Estes Park and RMNP

Our next stop was back in Rocky Mountain National Park for a week. Stayed in the same cozy cabin we had rented last year just outside the town of Estes Park and close to the east entrance. What an amazing place - spectacular scenery at every turn and some the prettiest (and most challenging) hiking trails you'll find anywhere.

We warmed up the first day with a nice hike that started just outside our cabin door, and which wound its way along this beautiful meadow - home to a semi-permanent herd of Elk.

Like I said - beautiful scenery at every bend of the trail. This little meadow was along the trail to Black Lake...well up in the hills at an elevation of 10,500 ft.

This is the outfall from Black Lake, and is the last thing you see before you crest just to the left of the photo and behold the lake in all its glory. I happened to be first out that morning and so had the place all to myself for an hour's worth of well deserved rest.

Looking down the valley from the outfall.

One of our lunch spots looking down on Cub Lake.

Since the upcoming move to Colorado Springs was much on our minds, we both decided that it would be a good idea to take advantage of the close proximity of Denver airport and have Rita fly home to Vancouver for a few days to interview movers for our late September pack out. So, that's what we did. She's just finalized the contract with one of the moving companies today and will be rejoining me here in Denver later tonight to continue the trip...to the Black Hills and then Yellowstone Park before we return home. Lots of peace of mind for both of us having it done - good work Rita.

Since I was on my own for the last few days in Estes Park I had a chance to channel my inner John Denver and go on some mega-hikes into the back country. Am pretty leg sore today after a long 13 miler yesterday - most of which was above 10,000 ft. - and decided to give my legs the day off while I wait for Rita's plane to arrive later tonight.

Heading for Sheridan, Wyoming tomorrow before spending a week in Custer, South Dakota in the heart of the Black Hills.