Trail Ridge

On Wednesday morning (6/25) we loaded up the car for a sight seeing trip up Trail Ridge Road. This road takes you up and over the continental divide in the Rocky Mountains without having to hike it. As you can see the snow was fairly deep off the edge of the road where plows had dug out the road for the summer. Those log branch poles are what the plows use to find the road and indicate depth. This road generally is open by June 1st. We drive up to the highest point and then head on to the Alpine Station complete with Forrest Rangers to ask your questions and a weather station to boot. There is an alternative dirt road route up to the Alpine Center from Falls River Road but it was still closed due to snow and they were hoping to have it open by July 4, but it was not looking good.

From the Alpine station there is a short albeit straight uphill climb to the top of the divide (12,005 feet). This year the beginning of the trail up was yes deep in snow.

Great views to be had from the top

Lot's of beautiful Spring tundra flowers were just opening up.

View of the hike back down to the Alpine Center.

All in all we arrived around 10 am spent an hour taking photos at the top and by the time we reached the bottom a storm was headed in with lots of sleet. Thankfully it melted on the road and was all gone by the time we were heading back down at noon. Also seen from the Alpine center was lots of elk that had finally made the trip up from the meadows, and lots of waterfalls to be seen from the car.

Do you see the lake?