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			We met my parents at the Denver airport and drove to Estes Park, Colorado. We stayed at Rams Horn Village Resort
	This was our home for for the week.		3 June - Our 1st night on the way to dinner we saw these deer along the roadside.
	Being city slickers we had to pull over and take pictures.		Next morning {4 June} we went into Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park. The entrance is right down the road from the resort. We found these deer in the trees almost right away.
	There were a bunch of people pulled over watching them.		Didn't bother them at all.
	Although this one was very careful to look both ways before attempting to cross the street.		Once the coast was clear, it was an easy stroll across.
	Then up the hill and into the woods.		Still a lot of snow up on the mountains.
	SNOW!! Living in California I don't see much of this stuff.		This is a look down on Sheep's Lake. The Big Horn Sheep come down to eat the mud for the minerals.
	These little ground squirrels were everywhere.		And none of them were shy about begging!
	Ya gotta watch these guys - they'll run right up your leg!		The road climbs higher & higher.
	This little fellow is a Clark's Nutcracker.		These park critters aren't shy at all.
	This is my Mom & Dad. They live in NJ.		The "Trail Ridge Road" goes up over the Continental Divide. You can see there are a lot of switchbacks on the way up.
			It's amazing how the stream snakes through the valley.
	You can tell by the jackets we're pretty high up in the mountains. This is in the tundra area.		This is a Yellow-Bellied Marmot sunning on the rocks.
	Great views everywhere you look.
	There were about five or six Marmots climbing around the rocks.
			This one seems to be admiring the view.
	How is this for a pose! What a ham.		They are suppose to be shy - but these guys were not!
	Kinda far away - but we spotted our 1st Elk.		They all turned to look at something.
	We drove a little further and got a much better look at the Elk.		Elk lose their antlers and regrow them every spring. They grow something like an inch a day.
	This is up at the Alpine Visitor's Center. When they plowed out the parking lot they piled up all the show. Sun hasn't melted it yet.
	Mom & Dad at the Continental Divide. Now they have a picture in Colorado to go with the one we took on the Continental Divide in Montana two years ago.		We were going to the Holzwarth Trout Lodge and found these Elk along the way.
	Pretty stream - wonder if this is an abandoned beaver damn?		Oh this cow looks ready to have her calf any time now.
	Yummy grass & flowers.		Nice antlers on these guys.
	More Elk way off in the meadow.		In the Kawuneeche Valley we spotted this Moose cow with her new calf.
	The calf was pretty frisky.		Momma Moose kept a pretty close eye on baby.
	But people didn't seem to bother her.		Some noise attracted her attention.
	5 June and we headed back into the park again. These guys were in spitting distance of the park entrance.		Maybe they are the greeter deer.
	We stopped by Sheep's Lake - but no sheep to be seen.		But the view is nice.
			I just know there are Big Horn Sheep up there!
	But they won't be coming to the lake cause a coyote is there hunting for breakfast.		We found a really nice spot along the stream for a picnic lunch. This Magpie wanted a handout.
	Walked all around the table looking at us.		This Steller's Blue Jay was not nearly so brave.
	He stayed safely up in the trees.		This is an Alluvial Fan
	Me & Mom pause for breath on the way to the falls.		The Alluvial Fan and falls were formed by the Lawn Lake Flood.
	It's not a long hike - but it's mostly up hill.		Well worth the climb.
	Imagine the rushing water when the snow is melting!		Altitude or alcohol? Forget milk - got oxygen?
			6 June finds us at Sprague Lake.
	Nice easy trail around the lake brings wonderful views.
	And beautiful wild flowers.		One of the many streams rushing through the park.
			Bear Lake - but no bears to be seen!
	Looking across the lake.
	The path around Bear Lake still has some snow covering it.		And some of the benches are still partly buried.
	Lots and lots of streams tumble through the park.		My Dad just had to climb out on this big boulder.
	We watched this herd of Elk come down off the hill.		They all gathered together under the trees.
	Once they were all together they crossed the street right in front of the car.		Across the meadow and the stream.
	One seems to be looking back for someone who is missing.		We guessed there were 30 or more Elk in this herd.
	Slowly following behind was this very pregnant cow.		A few of the others stayed back with her.
	It was pretty warm - the cool water probably feels really good!		Back up in the Alpine area we spotted this tarn.
	Michael zoomed in so we could see it still looks pretty frozen.		I wanted to see what was down {or should I say UP} this trail. But nobody wanted to go with me.
	Half a mile each way at over 12,000 feet - well I'll try.		Mom, Dad & Michael sat and watched me go off on an adventure.
	Sure is rocky - guess that's where the mountains got their name.		Looks like a L-O-N-G way to go.
	But the view is pretty.
	Mom, Dad & Michael will be sorry they didn't come with me.		WOW that's pretty.
			This is quite a climb - I'm out of breath!
			OH I'm not climbing up there!
	I only went about half way or so. I'd been gone over half an hour and I didn't want my family to worry about me. {really - I wasn't tired.}		Driving back down we spotted these Elk playing in a big patch of snow.
	Some of they were rolling in the snow.
	7 June we drove to Central City. It's an old mining town. Lots of old store fronts have been turned into gambling casinos.		Have no idea what this is in the back of the cemetery.
	We wondered through looking at the old tombstones.		Lots of abandoned mines in the area.
	Definitely a boom town gone bust.		This is the train that runs the Georgetown Railroad Loop.
	Engine, Engine #9 speeding down the railway line.		Runs through some beautiful scenery.
	We also toured the Lebanon Silver Mine. Real interesting - not a place I'd want to work!		The railroad connects Silver Plume and Georgetown, towns over 2 miles apart, the tracks scales an elevation of 640 feet over mountainous terrain, requiring trestles, cuts, fills, loops, and curves totaling 4.5 miles.
	Looking back at some of the mine buildings.		We'll be going over that bridge in a few minutes.
	Under one and over another.		That's the Silver Plume Station down there.
	From the back cars we can see the engine on the curves.		Mom & Dad as we pull into the station.
	Me & Michael.		8 June takes us back to the park. This is along the trail to Alberta Falls.
	Such delicate flowers growing among the rocks.		Mom & Dad on one of the several bridges that cross the stream.
	So how much hiking do you feel up to? Distance posted is each way.		The explorer scans the stream.
	Pretty view isn't it!		Looking up the falls.
	What a pretty meadow with all the wild flowers.		Back over in the Kawuneeche Valley we spotted another Moose in the exact same spot we saw the cow and calf earlier in the week.
	She {I think} was just wandering along eating.		When one car pulls off the road to look a bunch more usually follow. This Moose drew a big crowd.
	It was starting to thunder and she looked up as it rumbled.		Then back to grazing.
	Started to rain just a little - so one more shot then we headed to the car.		9 June we took a drive in the surrounding area. We spotted this in the middle of a field. Interesting but strange!
	We all got a chuckle out of this play on words. Cute little shop right by a dam.		We really wore Michael out. He was chauffeur and tour guide all week. THANKS Michael for making this trip great!

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