Dumas, Texas to Rocky Mountain National Park
Part 2 of Our Colorado Odyssey
June/July, 2006
Facilities & Fees
Campground Name: Rocky Mountain National Park (Moraine Park)
Campground's Website:
http://www.nps.gov/romo/index.htm
Last Visited: June, 2006
Number of sites (Total):
Primitive: 225 (approximately)
Water & Electric: 0
Full Hook-Up: 0
Big Rig accessible: Yes
Shade trees: Yes
Waterfront sites: No
Swimming Pool: No
Hike/Bike Trails: Yes (extensive)
Fishing: Yes (Catch & Release, “barb-less” hooks only)
Boating: No
Clean restrooms: Fair Clean showers: No showers available
Pets allowed: Yes (leashed) but NOT on any trail.
Tents allowed: Yes
Fires/Grills allowed: Yes
Family type: Yes
Nightly rate (US $): $20 per night plus Daily Entrance Fee ($20 per vehicle for 7 days or $35 annually)
Overall Rating (1=poor 10=excellent): 7
Pictures:
NPS Shots:
http://www.nps.gov/romo/downloads_photos/photos.html
Mine:
http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/Albu...&a=32268630&f=
Due to limited capacity, pictures associated with this review may only be available at the above link for a short time. If you find that the link is no longer active, feel free to contact me via “Private Message” and I will do my best to e-mail the related pictures to you.
Our Trip:
Here we go with Part 2 of our Colorado Odyssey. This is the continuing saga of our better then 2 week tour of Colorado. If you happened to miss “Part 1” that got us this far, here’s a link that should get you back to it and bring you “up to speed“. If by chance the link doesn’t work, e-mail me and I’ll be pleased to send a copy of “Part 1” :
http://www.wildtexas.com/talk/showthread.php?t=1171
Also, I’d like to warn everyone that this is likely to be the longest part of the saga. That said, I’ll forgive anyone who decides to pass it by.
Saturday, Day 3, dawned clear and sunny and we were ready to go in short order. We left Dumas, Texas heading west and then northwest on US Highway 87. Travel was good on this 2-lane strip of blacktop and we made good time as we past through Dalhart, Clayton, New Mexico and then on to Raton where we picked up Interstate 25 for the pull northward. One of things that I always like about traveling west is the “gaining” of an hour at the Time Zone changes. Of course, I have to give that hour “back” on my return but I try not to think about that on the drive west.
As we headed north on Interstate 25 out of Raton, I remembered that this was going to be the truck’s first test at pulling our “5th” up a real mountain. Raton Pass is not the highest point in this part of the world but it was the highest I’d tried to pull our trailer over to this point. Got to say that I was a bit nervous as I started up that pull to 7800 feet. Will say that I was very pleased with how our truck handled it. Just like I’d been told, she progressively downshifted to the gear she needed and we just walked right up that hill. The engine heat never moved a bit and the transmission temperature never came near as I high I thought that it would on such an effort. Even though they have their own stories that I will tell later, I was far less troubled by our trips over Loveland and Wolf Creek Passes due to the way the truck handled Raton Pass.
When we hit the top of Raton Pass, it was decided that it would be a good time for a “lunch” stop. There is a “pull off” there and it offered an excellent place to stretch our legs and let our dogs exercise a bit. There are some marvelous views from this point but they were marred by including about the only litter we were able to find on this trip. The area just off of the highway and beyond the barrier was strewn with paper, plastic bottles and cans of all sorts. There was even a gallon plastic jug half filled with some unidentified liquid. This, with litter barrels within walking distance. I would like to believe that this mess had been created by scavenging animals. Unfortunately, I believe the “animals” responsible for this mess were of the “2-legged” variety. At times I really wonder about my fellow travelers and I truly hope that none of the guilty parties were from Texas!
From Raton Pass, we continued north with no difficulty. From here until our turn west at US Highway 34, the road remained mainly flat and very straight, allowing for fast travel. Rather then traveling through the mountains, we were running just east of them giving some really nice vistas. At Colorado Springs it was time for a break and fuel stop. This was also one of those times when technology conspired to mess up our best laid plans. After filling the tank, the computer in the store decided to “burp” and not accept information nor give out any information. Not knowing if the system had accepted the credit card or not, no one was inclined to hand over about $75 in cash until we were sure one way or the other. Ended up costing us about 45 minutes while everyone concerned spent time on the telephone trying to get this mess straightened out. To their credit, the retailer involved (“Loaf ‘N Jug“) did give a significant discount on the fuel purchase once the SNAFU was corrected.
