We start our day early as the weather report was predicting rain in the afternoon. We leave our Ponderosa Lodge cabin in Estes Park before 8 and head into the Rocky Mountain National Park and up Old Fall River Road, a one way dirt road with no guardrails that switchbacks higher and higher along the northernmost section of the Rock Mountain National Park. Riding in the car is about the right amount of activity for us today as we are still acclimating to the high altitude – even walking 50 ft on a flat trail leaves us breathless.
The aspens show their fall glory, and the pine covered mountainsides are aflame with golden yellow and fiery orange. Though the day is cloudy with intermittent sunshine and showers, I am able to capture the essence of the season. We stop at numerous pull outs along the way, each with a different view of the rockies.
At mid day, we reach the summit at 11,796 ft. in elevation. The Alpine Visitor’s Center is a refuge from the gusty cold wind. I try to photograph from the deck but the winds are too strong. From inside, I can see a bull elk and his harem in the distance. It is rutting season in the Rockies.
Leaving the Visitors Center, the road intersects the Trail Ridge Road, the alpine highway generally open until mid October, that runs across the park. At 2:00, we decide on one more short walk before heading back to Estes Park along the Trail Ridge Road. As we head out of the parking lot and onto the road, the rain turns to light snow and we see a ranger’s truck ahead with it’s lights flashing. They had just closed the road due to winter conditions at the summit. Unfortunately this means we are unable to return to Estes Park via this highway and must make our way around the southern part of the park, turning a 1 1/2 hr. trip into a 4 hour one.
The conditions turn wintry with falling snow and white out visibility crossing the pass by Winter Park. It is a gorgeous sight but slow going.
