RMNP

We decided to beat the heat on the front range and head up to Rocky Mountain National Park. Traffic was horrific getting in to Estes (note to self - don't go up on a holiday weekend again!), but we made it through and had a really nice visit in the park.

One of the goals of the trip was to get K her Junior Ranger badge. We spent some time filling out the work book along the way.We started at the Alluvial Fan.
Then headed up to the Alpine Visitor Center via Fall River road - a one-way, dirt road. We stopped at Chasm Falls on the way.
We saw some beautiful views on the way up, but no big wildlife.
Kaylynn was sworn in as a Junior Ranger and got a big round of applause from everyone in the visitor center!
Though it was in the nineties at home, it got down to 56 degrees at the top of the pass. A bit chilly in shorts and T-shirts!
On our way down we came to another dead stop and crept along in a traffic jam in the park. Turns out there was a bull elk and his harem near the side of the road. He must have been quite the guy! He was laying down so I didn't get a good picture of him, only the ladies.
After we made it through that we saw another bull elk across a meadow. Here is a zoomed in picture of him.
Shortly after we exited the park we hit another traffic jam..."what now"! Turns out it was two black bears, one on either side of the road. Here are the best pictures of one of the bears.
When we got home K said, "That was a fun trip!!" She was right! We decided it was a blessing to be stuck in all those traffic jams. We were fortunate to see some interesting wildlife along the way!