From there we continued north passing through Denver during the beginning of their afternoon “rush hour”. We were greatly relieved to find that the time of day had little effect on our speed and we were through Denver in very short order.
At US Highway 34 we swung west passing through the town of Loveland and then on into The Big Thompson Canyon. I was not aware of it before but I found out that DW had never been through an area quite like this. To say that she was awestruck by the beauty of the river and shear rock walls on both sides would be an understatement. The road winds through the canyon, yielding a different panorama at each turn. Below, the river rumbles on, first on one side of the road and then the other. There are a number of places to pull over for pictures or just watching. Many were a bit small for two rigs such as we were driving. This being so and the fact that it was getting late in the day caused us to pass by all but one of these. We promised ourselves a drive through the canyon, sans trailers, prior to our departure from the area. Unfortunately, this is one of the few things we did not accomplish. Worse yet, we have no pictures of this area. None the less, this drive will live on in our memories until we have the opportunity to do it again. As we exited The Big Thompson Canyon, the town of Estes Park unfolded on our left. Having no time to spend here, we went straight through, on to Rocky Mountain National Park. Estes Park would wait until another day.
To reach Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP or “Rocky”, as it’s known to the locals) and Moraine Park from Estes Park you must drive through most of the city’s downtown area. Not long or difficult but there is a tight, left hand turn at the west end of town that must be negotiated to get onto US Highway 36. If you are pulling any type of trailer, it is advisable to be in the right hand lane as you approach this intersection (both lanes turn right with the right hand lane having the option to go straight on US Highway 34). From there you proceed about two miles, bearing to the right until you reach the Beaver Meadows Entrance Station. The area is well signed and you should have little difficulty finding the entrance. Be prepared to pay your Park Entrance Fee at this point. I do not recommend using the route mentioned above to leave the area if you are pulling a trailer. It will force you into a very tight right hand turn from US Highway 36 on to US Highway 34. I saw many have great difficulty with this maneuver. We used a different route to exit the area which I will describe in Part 3 of this saga.
After passing through Beaver Meadows Entrance Station, you fallow the signs for about 2 miles until you come to the entrance to Moraine Park. Here you will pay for and receive your assigned camping site. A percentage of sites in this park can be specifically reserved while others are on a “first come, first served” basis only. Further, no sites in this park may be reserved from Labor Day until mid-May. Our camping partners are well familiar with this park and reserved for us one of the best sites in the park (more on this later). As you enter the area, there is a dump station and potable water source on your right. It is advisable to empty what needs emptying and fill what needs filling at this point. There are other water sources in the park but I believe this one to be the easiest to use. Be aware that from mid-September until mid-May there is no water available in any of the camping areas. Firewood and some other commodities are sold in this area by a contract vender. It would appear that he is only there in the early evening. Having no need of his services while we were there, I can make no statement concerning goods or pricing. The site below should be of some help:
http://www.nps.gov/romo/pphtml/camping.html
Sites in Moraine Park vary greatly as to size and quality. Most are “back-in” but there are a number of “pull-thru’s” and some I can only call “pull-off’s”, for lack of a better term. “Mr. Ranger” tries hard to fit people into the proper site, taking into consideration rig size and personal preferences. None the less, I saw some pretty big rigs in some pretty small spaces. One I recall was assigned to one of the “pull-off’s”. It was a very large MH equipped with 3-4 “slides”, 2 of them being on the “road” side and IN the road at least a bit. Kept hoping he wouldn’t loose one of those “slides” and I guess he got out OK. As far as I could see, all sites are equipped with picnic tables and a fire/grill ring. Water spigots are strategically located around the camping area though none will accept a hose hook-up. You will need to have some type of container to carry water in. For our purpose, we found a pair of 7 gallon Aqua-Tainers and a plastic siphon hose worked best. We had purchased and tried a 12 VDC water pump and found it to be more trouble then it was worth. I am looking at the idea of trying to plumb my “on board” water pump to do the job. Will only pursue this idea if we decide to do more “boon-docking”. Here’s a reference to a map of Moraine Park:
http://www.nps.gov/applications/park...ps/mpc_map.pdf
We were very fortunate in that “T” and “M” had been at this park and knew which were the best sites. They had reserved for us Site #227, a very beautiful, “back-in” located at the top of the rise overlooking the moraine. Not only was the site deep and large, we also had a commanding view of the mountains and the land falling away behind our trailer. Even though it was a good bit in the distance, our location even allowed us to hear the sound of The Big Thompson River as it passed through the Moraine. You couldn’t have asked for better. Being as there are no “hook-ups” in this park set up is little more then backing in, leveling and running the “slide” out. We were ready to go very quickly. This was good because by this time, my supply of energy was on a definite ebb. A quick dinner and a bit of time in a lawn chair was about all any of us had the energy for.
