Trip Report: The Perfect Family Trip!
EDIT: I wanted to add this link here at the beginning. Ragusa's Summer 2014 Trailer Hello friends! We have been home for two months, but I am just now feeling like getting to the trip repo...
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Rocky Mountain National Park: Part 1
We left Gunnison and made it into Salidi, where we stayed in a Walmart and got rolling early the next morning. I don't remember if I commented, but we stayed a total of about 8-10 nights in Walmarts (Sam's once).
I had underestimated the length of the drive. I thought we had a one day drive broken into two, so I planned us to drive through what I hoped would be the most scenic route. It was very scenic, but turned into 2 good days of driving. We found plenty of cool little towns and climbed a few mountain passes. By the way, the truck was just incredible. We made passes like Monarch Pass (shown below) without even noticing. Pulling I70 up through the Eisenhower tunnel was a non event. Cruise control all the way, 5th gear, at the speed limit.
Arriving at RMNP
View from our campsite!
And right from our bed!
Morraine seems to be the first choice campground, and we were initially disappointed that we had to go to Glacier. After driving both campgrounds, we ended up with a choice site for our taste. Hard to argue with the photos!
The first morning, we spent at the Junior Ranger Station. Even if you don't have kids, you have to visit. Lots to see and learn.
We were a bit worried about the weather, as we woke up in the morning sitting in clouds. Our plan was to go up to the Alpine Visitor's center. By 10-11 o'clock, the clouds started to break and we made the drive up Trail Ridge Rd. I had wanted to take the older original road up and Trail Ridge back down, but that road was closed due to last years flooding. Bummer.
While on Trail Ridge, we had an adventure! We hiked about a mile of Milner Pass. Worried about the elevation, we didn't want to push it. But we saw enough to get a real feel for the Alpine Tundra.
On the drive back down to Glacier, we saw tons of wildlife. Herds of Elk, 3 male Bighorns, Marmot, Weasel, and probably a few other's I'm forgetting.
***Well, something keeps hanging up the uploader. I'll continue later. Hats off to those that post photo filled reports. It ain't easy.
We left Gunnison and made it into Salidi, where we stayed in a Walmart and got rolling early the next morning. I don't remember if I commented, but we stayed a total of about 8-10 nights in Walmarts (Sam's once).
I had underestimated the length of the drive. I thought we had a one day drive broken into two, so I planned us to drive through what I hoped would be the most scenic route. It was very scenic, but turned into 2 good days of driving. We found plenty of cool little towns and climbed a few mountain passes. By the way, the truck was just incredible. We made passes like Monarch Pass (shown below) without even noticing. Pulling I70 up through the Eisenhower tunnel was a non event. Cruise control all the way, 5th gear, at the speed limit.
Arriving at RMNP
View from our campsite!
And right from our bed!
Morraine seems to be the first choice campground, and we were initially disappointed that we had to go to Glacier. After driving both campgrounds, we ended up with a choice site for our taste. Hard to argue with the photos!
The first morning, we spent at the Junior Ranger Station. Even if you don't have kids, you have to visit. Lots to see and learn.
We were a bit worried about the weather, as we woke up in the morning sitting in clouds. Our plan was to go up to the Alpine Visitor's center. By 10-11 o'clock, the clouds started to break and we made the drive up Trail Ridge Rd. I had wanted to take the older original road up and Trail Ridge back down, but that road was closed due to last years flooding. Bummer.
While on Trail Ridge, we had an adventure! We hiked about a mile of Milner Pass. Worried about the elevation, we didn't want to push it. But we saw enough to get a real feel for the Alpine Tundra.
On the drive back down to Glacier, we saw tons of wildlife. Herds of Elk, 3 male Bighorns, Marmot, Weasel, and probably a few other's I'm forgetting.
***Well, something keeps hanging up the uploader. I'll continue later. Hats off to those that post photo filled reports. It ain't easy.