Stopped by the National Forest Service office yesterday morning to get information on the area north of Rocky Mountain National Park, hikes/drives/things to do, and decided to take the drive up to Walden, CO which is in an area called North Park. We visited South Park last summer which is near Breckenridge and was visiting our neighbors Skip and Linda in Fairplay. Beautiful area. Little did we know that we would be visiting North Park. Absolutely beautiful landscape. And lots of snow. Drove along the Cache la Poudre River (from the 1820's when French trappers were caught in a snow storm and they had to 'hide the powder' to prevent it from getting wet). Beautiful landscape.
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| Pretty drive up the canyon along the Cache la Poudre River |
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| Nope, never do that again |
We drove through Cache la Poudre Canyon and climbed up to and over Cameron Pass. Could tell where there were landslides/avalanches - the roadway was cleared but scarred. And did I mention cold? Not used to the chilliness of the upper elevations.
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| Stopped near the pass to see if we could hike this trail - no, snow covered |
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| Recent evidence of avalanche/landslides |
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| Beautiful - the Medicine Bow Mountain range in distance, looking west |
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| At the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge (and Buffalo Jump) |
Stopped at the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge where the Indians used the area for their buffalo jump - forcing buffalo to jump off the cliff to their death. Made for easy hunting. Did not see any wildlife and spring has not come to the areas. Most trees had not blossomed yet.
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| We did see a moose, only not alive |
On our way back we stopped at the State Forest State Park visitor's center east of Walden to get a better idea of what we may hike if we chose to come back another day. Took a little side trip to to the Mountain View Nature Trail and stopped at the Moose Overlook, the sightings have been numerous every day. But had no luck. However, on the way back to the main drag we did see a red fox walking along the road and managed to get some good pics.
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| I guess you can see lots of moose in Walden, we saw a statue |
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| Nice little nature trail in town of Walden |
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| The yellow headed blackbird |
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| Moose Overlook - no moose, no nothing but beauty |
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| We see you - red fox |
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