WARNING! WARNING! Danger, Will Robinson!!! Before you start setting up camp and attempting to do everything at once, you need to know that you are a bit over 7800 feet above sea level. If your not accustomed to this type of altitude, you will feel it soon. Be aware and slow your exertion down, at least for the next day or two.
In most of my reviews I spend a good bit of time describing the campground itself. In this instance, we were so busy hiking and exploring, I saw little of the campground beyond our immediate two sites. I had all of the main park and the moraine to look at and had little time remaining to explore the camping area. Suffice it to say that what I did see was neat and clean to a fault if a bit Spartan by our standards. If your “self-contained” or can do without some of the “extras”, you should be very pleased with Moraine Park.
Sunday, Day 4: This Sunday started as I like most of my Sundays to begin; a leisurely breakfast followed by a nice Worship Service. We were fortunate to be able to attend a Interdenominational Service at the Amphitheater not more then 100 yards from our camp. The service was presented by college students who did a very nice job and it was held in one of the most beautiful settings you could imagine. The theater fronts onto the moraine and, in addition to being used for Sunday Worship services, it is also the site of nightly “Ranger Talks”. These “talks” are presented, free of charge, to help educate visitors to the park. The subjects vary and we were able to attend presentations on mountain lions, survival in the Alpine Tundra (man, animal and plant life) and “Alpine Athletes” (animals and plants that can survive in that environment). All were very interesting and I do wish we had been able to attend more.
After worship service and a light lunch, it was decided that we would take the advice given in much of the park literature and take our first day slowly. Altitude sickness is a real threat and not something to be taken lightly. I was in Denver in 1971 and got a first-hand taste of what this can do to you. I’m now a good bit older and definitely did not want to risk a recurrence. “T” and “M” suggested that we spent the afternoon on a drive to and a short hike at an area known as the Alluvial Fan. From there, we planned on a drive up Old Fall River Road to the Alpine Visitor Center. I need to add a special “thanks” here to “T” and “M”. Since they had been here a number of times, they made our trip even better by being willing to do all the driving while at our different destinations. This allowed DW and me to concentrate on the scenery and not the traffic.
For those who may not be aware, an alluvial fan is formed by the rapid movement of water and it’s subsequent spreading out and flattening at the end of a canyon or other such restriction. In slowing and spreading, it deposits any rocks or boulders it has been carrying in a “fan” shape. The 42 acre Alluvial Fan in RMNP was created when the end of the moraine broke loose in 1982. It released Lawn Lake and a flood of 29 million gallons that rushed down the 4 miles to the valley floor, creating the Fan. Eventually, the water was contained in Lake Estes and the flood resulted in the deaths of 3 people. This area will give you a nice “warm up” hike and a chance to see a bit of the park.
Leaving the Alluvial Fan, we headed up Old Fall River Road. This 9 mile, one-way dirt road begins at Endovalley and climbs to 11,800 feet at the Alpine Visitor Center. It was the first road to cross the Rocky Mountains in the northern part of Colorado and was completed it 1920. At that time, it connected Horseshoe Park to the Fall River Pass and then proceeded down the western side to Grand Lake. With the completion Trail Ridge Road in the early ’30s, the Old Fall River Road became a scenic drive on the eastern side and the western side was abandoned.
Road grades on Old Fall River Road are steep, running as much as 16 percent in some places. Turns are tight on some of the many switchbacks and no trailers are allowed on the road. None the less, we found the road easy to drive at a leisurely pace. The scenery on the road is beautiful over the entire route and breathtaking in many places. Unfortunately, there are not near enough places to pull over and enjoy the view. Most visitors seem to be forgiving if you stop in the middle of the road for a quick picture or two. Hope you take the time to drive this by-way, if not for the scenery then for a chance to experience travel in the 1930’s. Incidentally, it was not uncommon for cars of those early years to back up at least parts of this road to gain the needed torque!
One thing to remember is that the Old Fall River Road is closed until the 4th of July weekend. I was not aware of this and felt lucky to have been there on the opening weekend (found out later that I was the only one who didn‘t know this). If your wondering why the road should be closed until the weekend of the “4th”, it becomes very obvious as you rise above the timber line and approach the Alpine Visitor Center; SNOW…IN JULY! No, not in the road but a good bit of it on the sides of the road. It wouldn’t have surprised me a bit if there had been snow on the road within the last few weeks. I know that snow on the ground at this altitude (11,800 ft) is normal. But, what my mind knows and what my eyes are telling me are 2-3 different things. Having lived in Texas for as many years as I have seeing this much snow, particularly in summer, takes a bit of getting used to. We were able to stop at one point and get out of the truck. This is when I realized that being in shorts and not having a jacket (forgot it) was really a bad situation. To make matters worse, by the time we made it to the Visitors Center, it had started to rain! First stop; Visitors Center Store to buy a jacket or sweater.
