Our morning was a bit lazy in Limon, Colorado.  We woke about 7:00 AM and took our time getting ready to head out.  I took an opportunity to do some Pilates to warm up my sleepy body knowing it would be a busier day than just sitting in the car.  After coffee and a bite to eat, we pointed the car towards Estes Park, Colorado to visit our first park of the trip, Rocky Mountain National Park.

The morning was as beautiful as the evening before it.  The sky was clear with a few whisp-like clouds and the sun was already shining.  It was a cool 53 degrees F.  

We headed towards the park, passing through Lyons, Colorado along the route.  Lyons is a very interesting little town with shop store fronts that grabbed our attention as a place we would enjoy wandering about and spending time.  Today was not a day for visiting Lyons.

By 11:00 AM we were winding our way on Route 34 and the landscape had changed drastically.  No longer were we flanked with flat fields… we were surrounded by rocky cliffs dotted with houses.  To our left, there was a stream that to me whispered “fish me”.  Today was not a day for fishing.

We finally entered into Estes Park, Colorado.  Despite the name, Estes Park is a flourishing town.  It is absolutely beautiful sitting at the very foot of the Rocky Mountains.  The park entrance is just through town.  During this time of year, the elk come down from the mountains for the rut.  Sadly, our trip is at the end of that season, and there were no elk in town.  Estes Park, like Lyons, intrigued us with storefronts.. and a local brewery.  Today was not a day for exploring Estes Park.

We entered the park, stopping for a “selfie” as good tourists will do now and again.  Given it is the end of October, we were at risk for bad weather during our visit.  Bad would be heavy snow this time of year.  Instead, we were graced with blue skies and sunshine!

In preparing for our trip, I reached out to some friends for information.  For this park, we took the advice of a friend of mine who goes many years back as a fly fishing “sister”… Sister Sue.  Sister Sue is a long-time resident of that area (lucky girl) and was eager to point us in the right direction for a good day trip.

On her advice, we drove along Trail Ridge Road.  This route took us miles up into the sky, running up long the mountain edges, along incredible glacier-made valleys.  There were plenty of “pull-outs” spaced along the road to allow us a place to park and marvel at the views.  

Marvel we did.

Do you know the feeling you got as a child  when you are at a fireworks display?  Okay…for me, and for some of you reading, that is a feeling not outgrown (thankfully). Multiply that feeling times 10.  Every time we stopped and looked we were blown away by the size, the majesty, the vastness of it all.  We could see mountains near and far.  There was snow on many of the peaks.  We could see where the trees stopped growing and the tundra started.

Everywhere we stopped the wind was whipping.  BIG wind.  The temperature dropped into the 40’s while we were up that high.  One place we stopped, we were able to see a herd of elk in the distance along a tree line.  Although neither Katie Q nor I had a lens long enough to reach, we decided we would take the pictures, and when we show them, can point to the dots and say:  “See those little spots?  Those are elk!”

After a while, were were IN the tundra!  We marveled at yet another landscape…another world.  It is barren and desolate.  It is beautiful in its own way.  There was snow along the roadsides.  Evidence our timing was excellent!

We followed the road to the highest point, just above 12,000 feet.  We caught our breath.  Catching our breath was a bit tougher in the park given the altitude.  After our break, we turned the car back down the mountain.

We drove to the Moraine Park area.  We wanted to find a spot to stretch our legs.  The Moraine Park area is a wide glacial moraine with fantastic views of the mountains.  On this day, despite it being “off season”, there were quite a few people milling about.  We decided to go a bit further and see what we could see.

We drove to the Beirstadt Trail trailhead parking area and thought we might give that a whirl.  There was nobody in the parking area.  That was a good sign!  We looked at our map and found that the Beirstadt Trail was a loop trail that journeyed through the pine forest to a mountain lake.  Beirstadt Lake.  Go figure?

The hike is considered “easy” and just over three miles round trip.  We headed out with our water and cameras.  The trail started at 8640 feet elevation.  That short climb is UP.  We went up and up and up.  Switchbacks kept it “easy”.  We laughed as we discovered how quickly we were winded despite both of us staying quite fit.  

The climb was worth it when we reached the lake. We came to the lake via the eastern end, and the mountains were there for us in the distance.  Breathtaking.

Katie Q and I sat at Beirstadt Lake for a good while.  I gave thanks.  I was thankful for the time there.  I was thankful for my friend.  I was thankful for my health, my family, and my life.

As we drove to Denver for our night of rest, I am thankful.

Life is good.