwaters a mere 8ish miles upstream.
Having spent some time on the Grand Canyon rafting section (like 42 days worth), the Colo headwaters is like a Mecca, and I feel a part of my being is now complete! Next stop - the Continental Divide, where a guy was pouring his water bottle out to see if it went two ways!?!
We did have some wildlife finally, along Poudre Lake, in the shape of a munching moose. He was huge, but without his rack. Another big-ear beast was parked in the grass, not too far from his friend.
The paved road after the top of the world Alpine Visitors Center reaches 12,000ft elevation! We headed down to our camp at the Moraine Campground just above 8,000 ft to breathe again. Set camp and Stacey worked, as did I (if you call blogging work🥺). After another lousy old backpacker meal, we headed to the Bear Lake trailhead. Not far along, the cars were piled up along the road, and we knew from our Yellowstone trip, that means mammals! A big bull elk bugling to his harem, and to his buddies to back off, is what I had heard earlier from camp. Another attempt at a phone photo thru the binoculars (it did work for the moose earlier), but the elk wasn’t just standing in mud munching, he was keep his ladies in line.
Bear Lake was where you take grandma, if she can still walk. But the sunset reflection of the peaks on the still water, did catch us off guard. Enough time to take in the next lake, we struggled in the 9400+ thin air to climb the 1/2 mile to Nymph Lake. Awarded with lilly pads and peaks reflecting at sunset, we decided on skipping the next lake uphill.
After returning to the trailhead, I see a dark shape coming down the green creek side. Oh yeah, another moose!! Wait, more coming, a whole herd? What, moose don’t herd, that means they gotta be elk! A herd of mommas and babes take over the creek bed, and within seconds there are 50 people with phones out!?! where did they all come from? Their cars? Stacey really wanted the photo of one eating the purple flowers, so we stuck around long enough for It to happen. Back along the road to camp, we find a massive bull elk standing in front of a park residence. It was cold back in camp, too bad they don’t sell firewood on Wednesdays?!?