We actually ended up spending little time at the Visitors Center. There were a number of things to see and there was a schedule of short “Ranger Talks” going on. But, being as this was the first weekend, it was very crowded and that is something DW and I do not enjoy. Also, it would have been nice to have spent some time outside just looking at the vistas around us. The rain, clouds and fog made that near impossible. So, after a short time, we decided it was best to head back down, via Trail Ridge Road (US Highway 34).
Where Old Fall River Road is a single, one-way dirt road, Trail Ridge Road is a much more modern 2-lane ribbon of blacktop. It enters the park from the east at the Fall River Visitors Center and meanders through the park, exiting at Grand Lake. It’s highest point is at 12,193 feet between Gore Range and Lava Cliffs. In comparison to the Old Fall River Road that is heavily wooded until you reach the timber line, Trail Ridge Road is very open over the section we traveled (the Alpine Visitors Center east to Deer Ridge Junction). This gave some marvelous views of the mountains and a number of excellent places to stop and enjoy them.
Probably one of my favorite parts of this drive and the entire trip was our stop at Rainbow Curve about half way down Trail Ridge Road. Not only does this area yield a beautiful view of the mountains and the valley floor, it was also the place we were at when the sun decided to shine again. It’s appearance washed away almost all the clouds and allowed an outstanding view. To make this stop even more interesting, this is where “M” decided to feed some nuts to one of the ever-present chipmunks that are always on the prowl for a handout. Now the rules say that your not to feed the critters and it’s a good rule. I’m also in favor of following all rules. But, when a chipmunk runs up within a foot of you, sits up and begs, it’s hard to resist. “M” didn’t and “Mr. Ranger” caught her! Needless to say, he had a few words for her and all she could do was apologize. We all know better but some times you just can’t help yourself. Here’s a site that will give a bit more information on both the Old Fall River Road and Trail Ridge Road:
http://www.nps.gov/romo/visit/weather/scenicdrives.html
That evening we took a trip into Estes Park to see what it had to offer. Along with the normal amount of touristy shops, you’ll find a number of places to eat and a few bars. A good deal of effort has been put into making East Elkhorn Avenue (main street) look as nice as possible. Traffic lights have been timed to the pedestrians’ advantage and this makes getting around the town even easier. Lighting and trees have been put in that make it attractive to visitors. Like most such towns, the streets were fairly busy and I always find it to be great fun just to watch what the people are doing. The Big Thompson River runs just to the south of Elkhorn Avenue and adds it’s beauty to the mix.
Estes Park has enough in the way of stores to keep you supplied with most of the things you would need. There is a Safeway Grocery Store at the eastern end of town and I was able to find a needed NAPA Auto Parts Store (more on this later). The closest Wal-Mart though, is in Loveland. All in all, Estes Park is a very nice little town but to my way of thinking, it is similar to many “tourist towns” we’ve been in. The site below should help you plan any future trips to the area:
http://www.estes-park.com/
Monday, Day 5: This was the day when everything got “a bit loose around the edges”, so to speak. We were up early, dressed and had breakfast with plans for an early start to a full day. Our first major hike was in the offing and I was ready to go. First, a little “trailer maintenance” was in order. I’d noted that the battery was “low” and needed a bit of a jolt. No real problem. Back the truck in, hook up and let the engine run for a bit and charge the battery. Did this for about 20 minutes and checked the battery. No improvement. Hmmm? Let the engine run for another 20 minutes. Still, nothing. Now I know I have a problem. Got “T” and his volt/ohm meter and we started looking. Didn’t take us long to figure out that the battery charge line to the back of the truck was dead. Checked as much as we knew how but could find no reason for it (Lots of fuses marked in ways I don’t understand. On return to our home, the Chevy house replaced a 30 amp fuse under the hood and that took care of the problem. I also know which one to check now).
Well, this was a real problem as we needed the battery. As always, campers being campers, you can bet someone will be around that can and will lend a hand. This help came in the form of Mike from a site or two west of us. He had seen our problem and immediately offered the use of his Honda 2000 Watt Generator to get my battery charged up. After hooking up and letting the generator run for about 30 minutes, I was showing a strong charge on my battery and we were ready to go! Thanks again Mike, for all your help. BTW: This incident has got me thinking that a generator may not be a bad investment if DW and I are going to continue camping in this way. I think the next time we “boon-dock”, we’ll rent one and see how it works out for us.
