OMG....what a beautiful morning it was today!!!!!!!!! Just absolutely crystal clear with 38 degree temps at the beginning of the morning. We had our coffee and toast......and then decided today would be a super day for a hike into the mountains. Soooo, before too long we were on our way with sandwiches, bottles of water, cameras, snacks, and some warm clothing for later.....
About 14 miles south of Estes Park, we entered Rocky Mt. National Park.....and we entered free....since I am the old man of the group and four years ago, picked up my Golden Age Passport to all the national parks, monuments, museums, etc......for the lifetime price of $10!! If we would not have had my pass, it would be $20 each time we entered the NP here......a fee that can add up if you go into the park many days in a row.
We found the trailhead.....parked the car, put on my daypack with the goodies in it....and set off for the high waterfalls.....2.7 miles up the trail...and UP the mountain side. Yep....it was a 1200 foot ascent over the almost three miles.......over a very rocky and uneven trail. However,.....the views, the gorgeous waterfalls, the beautiful delicate wildflowers, and even some deer on the trail made up for the length and difficulty of the trail.
We spent three hours going up to the top waterfall......and then returned to the parking lot in only 1.5 hours. We stopped at the waterfalls along the way, exploring various views of them, and then trudged onward and upward......and at times becoming a bit tired as the altitude went to 9500 feet. Reaching the last waterfall, we rested for a bit....and then as the clouds thickened and it became darker as the sun disappeared behind those clouds, we thought it best to start down as it appeared that raindrops would be falling our heads.....soon! However,..... we made it down rather quickly with few stops....and NO raindrops along the way.....GREAT. By the time we were down the trail, it was in the mid-50's with a chilling wind blowing through the rustling pine trees and the quivering/quaking aspen trees......which were definitely shaking their tiny leaves quite strongly. Five hours on the trail......and 5.4 miles hiked!!!! WOW!!!!
We found a picnic table, had a few more sandwiches with some hot coffee...and then drove back up to Estes Park and the condo. Very quickly....we changed into bathing suits....and out the back door and across the lane to one of the hot tubs.....and, OMG....did it ever feel great on our sore and aching muscles. We enjoyed the hot jets for about 30 minutes....and then back to the condo for a few munchies for supper......and now, everyone is reading "their" book as they lounge in front of the warm gas fireplace, enjoying a glass of wine with strawberries floating in their glasses......ummmm....soooo relaxing!!!
WOW....it has just been an amazing day!!!!!! This long hike was spectacular.....difficult at times, but....ohhhhhh soooooo worth the efforts!!! I never became out of breath, even as we ascended to the 9500 foot level on the mountain.....and really felt good in that dry, crisp air up there. Certainly didn't feel like the sagging hulk of me at age 66!!!!!! I seemed to always be ahead of the other three......as I have always walked at 120 steps/beats to the minute(march tempo)...and still do, to this very day. But, I would wait for them at various outlooks along the way.......
What can I say...???? How can I say it differently.....????? A day to be remembered.....and, as always......
LIFE IS JUST ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!.....And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!!
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