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 3
There was something about RMNP that took time to grow on us. The first day we showed up, we thought we had made a mistake by giving 5 days. But by the third day, it had grabbed our hearts and we dreaded the thought of leaving. It's a no thrills sort of park (from the perspective we had). But, it spoke to us. Of all the parks, it was less about "doing" and more about "being". We'd all go back in a second.
Here's yours truly, "being".
The next day, we drove up to Bear Lake to do some hiking (yes, more). We got up to the parking lot early, but it was already full. Had to turn around and go to the park and ride to take the shuttle. Wasted almost an hour of the day. Even the shuttles were jam packed and we had to wait for the third one!
The hike to Bear Lake itself almost doesn't exist, it's right off the parking lot if I remember right. I also thought the view to be a bit ho-hum.
We did see this guy going in on the trail. Turns out, that a few times a week, a ranger has to go to the remote camping spots and remove human waste. The job itself isn't so good, but the commute ain't bad!
After Bear Lake, we hiked over to Alberta Falls. It was really nice, and not a bad hike for "non hikers". We sat and had lunch here.
Now, the rest of the day was a bit different. Turns out, that the hike to Mill's Lake was one of the tougher hikes we've ever done. It was up, up, up, for several hours. By the time we got to the lake, we were all complaining a bit. I wonder if it was the elevation that got us?
But then again, the scenery was phenomenal!
Here's one boy protesting just 15 minutes before the lake.
We spent about an hour here, having snacks, resting and taking in the amazing scenery.
While here, we heard and saw an avalanche! It looked like maybe 2-3 acres of snow sliding. Hard to tell scale out there. But it sounded like a train wreck! Scared the heck out of us.
My socks are not a fashion statement, it was a poor attempt to protect myself from the mosquitos. They were terrible.
The trip back to the shuttle bus was much nicer...downhill...and took half the time and energy.
Next up: Final chapter of RMNP
There was something about RMNP that took time to grow on us. The first day we showed up, we thought we had made a mistake by giving 5 days. But by the third day, it had grabbed our hearts and we dreaded the thought of leaving. It's a no thrills sort of park (from the perspective we had). But, it spoke to us. Of all the parks, it was less about "doing" and more about "being". We'd all go back in a second.
Here's yours truly, "being".
The next day, we drove up to Bear Lake to do some hiking (yes, more). We got up to the parking lot early, but it was already full. Had to turn around and go to the park and ride to take the shuttle. Wasted almost an hour of the day. Even the shuttles were jam packed and we had to wait for the third one!
The hike to Bear Lake itself almost doesn't exist, it's right off the parking lot if I remember right. I also thought the view to be a bit ho-hum.
We did see this guy going in on the trail. Turns out, that a few times a week, a ranger has to go to the remote camping spots and remove human waste. The job itself isn't so good, but the commute ain't bad!
After Bear Lake, we hiked over to Alberta Falls. It was really nice, and not a bad hike for "non hikers". We sat and had lunch here.
Now, the rest of the day was a bit different. Turns out, that the hike to Mill's Lake was one of the tougher hikes we've ever done. It was up, up, up, for several hours. By the time we got to the lake, we were all complaining a bit. I wonder if it was the elevation that got us?
But then again, the scenery was phenomenal!
Here's one boy protesting just 15 minutes before the lake.
We spent about an hour here, having snacks, resting and taking in the amazing scenery.
While here, we heard and saw an avalanche! It looked like maybe 2-3 acres of snow sliding. Hard to tell scale out there. But it sounded like a train wreck! Scared the heck out of us.
My socks are not a fashion statement, it was a poor attempt to protect myself from the mosquitos. They were terrible.
The trip back to the shuttle bus was much nicer...downhill...and took half the time and energy.
Next up: Final chapter of RMNP