Now you would have thought that this would have been enough “drama” for one day but no, we still had more to come.
WARNING! WARNING! Danger, Penny Robinson!!! Don’t be looking at the mountains while your walking on uneven pavement! Stop, then look.
While “T” and I were dealing with the battery problems, DW decided to take the dogs for a walk. You wouldn’t expect this to cause a problem but this was not what you could call one of your “normal” days. After “T” and I had finished charging the battery and returned the generator, DW felt it was a good time to tell me about her troubles. Seems that while she had been walking the dogs, the natural beauty of the area had drawn her attention from the road she was walking on. Next thing she knew, she was on the ground with two dogs trying to pull in different directions. Scratched up her left leg real good and twisted both ankles to the point that they turned black and blue over the next few days. Not “life-threatening” and didn’t even need medical attention, but it pretty well “grounded” her for the better part of the next week.
After making sure that DW was going to be OK and assuring her that the entire trip was not a loss, we had lunch and finally got started on our first real hike. I was not real happy about leaving DW in camp but she seemed content to read, embroider and watch the critters.
We had decided that Bear Lake would be are destination for this day. We were able to reach it by driving to a parking lot just west of the Glacier Basin Camping Area and then taking the Shuttle Bus from there. As we approached the parking area, a good storm was beginning to brew. Rain was coming down pretty hard as we parked and we sat in the truck for a bit, trying to decide what we were going to do. As we sat there, lightning flashed in the trees directly across the road from us. Combined with about the loudest clap of thunder I’d ever heard, you can say the three of us were pretty well startled. At that point, we decided that it was best we not hike that day and started to leave. Surprisingly, the storm past as quickly as it brewed up and before getting more then a few hundred yards down the road, we turned back and continued with our planned hike.
Bear Lake is a small body of very clear and cold water. It is encompassed by a bit more then a mile of hiking trail. The trail itself is hard-packed earth that we found remained firm under foot even after a rain. There are no long inclines to worry about and the max grade is only 10 percent. There are a number of places to sit, enjoy the view and rest if needed. It is possible to take a wheelchair on this trail for approximately 1/3 of it’s length starting at the trailhead and going counterclockwise. It is the only trail I noted with such accommodations but I understand that there are others. Pictures taken from the trailhead probably give the best results. The lake has fish in it and you may spot a trout or two if your lucky. I saw a couple of real nice “cut-throats” at the southern end of the lake. To my understanding, there is no fishing allowed in this body of water.
On completion of our hike around Bear Lake, we decided to take a quick look at the Glacier Basin Campground. This area is made up of 150 individual and 15 group camp sites. It is open from mid-May through mid-September. Like Moraine Park, there are no “hook-ups” and I did not note any water source in the camping area though I’m sure it’s available. Sites were very well shaded and spaced well. It is said that “slides” are not allowed in this campground but I did see at least a couple so that may be negotiable. Though the area is very nice and is supposed to be able to handle an RV of our size (30 feet), I don’t believe I’d be comfortable attempting to get into one of those sites. I see this area much better suited for pop-up’s and hybrids. The site below should offer a bit more information:
http://www.nps.gov/romo/pphtml/camping.html
http://www.nps.gov/applications/park...ps/gbc_map.pdf
The balance of the day was spent in camp with plans for dinner and a “Ranger Talk”. Rain decided to come back in and ended the “Talk” before it had barely started. Given all that had happened on this day, we decided to call it “quits” fairly early.
Tuesday, Day 6: “Happy 4th Of July!!!”. Yes, this day was the “4th” and we had plans to be in Estes Park in the evening for the big fireworks display. Until then, we had hiking on our minds. Our objective this day was Alberta Falls and quite a target it was. DW decided to join us and even though I thought it a less then good idea, there was no stopping her.
You can access Alberta Falls by a number of routes. We chose to return to the Bear Lake Trailhead and proceed south from there. We continued to the Glacier Gorge Junction Trailhead where both trails join heading south for Alberta Falls. We were under the impression that the entire trail to the falls was .6 of a mile but discovered that it was more like twice that distance as the “.6” distance is only from the Glacier Gorge Junction. With the first half mile of this hike being a rather difficult incline, DW had a tough time. I truly wish she had stayed in camp.
