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Sunday, July 23, 2023

The Continental Divide and West Side of Rocky Mountain National Park



I hope everyone is having an enjoyable summer and are staying cool during this record-breaking heatwave! I am continuing my story about our early June visit to Rocky Mountain National Park (see prior posts #1,  #2 #3,  and  #4) and perhaps the snowy scenes will be welcome. After visiting the Alpine Center--the highest-elevation visitor center in the US national park system, my husband and I continued to drive west on Trail Ridge Road.



 
Again, we saw the giant poles that guide the snowplows alongside the road. Here is an interesting video about a snowplow operator in the park who has been plowing for 41 years!


There was still lots of snow in this high-elevation part of the park during June, which made the view enjoyable.




We were sad to see some of the beautiful forests become burned-out ruins that were the result of the October 2020 Cameron Peak and Troublesome Wildfires.  They were the two largest wildfires in Colorado state history. While the bulk of these fires were on lands surrounding Rocky Mountain National Park, nearly 30,000 acres burned within the park’s boundary.



Nine percent of the park was affected. The fire affected park housing, offices, the park entrance station, trails, campsites, privies, bridges, wayfinding signs, the boundary, historic structures and landscapes, archeological resources, fisheries, wildlife, and vegetation.




The process of restoration is in progress in this part of the park and will likely continue for this century. Nature is also beginning to heal slowly and it was comforting to see these wildflowers growing among the burned tree logs on a trail.




We stopped at the Holzwarth Historic Site to take a trail walk to see the Colorado River.




The headwaters of the Colorado River begin in the Never Summer Mountains in the Kawuneeche Valley.   In the Arapaho Indian language, Kawuneeche means "valley of the coyote."




The 1,450-mile-long (2,330 km) river drains an expansive, arid watershed that encompasses parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states.  40 Million people depend on it as a water source.




We enjoyed hiking along the river and watching its meandering flow.





The Kawuneeche Valley offers prime habitat for moose, especially near the river and surrounding wetlands where sightings are fairly common and sure enough, I saw a moose in the distance!



It was very hungry!   I used my zoom lens to take these photos as moose can be very aggressive if they feel in danger and it is best not to get too close to them.  




A long view of the Kawuneeche Valley with the beautiful Never Summer Mountains above. 




We had turned around to head back east in the park at this point as we were staying in the historic Stanley Hotel in Estes Park--click here--to read that post. We stopped to read this placard about the Never Summer Mountains. Seventeen summits rise above 12,000 feet (3,657 Meters), with Howard Mountain topping out at 12,810 feet and four of the area’s peaks representing their cloud-friendly locale with names that include Cirrus, Cumulus, Stratus and Nimbus.


The Never Summer Mountains have the only volcanic rock in Rocky Mountain National Park, deposited there millions of years ago. Today it’s home to 20 miles of hiking trails and the mountains have some of the oldest trees in Colorado – some up to 600 years old! 




As we were driving toward the east, we spotted a group of bicycle riders. We decided to make a stop at Milner Pass, where a sign marked the point of the Continental Divide. This divide runs through the length of the Americas, from Alaska to Cape Horn in Chile. It is interesting to note that a drop of water that falls on either side of the divide will flow in a different direction. Water on the east side will flow towards the Atlantic Ocean, while water on the west side will flow towards the Pacific Ocean.




The bicyclists were also nice enough to take our photo by the Continental Divide sign. We talked with them for a while and found out that they were training for a charity bicycle event to help Samaritan House, which was founded by Catholic Charities in Denver, Colorado in 1927. 
The Samaritan House Charity website states: "We serve tens of thousands of people in crisis annually. We offer shelter, affordable housing, early childhood education, counseling, emergency services, rent and utilities, employment, food and clothing, case management, family and senior services, and much more."  



As we continued to climb up in elevations we encountered fog and snow!




We passed by the Alpine Visitor Center again, where we stopped briefly to take a few photos.





I noticed these beautiful snowflakes on my jacket when we returned to our car!




As we headed toward the eastern exit of Rocky Mountain National Park we passed the Big Thompson River.  The Big Thompson River begins in the Forest Canyon, inside the Rocky Mountains. It flows east towards Moraine Park inside the park, then Estes Park, continuing along the path of Highway 34 all the way to Loveland. It keeps going west until it merges with the South Platte River south of Greeley, Colorado.



The early June sun was setting as we said goodbye to another lovely visit to Rocky Mountain National Park and all the new memories we made.  Every season has its unique beauty in the park and we look forward to our next adventure there!


32 comments:

  1. Hello Pat,
    Gorgeous views of the park. It is sad to see the wildfire damage. But, great to see the land is healing. The mountain and rivers are just lovely. Great sighting of the moose. I love the sunset at the river. Great photos. Take care, have a great week!

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  2. Oh Pat, your photos are so beautiful! What a wonderful trip you are sharing here. And yes, it's lovely to see snow on a hot summer afternoon. I love the snowflakes on your jacket! A great capture! Enjoy your summer afternoon.

