We headed west on I-70, then up through Empire, Winter Park, Frasier and Granby.
There are currently 120 wild fires burning in the western U.S., consuming over 1.4 million acres of land. And it is very apparent in the beautiful Rocky Mountains.
It is a very windy road heading up Berthoud Pass.
We drove over continental divide at the top of Berthoud Pass at 11,307 feet.
When we reached the town of Granby, we pulled off and grabbed some coffee and donuts to enjoy in the car.
This is the Colorado River, near where the north fork and the south fork come together to for the beginning of the Colorado River. It sure get's bigger down stream.
Granby Reservoir.
We made a little detour at some cabins where Steve's mom's family used to spend some time. Steve even remembered them. The name has changed, but everything else still looked about the same.
This is the north fork of the Colorado River.
Soon after we passed the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, we spotted this young bull elk near the road.
And then, not much further down the road, this mama moose and her twins.
Trail Ridge Road, that goes through Rocky Mountain National Park is the Highest continuous road in the continental U.S., with it's highest point at about 12,200 feet, over two miles high.
Trail Ridge Road is only open from Memorial Day until Labor day, due to the amount of snow that they receive every year. About every 50 feet along Trail Ridge Road, there is a stick like this one, most of them are about 15 feet high. They mark both edges of the road for the snow plows.
We are reaching timber line, where it is too high for trees to grow.
We are now above timber line. This area is called the alpine tundra.
A herd of elk grazing in the alpine tundra.
We are now starting to come back down to timberline on the eastern slope of rocky Mountain National Park.
As you leave the park on the east end, you emerge in the town of Estes Park. A very popular tourist town with lots of great food and shops.
We stopped for lunch at Smokin' Daves.
My pit master sandwich, containing pulled pork, brisket and jalapeno cheddar sausage.
Steve's man-handler, containing a burger, bacon, cheddar and pulled pork.
Both were amazing!
Steve took me to Estes Park on our first date about 35 years ago, so this was the perfect double date with his parents today. The weather today was amazing! It was sad that the mountains were so hazy from all of the wild fires, but we felt so fortunate to get to see it again.
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