At the Glacier Gorge Junction Trailhead we were able to take a short break and watch a man fish for trout in the small stream. I was very impressed as he handled his long fly rod with ease and proceeded to hook a couple of trout as we stood there. Nothing large but still enough to put a bend in the rod.
We proceeded south, steadily uphill and always out of sight of Glacier Creek, though we could almost always hear it on our left side. After what seemed like a good bit more then .6 of a mile, we started to approach Alberta Falls. Though these falls are by no means a “Niagara”, the amount of water passing over them is quite impressive. This is even more true when one remembers that this water had been snow and ice less then a few hours before. It is said that the shear movement of water like this can be enough to make even a competent person want to dive into the churning brew. I can’t say that it went that far with me but I will say that I can now better understand the concept. I‘ve read that there are often elk in this area. “T” and “M” had stated pretty much the same thing. This year, with rain being in limited supply, all wildlife in the park has been rather difficult to find. “Mr. Ranger” stated that we can expect little improvement until the rains return.
We now found ourselves about 30 feet shy of the very top of the falls but at a good spot for lunch. “T” had been carrying what I had thought was nothing more then a normal backpack. This is where I was very wrong. It turned out that the pack was actually a very elegant dining set for four! It contained not only plates and flat-wear but also wine glasses, a corkscrew, and a cheese service among other items. We felt we were really dining in style and you can bet that we garnered more then a few curious looks. A very great treat that DW and I will long remember.
After lunch, DW remained where she was while “T”, “M” and I went to the very top. This was a very nice place for some pictures and I truly wish DW could have joined us. After a short time we started our decent as we could see the signs of approaching afternoon rains. The decent to the Bear Lake Trailhead, though easier due to it being almost all downhill, was no shorter and I must say that I worried about DW until we were on the shuttle bus. At this point I made one of my few “command decisions” and insisted that DW remain in camp for the rest of our time in RMNP. I felt it was far too dangerous for her to continue hiking with us. I believe that she was just as happy that I made this call and insisted that I continue with our planned hikes without her.
Wednesday, Day 7: It’s now two days since I last charged the trailer battery and it’s showing signs of weakness. Can’t bring myself to borrow Mike’s generator again but still had to get a charge in the battery. Simple solution was to use a set of jumper cables from the truck battery to the battery in the trailer and “T” had a set (I’ve since added my jumper cables to the “basement” in the “5th”. Never need them for the truck as we have “road service” and I will have a battery replaced at the first hint of trouble. I hate messing with batteries! Holdover from my teenage years when I had to get everything I could out of a car battery). “Nose” the truck in, open the hood and hookup. Red to “Positive” and black to “Negative” on the truck. Then red to “positive” and black to a “negative” ground point on the trailer, I thought. Now, when you hookup a battery for a “charge”, it’s best to be positive about which is contact is “positive”. I was positive but that didn’t mean I was correct! Rather then taking the cover off of the battery box so I could see where I was connecting the jumper cables, I took a shortcut. I’ve trimmed a corner off of the cover for the box to allow for a battery “kill” switch. I was POSITIVE that the switch was on the “Positive” terminal. Wrong! Ended up putting the jumper cable clamps between an 18” length of 8 gauge wire. First, DW hollers that there is no power in the trailer. Hmmm? Go to see what’s happened. Next thing I hear is someone hollering about the trailer smoking! Not good! Run back out and find the front storage compartment smoking. Really “not good“! Pull the jumper cables off, wait for the smoke to clear, realize what I’ve done and feel like a 200 proof fool! Fortunately, a relay on the trailer kicked out immediately so there was no damage to the trailer’s circuitry. Also, the truck wasn’t damaged and no one was hurt. Ended up only frying an 18” length of wire and severely wounding my pride. This was why I ended up needing to find the NAPA Auto Parts Store. Believe me, from here on the cover comes OFF the battery box any time I need to work on it.
After this little fiasco was dealt with, we still felt that we had the time and energy to go on the hike we had planned. This day “T”, “M” and I headed for a fairly long hike. Our plan was to go all the way to Emerald Lake while also taking in Nymph and Dream Lakes in the process, all three of these lakes being fed by the Tyndall Glacier. Round trip for this hike was just short of 4 miles with some pretty good uphill treks. “T” and “M” had been to Nymph and Dream lakes on their last visit. Emerald Lake was “new ground” for all three of us as it’s trail had been “closed” for new construction on their last visit. Even with new trails, that last .8 of a mile to Emerald Lake was a pretty good pull.
