Sunset - Trail Ridge Road

Took a quick drive up Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park for a sunset photo op.  The clouds came in under Longs peak just in time for the last light of the sun to hit the rock spires of the rock cut...Fantastic!

Longs Peak above the clouds - Prints available

Mt. Ida - July, 2017

Cami with the Gore Range in the distance

Mt. Ida (12,880 ft.) is a fun, gentle mountain along the continental divide in Rocky Mountain National Park with great views all around.  There are many areas in RMNP that we have yet to explore.  This one was up on the western side of Trail Ridge Road starting at the Milner Pass trailhead. 

Mt. Ida (I think the one on the right) from Trail Ridge Road

The famous Rock Cut photography location

There was very little snow on the trail making this our first hike of the season with true summer conditions.

Our quick path to treeline was interrupted by a huge bull elk guarding the trail.  We tried to yell at him and spook him away, but he had no intention of leaving.  We decided it wise to leave the trail and hike around him through the trees.

Bull elk stand off

The entire hike above treeline follows a straight line along a long ridge to the summit.  The alpine wildflowers were beginning to bloom.

Alpine sunflowers

Looking north toward the Mummy Range

Cami hiking toward one of the false summits.  Cami loves false summits!

The Never Summer Range - Prints available

Marmot

Nearing the summit

Longs and friends to the south

Mt. Julian and Azure Lake from the summit - Prints available