While my aunt was visiting from the western slope of Colorado, Heather and I decided we all should go up Mount Evans. Joyce has been up Mount Evans many times but this was the first for me and Heather. We first stopped at Echo Lake just before the Mount Evans Parkway starts.
Heading up above treeline.
This road is much more narrow and less well maintained than the road up Pikes Peak. For instance, there are no guard rails. Those afraid of heights probably shouldn’t drive this road.
It felt like we were driving on the edge of the world.
Our first wildlife sighting! A bighorn sheep herd grazing down below the road.
We finally reached the summit. There is a small parking area, an old burned-out restaurant, an observatory, and the top of the mountain.
Looking south.
Bighorn sheep grazing near the observatory.
Bighorn sheep pawing the ground and licking up something right outside the pit toilets! There are also a couple mountain goats on the right.
Mountain goats and bighorn sheep.
Looking down to the north. The thin ribbon is the road we just came up.
On the deck of the old restaurant.
There was a ranger-led program going on while we were there.
Climbing up to the summit. Looking east toward Denver, the old restaurant, the parking lot, and the observatory.
This is Summit Lake far below the summit of Mount Evans. Interestingly, it doesn’t have an outlet. There must be enough cracks in the rock for the water to keep a constant level.
A 360 degree panorama from the exact summit of Mount Evans. Some thunderstorms were building around us but nothing close enough to be a danger.
My aunt Joyce and Heather at the summit. The rain was hitting some peaks a ways away.
People hanging out on the false summit.
What an awesome place for an observatory!
One of the survey markers on the top.
It’s a long way down if you misstep here.
There were some ravens playing around in the thermals above the mountain.
14258 feet above sea level according to this 1955 survey marker.
Looking north and west.
Me at the top!
Heather and Joyce preparing to head down as rain falls to the south of the mountain.
My, my. What have we here? Why in fact it is an Audi test car in camouflage! We see test cars for various car companies semi regularly around Golden due to all of the great conditions to test cars in around here. For instance, many of these cars are driven daily up Pikes Peak.
Another sneaky shot. It’s a four door but has a stubby trunk.
Bighorn sheep heading down the mountain as we walk the road over to the observatory.
The herd really knows how to stop traffic.
This is the Mt.Evans Meyer-Womble Observatory which, at 14148 feet above sea level, is the highest operating telescope facility in the west. Until 2000 it was the highest in the world.
There were these little orange flags all over the place. They marked traps of some sort.
All of these traps were closed and as far as I could tell, nothing was in them. Very odd.
Traps everywhere!
Looking to the east. Denver is out there somewhere.
One of the buildings where people stay during observation season.
I believe this is the generator room.
BIG propane tanks.
A happy little pika storing food for the fast-approaching winter. Summer doesn’t last long this high up.
The entire observatory facility.
Obligatory selfie with the summit of Mount Evans in the background.
Heading back down but now on the OUTSIDE edge.
The herd of bighorn sheep chilling out below the summit.
A few sheep heading to join the others.
A big, fat marmot looking for food.
A lake on the south shoulder of Mount Evans.
Mountain goats including a couple babies.
So adorable!
The road cut across the mountains in the distance.
Cars heading down the hill.
A pika further down the mountain.
Narrow road and steep dropoffs.
My trusty Subaru Forester 2.5XT!
Down at Summit Lake looking back up toward Mount Evans.
Taken from where you would expect there to be an outlet.
Bighorn sheep on the hill.
Looking at lakes going down one of the hiking approaches to Mount Evans.
It’s a steep dropoff.
Another view of Mount Evans.
Some beautiful wildflowers.
Puff balls!
The storm clouds started to close in as we returned to our car.
This mountain goat decided to come down to the bathrooms to say hello and hide from the impending storm.
There must be something good to eat in the dirt here. Maybe salt?
In the car just as big hail hit.
Driving down Mount Evans through the hail storm. Notice the horrible condition of the road as we pull out of the parking lot at Summit Lake.
Down at the Bristlecone Pine Forest.
An old, dead tree.
These trees have survived here isolated for many thousands of years.
Storm out toward Denver.