We again utilized the shuttle bus to get us to the Bear Lake Trailhead, the jumping off point for our hike. From there we proceeded west for approximately .5 mile until we came to Nymph Lake. I guess by now I was getting a bit jaded by the beauty I was surrounded by as I did not find this lake quite as pretty as all the rest I had seen. There just didn’t seem to be the “spark” in this lake. I began to wonder if my senses were starting to dull. I need not have worried.
We did not tarry at Nymph Lake but pressed on the .6 miles to Dream Lake. Where Nymph Lake is rather small and basically round, Dream Lake is a good bit larger and much more elongated. The trail brings you to the eastern end of the lake where your likely to find a good many people enjoying the view. With the lake and the mountain beyond, it’s not surprising that so many folks tend to loiter in this area. We used up a fair bit of time ourselves, enjoying the sights and taking a few pictures. Knowing that our time was limited, we soon went on, headed for Emerald Lake.
The final stretch to Emerald Lake is nearly a mile and will take you along a stretch of the creek that feeds the lower two lakes. About half way between Dream and Emerald Lakes there is a small, rather picturesque waterfall that I rather enjoyed. As you proceed to Emerald Lake you may notice that the air is getting a bit cooler. This is because you are approaching the tree line and things tend to be a good bit chillier above this point.
As you come onto Emerald Lake the reason for it’s name will become quite obvious. Even on this rather overcast day, the water shown a vivid green and sparkled like it’s namesake jewel. In addition to the sight of the lake itself, you also have the mountain and snow/ice on the far side of the lake to hold your interest. We had a wonderful view of the water as it ran out from under the snow pack to rush down the mountain and into the lake. The rock formations and fallen stone at the western end of the lake would have called “bass” to me, if I had still been in my native Texas. Here, the fish to chase is trout but I don’t believe fishing is allowed in Emerald Lake. This was definitely the prize for this day’s hike and a place I will return at some later date.
Our return to Bear Lake Trailhead was uneventful except for seeing a number of people fishing in Dream Lake. Even though I saw a large number of trout in the water, I saw no one even getting a strike. I don’t know if it was the flies they were using or presentation and being better qualified to talk about bass fishing, I think I will leave that question to those more in the know.
On our return drive, I asked “T” to stop at a river crossing we had passed before. I have not been able to determine which river/creek that is being crossed at this point. I just found the spot to be highly interesting. The water rushes over massive rocks and boulders in a way that I find appealing. There is a sign posted nearby reminding tourists of the extreme danger posed by this type of moving, cold water. Being as the sign is there, I wonder how many have gotten closer to the water then prudent? I took a number of shots that will be included it the photo spread for this review. To make it easy to identify, these shots will be identified as “River Crossing”. The balance of the day was spent in camp with a “Ranger Talk” that evening. Planned to be up and gone early the next morning for our last full day at “Rocky” and a very long hike.
Thursday, Day 8: This day started early with the sun shining. Though we had at least some rain every day we had been at RMNP so far, on this day the sun never went behind a cloud. We were finally able to get away early for our hike. Seems like every day this week we have intended to depart early but have been held up for one reason or another. Not today and given the length of this hike and the amount of time we ended up spending at one destination, it’s good we departed early.
Our targets for this day were Cub Lake and then onto a place called “The Pool”. Cub Lake is a 1.2 mile hike from the trailhead of the same name. Parking being a bit restricted, I would strongly suggest utilizing the shuttle bus. The hike itself is very pleasant with some mild up-hill grades. We ran into a group of horseback riders coming the other way on this trail so you may wish to be aware of that possibility. The lake is an oval jewel, it’s banks girdled with lily pads. “M” stated that on her first visit she had been mildly surprised to find lily pads growing this far north. I’m sure they grow further north but I have encountered them as far as the Minnesota/Canadian border.
We stopped on the eastern end of Cub Lake for a short break. At this point, we had the opportunity to meet with two other hiker/campers who I will call “L” and “E”. They are a wonderful couple of about our age and temperament. As we walked and talked, we found that we had a good bit in common. We ended up sharing some time at a campfire that evening and met again in Durango, Colorado in a few days. Hoping to get a chance to camp with this couple again at some time.
As we ended our break and continued west, we climbed a rise to an overlook. This gave us a marvelous view of Cub Lake. A picture of this view will be included in my photo spread.
We continued west, heading for “The Pool”. This is a spot on the river just below the point where the Spruce and Fern Creeks meet with the Big Thompson River. The meeting of these three bodies of water cause a rather massive amount of water to pass through a rather narrow cut in the rock. The restriction causes a good amount of turbulence and is worth the time to watch. As you may have noticed through this review, I am and have always been fascinated by moving water. Any time I have the opportunity, I will sit and watch as one of nature’s greatest forces changes the landscape. You will find some pictures of this area in the photo spread for this review.
