After making it to Estes Park and checking in at the hotel, i got out and explored a little. The night was moonlit and windless. Cold but comfortable. The gates to Rocky Mountain National Park were open at midnight, so i was able to get in and see a peaceful side of the park id never been able to before. It really was what i imagined nights living in the backcountry mountains would be like and ended up being my favorite night of the entire trip. . .
Snow covered Deer Mountain and trees on US-36, just inside the park. . .
. . .looking towards Deer Mountain to the northwest from US-36. . .
. . .with the snow covered trees in the foreground. This was the only time it wasnt windy over the entire trip. The fresh snow is still sticking the tree's needles. . .
. . .coming around the corner, i found a wolf pup walking in the road. The plows had built up walls on either side he couldnt easily get over. Few thousand feet and a couple of curves down the road, he found a low point and darted off into the darkness. Only the tracks remained. . .
. . .more moonlit snow and trees. The snow on the edge of the road was about 2 feet deep and Deer Mountain in the background to the north. . .
. . .looking northwest from US-36. . .
. . .just past the Deer Ridge Junction turnoff to north US-34, a closeup of the snow covered trees. There was about 2 inches worth of snow on the tree branches. . .
. . .the moon and stars over the snow covered park. . .
. . . came across some random tracks in the snow. . .i think they were elk, but the snow was soft and there were no other clues. . .
. . .stars over Bighorn Mountain, north of US-34. . .
. . .the stars over the park valley. The glow in the distance is Estes Park, Colorado, southwest from the US-34 overlook. . .
. . .in the corner, Orion over Rocky Mountain National Park. . .
. . .better shot of Orion over the park valley. . .
. . .more snow and tree covered foothills from the park road. . .
. . .moon lit snow blowing off the peak. . .
. . .moon lit US-34 heading east. . .
. . .shot of the moon on this clear night. . .
. . .to the southeast -- the lights of Estes Park from an overlook on US-34.
