RMNP Family Day

Twice a year, Primrose is closed for teacher training.  This year, we planned ahead for a family day.

We haven't had the boys hiking this summer and they haven't been to Estes in two years.  Kellan has never been to Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP).  We were LONG over due for a visit.

We loaded up the boys and snacks and headed to the mountains.  We found a great hike and had a quick snack before heading out.

Kellan was a champ.  He hiked ran nearly the entire way.  He loved it.

Oliver was quick on his feet too and liked to race fast and then wait for us.

It was a gorgeous day in the park.

Oliver and I got behind on the trail looking at a water fall and once we caught up with Daddy and Kellan, they were having a snack on a rock and made it look like they had been sitting there for an eternity.  They were so handsome and mischievous looking that we quickly took their photo.

Then... we were off again.

Angel Falls is gorgeous and one of the most popular stops in RMNP.  It's a wonderful hike that's perfect for small kids and the view at the end is fabulous.

The boys loved hiking around on the rocks.  

Who am I fooling?  We loved it too!

At the top of the falls, we found a great big flat rock for a snack.  It was perfect.

Then we found a nice lady who was crawling around the rocks to stop and take our family photo.

On the way back, we went over the rocks instead of the bridge.  The boys thought that this was great and it gave them a chance to try their luck at rock hoping across the water.  Everyone made it without getting wet.

We hiked nearly 2 miles round trip and we were planning to hike another .8 miles round trip so that we could go to Bear Lake but then the skies opened up.  The rain fell hard and fast.  I scooped up Kellan and we started to sprint down the trail.  It poured for approximately 2 minutes and then stopped.  Mother Nature giggled and said "That was just the appetizer, you silly people.  Here's the main course" Then the skies opened up and it poured and poured.  We were bummed that our day was cut short, but we weren't willing to give up that easy.  We went back into Estes and found a pizza place with an arcade.  The best part of the pizza place was the arcade and even that wasn't that good.  Estes is not known for their dining options.

Who doesn't love a little arcade racing?

After two hours of downpour rain, it stopped.

We were on a mission for some salt water taffy.

Salt Water taffy isn't high on the list of favorite treats but there is something special about buying it from a store that makes it in the window.  There is also something nostalgic about taffy as I used to make it as a kid with my Mom and we would pull and pull and pull until we could eat it.  Someday, we'll make it with our boys.  Maybe when Grandma comes to visit.

They have been making taffy since 1935.  They must know what they are doing and have some mighty fine taffy.

The boys loved picking out their flavors (which was nearly every one) and then eating it until it was nearly gone.

Mother Nature rewarded our patience and moved the storm clouds out of the way so that the sun could shine and we could go back into the park for another hike.  The boys kept saying that they wanted to hike more, which made our outdoor loving hearts smile and sing.

Oliver always asks if we are at the top of the mountain.  Usually the answer is no, so this day, we drove to the top of RMNP and the visitors center.  The visitors center has a very friendly hike.  So friendly that there are stairs the entire way up.  I'm not sure if that's really classified as hiking, but don't tell the boys.

Heading up and up and up.

HELLO WAY UP THERE!

Hiking in the Tundra.

Whenever I see these signs I remember the pictures in elementary school books about the tundra.  It usually looked exactly like this except there was usually a caribou in the photo.  No Caribou here.

Kellan explaining how we had hiked there and there and there.  He has a lot to say.

Put your hands in the air and wave them like you just don't care!

Kellan found this puddle and usually I would have told him not to splash in it, but sometimes, you've just got to let a kid be a kid.  It made him SO happy, especially when I asked him to splash over and over for fun photos.  When he was done, his shoes and socks were soaked and he was SO Happy!

Kellan and Oliver on top of RMNP.

On our way back toward Estes we saw a small herd of elk.  This guy gave us quite a show and we were happy to watch and take lots of photos.

He even stuck his tongue out for a photo op.

This little lady was sitting on the hill above us.  In a month or two, there is no way that I would have stood between the bull elk and the ladies up the hill.

This guy was more interested in posing for photos than chasing ladies.  In a short time, that will change.

This baby and Mama emerged from the trees.  They were both a little skittish.  As we left the scene we noticed that the Mama was trying to get across the road to join the ladies.  I may have been a bit skittish too if a bunch of people were staring at my baby and snapping photos.

We haven't been to RMNP in so long that I forgot how amazing it is.  The views from the drive are unbelievable and this photo isn't even close to the level of breath taking that the views are.

As we were leaving the park, we headed down another road in search of some elk viewing.  Keith said that he had a good feeling that we were going to see animals.  After a couple of miles of seeing nothing, we pulled to the end where there was a parking lot and these horses.  Keith said "See, I told you we would see animals."

We had a GREAT day in RMNP.