After having lunch at The Pool, it was time to start back to camp. This is a 2.5 mile trek returning you to the Fern Lake Trailhead. From there, it’s .6 mile walk to the shuttle bus stop. I figure the entire distance for this hike to be just over 6 miles. This was the longest hike on this trip and I must say that my knees felt it the next morning. Long or not, it was one I would not have passed up.
As I said earlier, this was our last full day at RMNP. Being as we were departing the next morning, I used part of the afternoon getting ready to leave. Since we had spent so little time in camp, there really wasn’t a lot of “make ready” to be done. Gave us time to spend with “L” and “E” and time for all six of us to attend one last “Ranger Talk”. A very nice way to end an outstanding week.
Conclusion:
Well, that’s about it for Rocky Mountain National Park. We headed for Leadville, Colorado the next morning and I’ll start a new review for that location starting with Friday, Day 9. Before I end this, I want to add a few final comments.
First off, RMNP stays busy all the time. We are accustom to camping in Texas State Parks and mostly at times other then summer. These parks are very busy from about noon on Fridays until about 2 PM on Sunday. The rest of the week, you have the greatest majority of the park to yourself. It’s not uncommon in the winter time to be the only camper in a given park during the week. This was not the case at “Rocky”. I would guess that Moraine Park stayed 90-95% occupied the entire time we were there and I understand that is normal all during the summer months. Very busy by our standard. Note that this is not a complaint as it really caused no problem. Just something we noted.
As mentioned before, be aware of the altitude but also keep in mind your need for water. The environment will dry you out and you need a good bit of water to keep what’s lost replaced. You can carry water while your hiking or there are chemical tablets that you can purchase that will purify water from streams or lakes. Boiling is also an option but not always practical. We chose to use a filter bottle that we carried when hiking. Drew only from running water even though it’s claimed to be safe for standing water. Had no problem at all and intend to keep this bottle in the trailer for future trips.
We had a fair bit of sunshine every day at Rocky Mountain National Park. With that and the clearer air, you can bet we were careful about sunscreen. Even so, you need to be prepared for at least some rain each day. Most days, we’d get a mild shower to a small storm about 2-3 PM. Never lasted long but it was one of those things you needed to be prepared for.
If your going to be hiking, be aware of the possible dangers. All of the trails we hiked were well marked and most were in very good shape. None the less, there are dangers in this type of environment. Tripping, falls, cuts and abrasions are all possible. At some places, the sides of the trails can fall away into deep ravines and gorges. If you should fall into water, drowning and/or hypothermia are real dangers. These are all things to watch out for. Of course, it is never a good idea to hike alone as some of these areas are rather secluded. One thing we’d never thought about was a real threat from mountain lions. At one of the “Ranger Talks” we attended, we found out about these cats’ “opportunistic” means of hunting prey. Though it’s uncommon, if a cat can find a small child alone on a trail, it may choose to attack just because the child is the “right size and alone”. According to “Mrs. Ranger”, this threat can be pretty well neutralized by keeping the kiddos between the adults while on the trails. This make the total size larger then a cat’s likely going to want to tackle. It is my understanding that there are about 30 mountain lions in the entire park and they are almost never seen, even by the rangers.
One last thing about hiking. Good boots/hiking shoes are a must. Used to hike in gym shoes and the like but my feet and ankles just won’t take the strain any more. A staff is also a very good idea. I noticed many using two. A wooden hiking staff can be fun to carry if you add hiking medallions to it. I have a number of them on mine and look to add more as the years go by. Here’s a source I use for these medallions if I can’t get them where I hike:
http://www.hike-america.com/
Finally, make good use of the shuttle bus. They run regular, go to many of the places you’ll want to visit and will save fuel and the hassle of parking. Best reason of all is they are free (Well, you’ve paid for them once already in your taxes).
Well, believe it or not, I think I’ve reached the end of this review. I’m looking at the total length and I can’t believe I’ve been able to find this much to write about. It was a great trip and I enjoyed putting it on paper so that I can share it and be able to recall it in years to come. I hope that you enjoyed reading this and you can glean some useful tidbits from my ramblings. Most of all, I hope you get the opportunity to go to Rocky Mountain National Park and experience for yourself all that we enjoyed over that wonderful week. If I can be of help as you plan a trip to “Rocky”, please feel free to PM or e-mail. Until then and always,
Happy Camping!
Note: Information and site references contained in this review were current as of this writing. I apologize for any errors you may find and will attempt to correct them if notified.