Rocky Mountain National Park

I could have spent weeks exploring Glacier National Park, but we had given ourselves Monday-Friday and then it was time to pack up and move on.  We had one overnight in another KOA cabin in Billings, Montana, and then it was on to Rocky Mountain National Park for two camping nights.  

We were greeted by some resting elk as we approached our campground.  

As we were setting up camp, Jason noticed some scat on the edge of our campsite.  He called to Sierra, who had received a book called "Who Pooped in the Park" from her Grandma and Grandpa.  Jason suggested Sierra use her new book to figure out what kind of animal had been to our campsite.  She ran to the car, retrieved her book, and settled down next to a pile of poop to figure it out.  After studying the droppings intently, and flipping through her book for awhile, she declared, matter of factly, "This is deer scat.  There was a deer at our campsite."  Sure enough, she was correct!

The next morning, just as we woke up, we saw some of those deer in person.  A half a dozen young mule deer bucks were wandering right through the middle of the campsite.

We had just one full day in Rocky Mountain National Park, so we tried to make the best of it, and take in all the views that we could while we were there.

We drove along a 9-mile, one way, winding, gravel road that was once the originally road through the park.  It was narrow, and treacherous in places, but the views were astounding.

We got out near the peak of the road and donned our sweatshirts in the blustery July wind (Really!  It was COLD up there!) so that we could hike up the peak and take in more beauty of the park.

We passed a marmot, laying low, just losing his winter fur, trying to glean the heat from a rock on the side of the road.

We returned to camp via the main road, but stopped for another short, windy hike.  It took us through an alpine landscape with some amazing little flowers and ended near this structure on the top of a rock. You can line up the sites listed through the little gaps in the rings and it tells you how far away the elements you're looking at are located.

So windy!

I love the alpine plants.  It is truly amazing that they are able to eek out a living with the short growing season and harsh conditions they endure!  A metaphor for making the best of your given lot in life!