[caption id="attachment_81065" align="alignleft" width="300"]Enjoying Rocky Mountain National Park Above, left; Staring in awe at the Estes Park region of St. Mary’s Lake from the Deer Mountain
This item is available in full to subscribers.
At this time, we ask you to confirm your subscription at www.themtnear.com, to continue accessing the only weekly paper in the Peak to Peak region to cover ALL the news you need! Simply click Confirm my subscription now!.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active, online-only subscription then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Questions? Call us at 303-810-5409 or email info@themountainear.com.
Please log in to continue |
Enjoying Rocky Mountain National Park Above, left; Staring in awe at the Estes Park region of St. Mary’s Lake from the Deer Mountain Summit at 10,013 feet above sea level. Above, right; The morning sun rising through the ponderosa pines on the Deer Mountain Summit trail. PHOTOS BY OMAYRA ACEVEDO[/caption]Cows, bulls, bucks, and does – oh my! That’s pretty much how my day went. And it was amazing! As I do often when going hiking, I left my home by 5:30 in the morning. The hummingbirds were active and the wildlife camera had caught three videos of a bear, coyote, and bobcat. My day was already perfect. As I drove up the Peak to Peak Highway and into Estes Park, I came across a herd of elk, a cow moose, a herd of deer, and two bull moose – doing what moose do – in a pond.
The Deer Mountain Summit trail is a wonderful, moderate hike. That’s why it’s one of the most popular in Rocky Mountain National Park. After parking along the roadside, I headed straight into the welcoming committee, AKA ponderosa pine forest, that greets you at the beginning of the hike. I took a deep breath and let my shoulders drop as I let out a sigh of relief. I just love being outdoors!
Less than a mile into the hike, I bumped into a herd of deer. They did not seem bothered by my presence at all. I received a couple of “get the heck off my mountain” looks, but overall, we managed to co-exist. I snapped some photos and let them be. A steady climb up, over 1,200 feet in elevation and a couple of hours later, I set my sights on an almost 360° view of Estes Park, Moraine Park, Longs Peak, Hallett Peak, the Mummy Range, and the mountains along the Continental Divide. Just when I thought my day couldn’t get any better.
Though I’m merely human, I do find myself stressed and unhappy at times; I still try to remind myself to enjoy the little things in life. Hiking the 6.2 mile round trip, experiencing a birds-eye view of the Rocky Mountains, and seeing so much wildlife in one day, can truly humble a girl. This area of Rocky Mountain National Park is rich in history. My advice? Go there, talk to a park ranger, bring good shoes, water, snacks, a first aid kit, and a camera. Above all else, bring your appreciation of the outstanding beauty that you can only find in our Colorado Rockies.
To get more details on the Deer Mountain Summit Trail visit: http:// www.rockymountainhikingtrails.com/deer-mountain.htm
