This past weekend we drove back to Rocky Mountain National Park. (RMNP) The road beyond Rainbow Curve was closed. We aren't sure why, though it was pretty cloudy up there even at 11,000 feet. It might possibly have been because the Wapiti (Elk) have begun to descend for the autumn Rut too. Pictures were not great yet. On the way back down from Rainbow Curve, a wapiti came off the side of the mountain right out into and across the road in front of us. He was huge and had a really big rack. He moved on down the side of the mountain. It amazes me how they can keep their footing on those really steep descents off the sides of the roads.
We did stop for breakfast at the Trailhead Restaurant. It sits at the entrance to the park. There are two campgrounds there on either side of the road. We drove into the one on the right to look at the sites there. The first site we saw had a most unusual camping guest. You can see his picture here.
We did stop for breakfast at the Trailhead Restaurant. It sits at the entrance to the park. There are two campgrounds there on either side of the road. We drove into the one on the right to look at the sites there. The first site we saw had a most unusual camping guest. You can see his picture here.
He wasn't someone I wanted to get very close to and snap a shot, so it's not great, but it gives you an idea.
Sunday, we drove through Poudre (Pooter) canyon on highway 14 and up to Cameron Pass. (10,000 feet) It was snowing and hailing up there, but I did get a few decent shots while we were at a pull off area.
The road through the canyon runs along the Poudre River, and the scenery is outstanding. I don't believe there's a wide angle lens wide enough to capture the real beauty of the canyons.
I'm thinking I might try my video camera, and see if that will be better, though I doubt it. It gives one from the East a feeling of complete and total "WOW! Look what I've been missing all these years." We kind of hung around for a little while and began the long drive back at about 4PM. (mountain time) There are several areas as you come through the canyon that have signs that say there is open range for cattle. We had just passed one at about 7500 feet when I saw a cow on the opposite side of the river. I was pointing it out to Jim at about the same time got a good view of it. It was a BEAR!
Jim just about hit the side of the mountain getting off the road so I could get out and try to get some pictures of it. I was so excited that most of them were blurry from me shaking so much while I was taking them. We followed him down river and at a wide opening in the river, protecting us with a tall fence, the bear went into the water. I did get some decent shots of him then. Fact is, I need a more powerful telephoto lens, which I intend to order in the next day or so.
