Today was a terrific day with about 5 miles of comfortable hiking. On my first day in the park, a ranger recommended that I hike the Ute trail from Alpine Visitor Center to Milner Pass. It's best as a one way hike, but since I lack a second vehicle and a friend, I had mostly ruled out the idea of managing it during this visit. Until I stumbled upon the existence of a ranger program that coordinates carpooling with others. So I went to Milner this morning, met the group, we carpooled up, and then did this amazing hike. I highly recommend it. An easy down hill hike, just a bit steep with steps at the end. The majority of the trail offered stellar views of the Never Summer Range, which I was keen on photographing while here. Today's weather couldn't be beat. It was such an amazing day, in many ways. Our ranger was fantastic, and I learned quite a lot which always makes for a good day. She took us off trail to a particular spot for an incredible view up Forest Canyon. Our group was small, it was just one Swiss family besides myself: parents and two kids, from Lucerne, a lovely town I visited as a teenager. We had some great conversations about similarities and differences in the outdoors experience in Europe versus the US. They have been here for a month, tent camping through many of the western national parks, and they did this last year as well. It was a really nice group of people to be out with for the day. After our hike and carpool back up to the Visitor Center, I had a late lunch, talked to a couple more rangers about some peak hiking plans I'm considering, then took a leisurely trip back down Trail Ridge Road among the insanity of Saturday afternoon traffic. Stopped at Rock Cut, Forest Canyon, and Many Parks and got out to hike around. Such fabulous skies today, I couldn't help stopping for copious photographs. It may now be too late to have time to run to town for laundry before it's dark, but I can't pass up good weather and light. I realize it's typically perfectly safe to walk the long, steep distance up to the cabin in the dark, but it's awfully hard to see the path by flashlight, there is absolutely no one around, and there's rumor of a mountain lion that hangs out in the vicinity. I like to see where I'm going. Dirty clothing can wait until morning. Planning to take a painting day tomorrow, but that's subject to change.
An incredibly lucky shot. I was photographing elk from a distance this morning, lamenting that they were all head down in the grass, when a motorcycle came down the road and startled this guy. He put his head up and looked towards me.
The start of the Ute Trail from Alpine Visitor Center with the Never Summer Range in the background
Looking back, Trail Ridge Road visible
Moss Campion, one of my favorite tundra plants
A little further along the trail
Spotted a marmot! Two, actually. And more pika.
Trail again. I know, I know, it's repetitive. But I love it.
See the spots in the snowfield? Elk!
Forest Canyon
Mount Ida
The Never Summers with the end of Forest Canyon. This is where the source of the Big Thompson River from yesterday's photos is.
More Never Summers, and an unnamed pond
Mt. Ida and reflection, this is the pond from the last photo
Forest Canyon
Back on the trail
The Kawuneeche Valley at the foot of the Never Summers
A small stream, the source is the water being released from the roots of the tundra plants.
Rocky outcrop just as the trail starts to get steep