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  3. What a lovely armchair trip. We have passed through the Rockies but would love to do it again (hopefully)
    I visited you via The Good. The Random. The Fun. v. 29
    I have linked up this week with = 25+26.
    If you have not joined us at SSPS yet, this is a personal invite to come and share your awesome post/s with us
    You will find the linkup information (1) In the Top bar under Blogging: Weekly Senior Salon Pit Stop OR 2nd image In the sidebar.
    We hope to meet you there virtually.

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  4. I loved this Pat! Gorgeous pictures -- love that you saw a moose -- that's special. Always wanted to stop at a Continental Divide sign for a picture and to do a water drop test ;)) We have crossed it in different places, but never stopped right at the sign. Cool you even got the picture!.... We stayed many times at an RV Park on the Big Thompson outside of Loveland -- it washed away during that terrible hundred year flood that one year. Not too long after that we changed our travel methods and then the kids moved so we haven't driven that road for years now.. I often wonder if they ever rebuilt the park.

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  5. ...Pat, you live in a gorgeous area with diverse weather. The snow pack is amazing. We are in the Adirondacks today, with rain coming. Take care and stay well, enjoy your week.

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  6. Wonderful views you captured, Pat. That is fascinating about the flow of water from either side of the divide!!

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  7. What a wonderful virtual tour with you, those cyclists must be fit! Seeing snow in June is rather incredible after the heat of recent times. I have enjoyed seeing this beautiful part of the world, I would love to spot a Moose, maybe I will when I visit Montana in September?
    Wren x

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  8. I thoroughly enjoyed your photos very interesting info too what a place to be able to visit thanks for taking us with you :-)

    Have a bothsidestastic week 👍

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  9. I've travelled over the Continental Divide once - we barely made it before it became impassible. Nice shot!
    Thanks for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2023/07/tommys-exercise-routine.html

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  10. Those snowflakes are for real? That's a fabulous photo! This is truly beautiful country and you show it so well. I would have taken water from my water bottle and tried the dropping water trick on the divide! I didn't know that -- years ago I was at Loveland Pass, which I think is also a Continental Divide spot. Wish I'd known. It looks like a fabulous trip!

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  11. It's so hot here in Florid and lots of other places that it's mind blowing to see the snow. Beautiful post and very informative.

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  12. Lovely views of the park. Sad to see the areas that are still suffering from the after effects of the wildfires.

    Over here in Scotland, we had an incredibly hot hot June but July is colder and wetter than usual.

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  13. Fantastic photographs, the views are majestic.
    Wow ... I do like the snowflakes on your jacket ... very pretty.

    A lovely post and photographs.
    My good wishes.

    All the best Jan

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  14. It’s getting so heartbreaking to read about the weather and natural disasters. That burned out area is heartbreaking but another photos are uplifting Michelle.

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  15. Wonderful photos. The snowflake one is precious, especially in June.

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  16. Spectacular views of the park.
    Your photos are incredible, Pat.

    Hugs and blessings

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  17. Such beautiful photos! I love the details of the snowflakes and I'm a little jealous you saw a moose. I've seen signs galore for them all over Maine but have yet to actually see one in the wild.

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  18. Admittedly I try being cool... it`s a hopeless task. We would like some colder degrees.

    Thank you being part at

    MosaicMonday

    I enjoyed reading. Wish you a very good week.
    Hugs by Heidrun

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  19. It looks like you had a great drive through the mountains. There is nothing quite like the Colorado Rockies!

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  20. Beautiful scenery. Breathtaking.

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  21. The Continental Divide sign is so cool! Glad you both took advantage of the photo op. Sad to see the effects of wildfires. Hopefully nature will heal, and a good sign seeing wildflowers.

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  22. Hi Pat, What great pics! I was hoping you used a zoom lens for that moose!
    ;0)

    I love your Colorado trips! Thanks for sharing! xo laura

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  23. Over from PS. Thank you for sharing such a detailed post. We have flown over the mountains a few times this year while traveling east to west. I'm always in awe of the massive amount of area they occupy. And, the snowflakes almost looked like embroidery.

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  24. I was looking at your gorgeous pictures, thinking that they didn't seem to fit the summer season. Never summer mountains is such a good name for that place!

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  25. What a lovely photo tour. Your post caught my attention because I write about what I've learned about navigating life by faith from hiking in the mountains--Yellowstone's in particular. The mountains of the west just can't be beat. Thanks for sharing Colorado's beauty with us.

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  26. Such beautiful photos. That looks like a really lovely trip. Many years ago, I visited Colorado, and I loved Rocky Mountain National Park. Thanks for sharing with us at Thursday Favorite Things.

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  27. Your photos are beautiful Pat. I love my home state. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  28. Hello Pat,
    Beautiful views of the park. I love the mountain scenery and the pretty views of the river. Neat capture of the snowflakes. Seeing the moose would make my day, they are huge critters. Wonderful photos. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great day and a happy new week. PS, thanks so much for leaving me a comment.

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  29. The snowflakes on your jacket is a neat photo and how nice to get a picture of the two of you at the divide! Love seeing the snow and beauty. Makes me wish I was there for this month. It's HOT here!

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  30. A mesmerizing account of a Rocky Mountain National Park visit! Lovely pics!

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