Flowers- last

As I've said, the flowers and animals were wonderful...but not as wonderful as the people we were around and memories we have of the trip. I'll share some of those tomorrow when I'm not as tired (the 2,700 miles is finally catching up with me:)

Flowers and Mushrooms

While the flowers are beautiful...the mushrooms were even more amazing!

Flowers-Part 2

Too many beautiful flowers to fit on one page:)

Flowers

We saw wonderful, beautiful flowers. Some of the best:

Animals

During the trip we saw fox, moose, big horn sheep, coyotes, elk, and birds. Here are some of the best photos.

Last Hiking Day- Friday, July 9

On Thursday night, Shel, Bill, Les, Lou, and Jill met us at Ed's Cantina for dinner. What a great time...Mexican food, cold beer, and lively conversations!

Deb and I were excited that Les agreed to stay the night with us and take the final hike on Friday morning. The three of us sat on the porch after everyone left and listened to the night sounds (wrapped in a fleece and sweatshirt...eat your hearts out East Coast folks suffering through the heat wave:) What a wonderful cabin we have this year- a mid-size 2 bedroom vs the basic 2 bedroom that we've had in the past. So good that we may never go back to the basic again.

We woke early on Friday morning (43 degrees) to take advantage of the cool weather and to avoid the crowds that hit the first portion of this hike later in the day. We left the cabin at 7:02 and were on the trail to The Loch and Timberline Falls by 7:40.

The "classic RMNP sign picture ( I finally made it to the top level after a couple of attempts:)

The three of us at Alberta Falls (.8 from the trailhead). I made it to the picture after one attempt- a trip and skinned knee later)

At the Loch (~3 miles from the trailhead)

We made it to the end of The Loch to the base of Timberline Falls (~4.5 miles from the trailhead and another few hundred feet higher)

After the official hike, we walked around Sprague Lake which offers one of the best views of Flattop, Hallett, and Otis (a special lake because around this lake is where David proposed to Laura:)

Thursday, July 8

A beautiful 6.6 mile hike to Bridalveil Falls (appropriate following a wedding...no?)

David, you are not the only one attacked by a wild bird while on an out west trip. This momma ptramagin (???) was nesting beside the trail and we spooked her and the chick underneath. She clucked, raised her feathers and came after use. We scurried away!

The Falls...bridalveil like:)

Deb's shoes amongst the wild flowers...whci were beautiful

Near the end of the trail

Another great day!

Off to dinner at Ed's with Shel, Bill, Les, Lou, and Jill.

Les is spending the night with us and hiking tomorrow with us to the Loch and Timberline Falls. We'll have an awesome time, I'm sure!