These posts are going to really get out of order now.
We are back in Rocky Mountain National Park today, Sept. 6th and I need to let you all know what is about to take place – just in case.. well you know….
It’s Labor Day weekend and Estes Park and RMNP are packed. You can barely move down the street.
However, we’ve decided to finally do a little back-country hike in RMNP. Two nights, three days in the WILDERNESS! ALONE! BEARS are everywhere! The ranger at the backcountry office said a mountain lion was just recently sighted on the trail we’re taking!
Therefore, this may be the last post I ever write! If we get eaten by a bear I would like to bequeath my worthless dog and all her remaining vet bills to…. anyone who will take her (Maybe Ricardo who needs another dog, or my young Marine Biologist colleague Courtney who just adores Zoe, or Emily who needs a dog friend for her cats, or Bren who has enough kids, but not enough pets). Ya’ll will have to fight amongst yourselves for this honor, oh, and you’ll have to pick her up at the kennel in Estes Park and pay the bill for boarding and food… :-O
We’re going to try and take it easy on ourselves and do a total of 20 to 30 miles over 3 days (All of the sudden that doesn’t sound easy %/ ).
Monday, Sept 7: Big day. 10 miles from Tonahutu North Inlet trailhead to July campsite. All uphill!! (red line on picture)
Tuesday, Sept 8: Easy day. Hike to some nearby alpine lakes. Lake Nokoni and Lake Nanita. Hike back down the trail towards the trailhead, spend night at Porcupine campsite. (blue line)
Wednesday, Sept 9: Hike out to trailhead. About 7 miles… downhill. (green line)
I’m writing this Sunday evening and will schedule it to post Monday afternoon. By the time you read this we may have already turned back and headed to the car or been eaten by a bear! 🙂
OK – I’ve got to get my backpack packed up and see how much food I can leave behind ( I may have over estimated the amount of food I need… nah!).
Here are our rental packs – not packed yet.
Guess who gets to carry the bigger one? That’s right! She can handle it! She’s a “marathoner”!
Poor unloved Zoe!!!! After this adventure, provided you survive (although I’ve already heard from Zoe saying she loves cats!), you’ll need to get to a movie theater to see “A Walk in the Woods.”
Poor Zoe? Poor Eric and getting poorer with every Vet visit. We got her out of the Kennel this afternoon and she’s got another hurt foot! What
do these kennels do to dogs? This one’s not serious, thankfully, just a little limp. I definitely don’t need to see a movie that’s going to give me even more
things to worry about as I lay in a pitch black, flimsy tent in the middle of the woods with a million little noises all around me! Thank you very much.
Good luck with the bears and watch out for those cougars! Since I’m down the front range and getting ready to go back to Houston – I’m hoping you are not getting the storms we are getting in Colorado Springs. Lots of lightning and rain. Lightning above timberline is never any fun …
Safe Travels!
We were rained on most of the day Monday… miserable. But, no lightning. Tuesday and Wednesday were beautiful.
We’re heading back to Houston too… in a month… 😉
Eric, if you are packing a shooter remember and find out if the lions have names… that dentist is being crucified for his antics. Not sure how you go about that, but you’ll think of something. I heard a story about a couple of guys who were camping and one of them left a pair of trainers at the tent door, his mate said ‘what are they for, you can’t outrun a bear’. No he replied but I can outrun you! So I guess Tina’s shoes will be at the ready!
Cheers Stan
Ha! No kidding, but I’m not packing heat. I’ll out wit the lion or trip Tina, which ever works best! :-O
P.S. They’re having a big Highlands Festival here in Estes Park this weekend. My next door RV neighbors that just pulled in
are from Edinburgh! They flew over here and rented a big RV! 🙂 We’re going to try and visit the games, but they’re expensive! As much
as a nights rent at an RV park… 🙂