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August 2019 - Rocky Mountain National Park

A couple of days in the Rocky Mountains, focused on the west side of the park that we didn't get to in the previous visit due to road closure. Most of the time was spent hiking up in the alpine tundra, but there was also a lovely hike through a river valley. Wildlife sightings included lots of elk, a couple moose (found only on the west side), and a lot of birds.

The first wildlife of the trip: A fox on the drive in
The first elk sighting, a beautiful buck!
Elk number 2
The first wildlife of the trip: A fox on the drive in The first elk sighting, a beautiful buck! Elk number 2
A female violet-green swallow
A deer on the trail at about 10k feet elevation
A female violet-green swallow A deer on the trail at about 10k feet elevation
A chipmunk looking down from his perch on the cliff
A pair of red crossbills
An immature red crossbill. Their crossed bill is so interesting!
A chipmunk looking down from his perch on the cliff A pair of red crossbills An immature red crossbill. Their crossed bill is so interesting!
Another perhaps immature red crossbill
A male pine grosbeak
Another perhaps immature red crossbill A male pine grosbeak
The trail heading up into the alpine tundra
Marmots poking their heads out in the rising sun
The trail heading up into the alpine tundra Marmots poking their heads out in the rising sun
Sunrise in the rockies
A big marmot yawn
Sunrise in the rockies A big marmot yawn
Always fun to see snow in July!
A look back at the Never Summer mountains
Always fun to see snow in July! A look back at the Never Summer mountains
A pika
Pika eating a flower
It's amazing how well they blend into the rock
A pika Pika eating a flower It's amazing how well they blend into the rock
An American pipit with a worm in his mouth
The view from peak 12,150 (ft elevation)
An American pipit with a worm in his mouth The view from peak 12,150 (ft elevation)
Scattered ponds of snowmelt in the valley below
A mountain bluebird - certainly up in the mountains!
A lazy marmot morning
Scattered ponds of snowmelt in the valley below A mountain bluebird - certainly up in the mountains! A lazy marmot morning
There were wildflowers all over the place, and often covered in bees
Laying across and blocking the trail
An immature dark-eyed junco
There were wildflowers all over the place, and often covered in bees Laying across and blocking the trail An immature dark-eyed junco
Grand Lake, quite large and grand!
A white-crowned sparrow posing
A broad-tailed hummingbird
Grand Lake, quite large and grand! A white-crowned sparrow posing A broad-tailed hummingbird
Hummingbird action shot
A violet-green swallow heading out from his nest in the eaves
A large moose wandering around town in the early morning
Hummingbird action shot A violet-green swallow heading out from his nest in the eaves A large moose wandering around town in the early morning
Another moose
Another small herd of elk
Another moose Another small herd of elk
A baby elk, spots and all
Breakfast time! Mom has a very fashionable radio collar
Descending into the valley
A baby elk, spots and all Breakfast time! Mom has a very fashionable radio collar Descending into the valley
Mountain chickadee
Yellow-rumped warbler (female, Audubon's)
A ruby-crowned kinglet
Mountain chickadee Yellow-rumped warbler (female, Audubon's) A ruby-crowned kinglet
The gray-headed type of dark-eyed junco
Wildflowers filling the valley
Another mountain chickadee
The gray-headed type of dark-eyed junco Wildflowers filling the valley Another mountain chickadee
Lincoln's sparrow
A northern flicker
Lincoln's sparrow A northern flicker
The view from the alpine visitor center
12,005 feet elevation
The Never Summer mountains
The view from the alpine visitor center 12,005 feet elevation The Never Summer mountains
The Ute trail, headed across the tundra
Incredible vistas
Long's peak
The Ute trail, headed across the tundra Incredible vistas Long's peak
The view to the east from timberline pass
The parks of the east side of RMNP can be seen way down below
And more great vistas on the hike back
The view to the east from timberline pass The parks of the east side of RMNP can be seen way down below And more great vistas on the hike back