Hiking the Bear Twice

Wednesday August 13, 2014
Glacier Basin Campground
Rocky Mountain National Park

 

 

After our morning hike to the three lakes, we spent the afternoon noodling around avoiding the press of humanity. We decide to try an evening hike and see if all the folks are tuckered out and have gone home.

 

We pick one of the easiest hikes in the park. The flat around the lake trail called appropriately, the Bear Lake Nature Trail. We are on the trail by about 7:30 and there is almost no one else there. Score!

BUT, we haven’t checked for sure about when the sun goes down and it gets too dark on us before we are finished.  Note to self:  6:45 would be better.

I have really liked this easy slow hike with no one else around and I decide to redo it in the morning EARLY since it is very very popular. It’s totally paved and handicapped accessible which is great given how lovely it is .   But that means nearly everyone who ever visits the East Side of RMNP hikes this with their families.

 

David would rather sleep in. So I am up and out the door at 5:30 and am able to catch a beautiful sunrise.. Love that!!  When I get there, there is just enough light to see by and about 6 cars in the parking lot.

 

 

The trail has 30 numbered stops around the perimeter and a “guide” which I have brought with me.  At stop # 1 I look at the map.  Too funny that it has the elevation gain.  When we hiked it last night, we thought there was no elevation gain.  Look at these numbers: 12%, 14% 16%.

I find there are two photographers who have gotten up earlier than I in order to get pictures in the beautiful early morning light.  I guess they do that but they never hike on around the trail.  I have it all to myself for nearly all of the time I am here.

 

 

 

 

 

Well, all to myself except for the critters that is.  Happy to share with them.  They are very quiet.

 

As I hike around the lake, the light changes and so do the views of the mountains.

 

I take a lake shot at each of the numbered stopping points.  I won’t expound on all the information but I do strongly suggest that you get the guide and take the hike very early the first morning you are here.  I learned a great deal about how the glaciers sculpted these mountains, about glacial moraines, the types of trees all around the lake, and the history of the area just to name a few.

 

 

I love how the colors of the clouds change with the morning light.  Look closely at the reflections in the water.  Each picture is taken from a slightly different view point.

 

 

 

 

I’m nearly half way around the lake when I come to this view and notice something moving just to the right of the rock outcropping across the lake.   I zoom in to take a look.

 

Here’s what I see looking back at me.  Look at those spots.

 

 

I watch for a while and then walk on around the easy path.  I notice that the sun has moved behind me.  I turn my back to the lake to take a shot of it when I hear the unmistakable sound of hooves clip clopping.   Having had horses, I know that sound.

 

 

 

I look up and she’s trotting across the bridge ahead of me. 

 

 

She’s plenty surprised when she rounds the corner and sees me.  I’ve stepped off the trail and backed up in case she should decide to run by.  But she doesn’t.  She stops and turns around, going back in the opposite direction.  I follow slowly and quietly.

There are two older fawns and a doe.  I spend at least 20 minutes just standing, watching and trying to get good shots of them as they move all over eating anything green that appeals.

 

 

 

Eventually, with mom leading the way they walk right by me.  I stand stock still not a foot from them.  The fawn turns and looks at me as they move away.

 

 

 

I walk on down the path and  am just across the bridge when I hear that sound again.   Here she comes.  Just as surprised to see me as the last time.  This time I’ve got the camera ready.

 

 

 

 

I step off the path again and watch her as she moves up and off the trail.  What I don’t know is that she’s on my right and mom has taken a short cut through the trees on my left.

 

 

I’m surrounded by elk and I’m between mom and the calf.   Not usually a good place to be.  But luckily mom isn’t worried about me at all or about the calf it doesn’t seem.  She’s interested in eats.

 

 

I move on down the trail and leave them to their breakfast.

 

I spend some time sitting in each of these spots watching the early morning activities of the birds and chipmunks.

 

 

The trail has numerous benches in really beautiful spots perfect for quiet contemplation if you come at the right time of day or the right time of year.

 

 

Finally I come to stop #30 which is the dignified 450 year old  Engelmann spruce which survived the 1900 fire.  A core sample taken from its trunk in 1959 revealed it to be more than 397 years old and that was 55 years ago.  Amazing that it survived the devastating fire, loggers’ saws during the lodge-building era, snow, wind and lightning storms.  What a venerable tree it is. 

 

 

 

 

As I leave the honorable spruce I can hear the groups of folks at the beginning of the trail talking.  Time for me to go.  It’s only 7:40 am as I drive away past the first bus dropping off the hikers.   I’ve had a wonderful solitary morning and will definitely do this again.

 

 

After breakfast and some chores, we head into Estes Park for David to get his monthly blood work done.  I wait in the car for him.  It’s raining.  I’m not much for medical establishments.  I read.  He comes out in due time.  Everything went fine.  The results won’t be back for at least a week. 

As a treat he decides to take himself out for an early dinner-late lunch.  He always checks Yelp and Trip Advisor wherever we go to see where is the best bakery, the best breakfast and the most highly rated restaurant.   You could definitely say David is a foodie.

This time he has found that rave reviews are given by everybody to a place called Smokin’ Dave’s BBQ and Taphouse.   BBQ and beer, couldn’t get much better in his mind.

 

 

And in the minds of a lot of other people too.  The place is totally full when we arrive and just after we are seated, a line forms out the door.

 

 

While we wait for our orders I look around and see this sign over the kitchen door, David Drive,  and a cute decoration on the wall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Smokin’ Dave serves beef and pork, ribs and pulled, Carolina and Texas.  Whatever kind of BBQ you like, including St. Louis style ribs, you’ll find it here.   

We have the Carolina pulled pork BBQ with sweet potato fries.  Having eaten lots of sweet Carolina BBQ as part of our southern heritage, we both have to agree that this is the best Carolina BBQ outside of Carolina.  And the sweet potato fries also rate as the best we’ve ever had.  Dave’s a winner.   Give it a try when you get to Estes Park.  Oh, and the menu has some really dumb jokes at the bottom.