On Tuesday morning, Josh tried his hand at a little fishing while the other kids climbed up the Alluvial Fan. Back in 1980 or so, a dam gave out way up the mountain; the ensuing flood carried lots of rocks down the mountainside, creating this rock/boulder field called Alluvial Fan. Great place to climb and rock hop. And fish.
Five kids went way up past all the other tourists, almost to the end of the trail (I vaguely remember from other years that the rock hopping abruptly ends when the river enters a canyon with high walls on both sides. I think.). Kate allegedly saved Ben from a dunking at one point.
The five adventurers.
The trek back from Chasm Lake about did my knees in (yes I know that makes me feel horribly old), so I was pretty content sitting kind of in the middle of the waterfall and enjoying the beautiful day. Count Dad and seven kids on the rock near the center of the picture.
Lunch in the van as we headed on this historic road that was at one point the only way across RMNP. Narrow, steep is extremely accurate
Climbing at Chasm Falls at a pulloff along the road.
Kids climbed; Dad & I enjoyed resting beside this quiet little stream awhile.
Old Fall River Road ends at the Alpine Visitor Center at the highest point of Trail Ridge Road, the paved road that was built in the 1930s to replace Old Fall River Road. It was really chilly up there, and wet shoes and bare feet from Alluvial Falls made for a chillier experience for some! Thankfully, no one got sick.
A few kids hiked to the lookout from the Visitor Center, but we didn’t stay long because those clouds and the weather forecast kept us moving. We drove home in a little rain, and it was pretty tense for Dad. Rainy roads look entirely different when the roads have steep dropoffs. Thankful for God’s protective hand over us.
Back to cabin for supper.
More rain a little later - - - then hail!
After the rain stopped, we headed to Estes Parks’ tourist district awhile and did touristy things like gawk at people and buy souvenirs and eat fudge…
…and ride bucking bronc-rocks…
Good times.
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