Rocky Mountain National Park Snow in July

Last week I was in Colorado, and on Thursday July 8, I visited Rocky Mountain National Park. I only mention the date because it was snowing in the mountains. I forgot my sweater, and I was wearing a short sleeved shirt. I was the only one in the mountains that I saw who wasn't wearing a coat. Two people thought they were doing the right thing by telling me that I wasn't wearing one.

Before getting to Estes Park, I stopped to watch this person trout fish in the Big Thompson River. Notice the beaver den across the river.



I bypassed Estes Park. I love the town but I wanted to see as much scenery in the park as I could in the few hours that I had.

At the Highway 34 bypass, I stopped to take a photo of these ladies at their painting party.



They were painting just across the across from the Stanley Hotel.





The Stanley Hotel was built about 100 years ago and many believe it is haunted. It was the inspiration for Stephen King's the Shining. Parts of the movie was filmed at the Stanley.

Upon entering the park, I drove towards Trail Ridge Road. I wanted to get into the higher elevations to find snow. Before Trail Ridge, I parked at the Hidden Valley area to take a short walk along the creek.





Up until the last several decades, Hidden Valley was a ski resort. It closed when winters got warmer, and there was less snow at its elevation. Now it is a picnic and hiking area.

From Hidden Valley, I quickly drove into much higher elevations, and it got cold in a hurry. I snapped this picture while driving.



The time is wrong, but the temperature is correct - 39. It had been snowing off and on all day. Trail Ridge Road was closed for awhile earlier in the day until a snow plow could clear the road.

I stopped at the Rock Cut area to take a short walk and take some photos.











It always amazes me that flowers can bloom in such a harsh environment.







After getting back on Trail Ridge Road, I didn't get far before traffic backed up. The road was being resurfaced, and it was about twenty minutes before traffic began moving again. There are worse places than Rocky Mountain National Park to be "stuck." I wouldn't have noticed this alpine lake if I had not been forced to wait.



Once traffic began moving again, I made my to Milner Pass at the Continental Divide, where water flows two ways - to the Pacific or to the Atlantic.



Not far from Milner Pass is Never Summer Mountains, the only volcanic mountain range in Rocky Mountain National Park.



It was getting late in the day, and I had to return my rental car by six. So I headed back towards Fort Collins, stopping to take a couple photos of these people enjoying the snow. A ramp was constructed to keep people of the fragile tundra. I suppose rocks are underneath the snow.





I thought I had hit more road construction, but it was only an animal sighting.



There is no better place in the world than Rocky Mountain National Park to see elk, but these bulls were all I saw on this day. At lower elevations, especially in the winter, it is the norm to see herds of elk.

Oil Spill on the Alabama Gulf Coast - Mid June

We spent some time in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach this weekend. There was no oil on the beach, but we did see some in Perdido Pass.



Very few people were at the Pass, certainly a lot less than normal. There were more people checking out the oil and the BP oil response than there were people enjoying the sand and water. There were a few who didn't mind swimming in oil though. Kids were having a lot of fun diving and jumping from one of the bridge bases.





These rocks were stained from when a lot of oil washed into the Pass last week.



This BP oil spill response barge is parked at the Caribe docks.



The tip of Robinson Island. Normally on summer days, this island and the others in and near Perdido Pass ar covered up with boats. They are literally anchored side by side at the islands. Boat traffic is heavy also. The only traffic now is the BP oil response team and government officials. The red line in the foreground is a boom to protect the island.



A boom extending into Perdido Pass from the bridge.



This barge sets in the Gulf just off the east side of Perdido Pass. It holds a massive amount of equipment and machinery.



Most of the common access areas on the beach, like this one at Perdido Pass, are dominated by the BP oil response team. The common access areas that are still open to the public are not crowded. Normally at this time of year there is not enough parking places for cars.







BP Claims Office at Romar lakes in Orange Beach.



No fishing at Gulf State Park Pier in Gulf Shores. It just opened last year after being rebuilt after Hurricane Ivan.



Normally in the summer this pier would be very crowded. A handful of sightseers go out now to see the tens of thousands of fish that are looking for oxygen. We saw bull sharks, redfish, stingrays, sheepshead, trout and pompano. In some places the water is black with fish.



Bull Sharks.



Berm at Little Lagoon Pass where the Pass meets the Gulf.



Berm on the Lagoon side of the Lagoon Pass Bridge.



Double red flags on the beach means swimming conditions are not safe.



No worries about finding a spot on the beach.



Perdido Beach Boulevard is normally bumper to bumper on summer weekends.



This Shell station was a BP for years. A temporary sign is over the BP logo.

Bull Shark from Gulf Shores Pier

Bull Shark From Gulf Shores Pier