Colorado in mid-June 2010. First off, the Pearl Street Mall in downtown Boulder, then it's off to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. Here we go:
Pearl Street Mall is full of colorful victorian era shops, vistas of the famous Flatiron mountains and colorful people. Buskers come to the Mall to perform for spare change day and night. If one can stand the overwhelming stench of patchouli, a good time can be had here!
Next, it's off to Estes Park and the high country of Rocky Mountain National Park. Giant in every way, one will have breathtaking views in every direction at every turn. Even on a cloudy day.
Wildlife here thrives on handouts from tourists, the fee taken for numerous photo opportunities. I personally feel it's contrary to the notion of preserving the park as a wilderness so I didn't contribute any snack foods for them. But it's still impossible to resist taking their photo!
Chipmunks are by far the friendliest of characters in the park. They love to come up to you as if to say "Hi there! Got some nuts for me?"
Further on up, in the tundra, the marmot makes his appearance. A high altitude cousin to the squirrel, the marmot is far more wary of humans. They like to keep their distance. But they will still gladly stand and pose for a picture.
Here, Trail Ridge Road reaches it's high point. 12,183 feet in elevation (5,000 feet below the base of Mt. Everest). It is a place that is literally and figuratively breathtaking. On this day, chilly too. 6,500 feet below the temperature is in the 90's in Boulder. Here it's the low 40's!
Yet another portrait at the Contintal Divide. Thanks to the nice young woman from California for taking my picture. I hope the one I took of her turned out as well.
One last bit of wildlife. Moose cows. Very very shy of people, the moose were willing to let a large group of tourists snap their pictures while they basked in the sunshine grazing.
