Time to meander back to civilization, but i had enough time to take the long way via CO-7 and CO-72 on the way back to Denver. . .
Another shot of the foothills around Estes Park. . .
. . .a look west towards Lake Estes, towards the snow covered dam. . .
. . .Estes Park east of Lake Estes. . .
. . .southward view of the houses south of Lake Estes. Longs Peak is way off in the distance. . .
. . .south on CO-7 -- the Lily Lake covered in snow. . .
. . .south down CO-7 -- the road was burried by the weather coming off of Longs Peak. Within 5 miles, there was clear pavement -- and then to a couple of feet of snow (plowed down to the concrete). This was the view from somebody's driveway just off of the highway. . .
. . .winds were still gusty and kicking the snow all around. . .
. . .the otherside of the driveway. . .
. . .the plowed snow 3 feet up on the speed limit sign. . .
. . . further down CO-7, there was a turnoff for the Wild Basin Trailhead. I explored and didnt find anything all that impressive. . . but on the way back, i lost traction and slid down the hill. Two choices -- slide into oncoming traffic on CO-7 and off the other side of the hill. . . .OR option 2 - land the car into the snowbank. Option 2 got me stopped, but i couldnt get out after buring the front of the car. Luckly, this guy was plowing the top of the road and was able to dig me out. . .
. . .this was the snow i had to get dug out of. . . i still dont know how i didnt do any damage to the car. . .
. . .back on the road, a snow covered rockcut along CO-7. . .
. . .Mount Audubon from the side of CO-72. . .
. . .on CO-72 -- my future house, the owners just dont know it yet. . .
. . .the birch and snow covered rocks on the side of CO-72. . .
. . .another shot of Mount Audubon from CO-72, south of Ward. . .
. . .CO-72 winding around the foothills into Nederland. . .
. . .a snow covered barn on the side of CO-72. . .
. . .off of CO-119 -- the frozen Baker Meadow Reservoir just east of Nederland. . .
. . .heading east, CO-119 follows the Boulder Canyon. These are the canyon walls overlooking the highway. . .
. . .through the tunnel is civilization and eventually Boulder, Colorado.
