I’m not sure how everyone else is going to start their post, but I’m sure it will say something about me being in a bad mood and grumpy and ruining the morning. I understand their perspectives, but I’d like to share my side. (Watch, now no one will write about my pouting and I just dug my own grave.)
We had a simple 3 hour drive this morning to Rocky Mountain National Park. It was easy enough and we arrived at the park in good spirits. Our plan had been to park at Bear Lake and start our hike there. Zak was confident that, although ALL the signs stated otherwise, we’d be able to find a parking spot in the overcrowded area. Turns out that the signs and rangers were all correct and the lot was full, so we started our RMNP time by backtracking many miles. We finally pulled into the Park N Ride and we’re greeted by hundreds of other people who had also planned on enjoying the serenity of the park. Our estimate of the wait time for a shuttle was in the hours. We hemmed and hawed and studied the hiking map and decided on a new trail. If you know me at all, you know I hate change in plans. I can’t just go with the flow.
The new trail began right in the parking lot and promised lakes and mountains and all sorts of beautiful things. We stepped our first few steps and I consciously remember breathing in the piney air and relaxing. The we started up. We climbed 800 feet in elevation today and I will put money on it that 750 of them were in the first half mile. The altitude was about 9000 feet and we have had no time to get acclimated to the lower oxygen level. It was hard and I was not happy. My legs hurt, my lungs hurt, even my eyeballs hurt. I tried to not be too vocally crabby, but I was huffing and puffing so much that there was little chance of being ignored. I also want to add that the rest of the family literally sprinted up the mountain. Like skipping and running. I was peeved and irked and wanted to go home. But, darn it, I forged onward.
We finally got to a flatter section and shed our fleeces. Our shoulders and arms were exposed and I asked Zak to get out the sunscreen I had asked him to throw in a pack back at the Park N Ride. He had forgotten it. Again, high altitude and not a cloud in the sky. Peeved and irked, I’m telling you.
Shortly after that point my mood shifted and I was happy enough taking in the beautiful scenery and watching the girls who were so joyful to be back in the mountains. At some point I stated that I didn’t think we were on trail. I’m sure Zak will write about the specifics, but we weren’t. We had the GPS and knew where we were, we just couldn’t find the trail. It should be noted that we were in several feet of snow for some of the Knott A Trail. We eventually found where we needed to be and it all worked out, but there were a few moments of panic.
At this point we had been hiking for 3 hours and hadn’t had anything to eat except a handful of trail mix at Beirstadt Lake. We found a good looking rock and got ready to dive into the first pb&j and Cheetos of the trip. All of a sudden I couldn’t breathe and Zak was coughing like mad. In the confusion I thought one of those poisonous bugs from The Hunger Games was attacking. (Note to self…they aren’t real.) I swished the girls away, trying to tell them to run. Zak is coughing and begging for water. Eventually, I get gulps of water down and I hear Zak say that the bear spray went off when he set his bag down. I’m so glad the girls weren’t hit by it. It was horrible. I still have the worst sting in my throat. And the new knowledge that Zak almost poisoned me with bear spray.
The rest of the hike ended fairly uneventfully. I think we did something like 6 miles when all was said and done. After the hike we made the short drive to Estes Park. You may remember that I absolutely hate Estes Park. We have always had bad luck with hotels and there are always so many darn tourists overrunning the crappy t-shirt and salt water taffy shops. I had appropriately low expectations for our hotel, The Ponderosa Lodge. I was dreading what the night would bring.
However, I so happy when we pulled into an adorable quaint lodge. It is super clean, updated, and our room has a beautiful porch right on a rushing stream. I finally found my happy place in this town!
We ended the day with a short stroll through the town and bought new bear spray. If Zak sprays me again, I’m booking the next flight home.
Ellie’s favorite-in-the-whole-world singer is Cowboy Brad. He held one of his Estes Park staple concerts in the park and Ellie was thrilled to be there. (We even parked right next to him! Talk about the shrieking from a fanatic fan!) She and Zak did a little impromptu dance in front of the crowd and Cowboy Brad gifted them chocolate bars. This whole spectacle caused Zoe to announce that she was “officially quitting the family.” She’s in for a long summer. In fact, we might all be.
Another disclaimer. WiFi is kinda crappy at most places we stay. So, there will be days like today, when the pics go up at a later date.