Our Campsite in the Mountains

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We woke up early to a beautiful morning.  The mountains above Grand Lake towered in the distance.

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It was cold and wonderful.

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Our little camp.


IMG_0853The 4×4 trail by our camp.


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Beautiful grass near our tent.


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Clean and clear water flowing down the 4×4 trail.  Not many people go up this high.


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Beautiful, lush meadows.

Old Fall River Road

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After hearing about Rocky Mountain National Park and the Grand Lake area, Heather and I decided that we needed to go check it out.  We loaded up the 4runner and headed north to the entrance to the park.  We decided to take the Old Fall River Road heading west.  This road was built by prisoners over several years.  It’s a really nice, smooth dirt road.



IMG_0696Heading up the switchbacks.  There were many people on this road who don’t know how to drive when there aren’t lines painted on the ground.


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Avalanche track in the summer.



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Neat rock formations looming over the road.



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STA_0718 - STI_0726Big mountains all around.


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I love taking the top off of my truck!  It’s even better without the doors.

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A marmot hanging out by the road!




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Lush and green up here.


IMG_0750Not even close to a real shelf road but it is enough to make most drivers nervous.



IMG_0752Almost above tree line.

IMG_0754On top of the world.

STA_0755 - STJ_0764Gorgeous high altitude alpine valleys.



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IMG_0780Heather freezing in the cold mountain wind.


IMG_0786A pretty meadow full of flowers.

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Heading over the top of the Continental Divide!

Exploring West of Grand Lake

STA_0831 - STF_0836After stopping off in Grand Lake for a little lunch, we headed west into the Arapaho National Forest toward the bottom of the Never Summer Wilderness.  Much of this area has been logged at least once.  There are many interesting roads to explore.  With the summer afternoon thunderstorms, the whole place was wonderfully wet.  It felt much like being in the Cascades in Oregon.



IMG_0839Having fun with the 4runner just south of the Never Summer Wilderness.



IMG_0841A gorgeous mix of green trees, white clouds, and blue sky.



IMG_0843A species of grouse we found doing a display for us to lure us away from his lady friend who had a nest nearby.



IMG_0846Big mountains along the continental divide east of Grand Lake.