Rocky Mountain National Park

We went up to RMNP fairly early on Saturday, and thought once we hit boulder we would take the 'back way' to Estes Park.  This included some beautiful scenery...and a dirt road.  Thanks google maps.  We wanted to hike 6-9 miles, so we ended up starting up to Ypisilon Lake.  4.5 miles each way.  A very nice hike, about 2100 feet in elevation gain, and also fairly quiet. We really didn't see too many people at all on the trail.  We got to where we thought the trail ended, and say a 'pond'.  Karla was fairly disappointed that she hiked all this way for this small, yet very pretty pond.  Matt wasn't sold, so they kept on the trail for another 15 minutes to the actual lake.  A very nice mountain lake with a waterfall that feeds into it, and some fly fishermen that seemed to be doing pretty well.  We had lunch up at the lake, and then headed down.  It started raining a little once we were about 15 minutes to the car, but it was very refreshing and felt nice.  On our way out of the park we saw a herd of about 50 elk, which slowed up traffic a bit.  Then on our way back to the interstate through Roosevelt National Forest Karla got stuck in accident traffic.  But it did allow us to see some big horn sheep up on a cliff overlooking the road.  Once back to civilization, Matt got a DQ Blizzard, which made the day just that much better.  Before heading home we stopped by the Colorado Cider Company to try their new honey apple cider, and pick up a bottle or two to grill out with at Naomi and Ryan's.  All in all a very nice Saturday.  Deer, Elk, Sheep, and a great 9 mile hike.  Oh yeah, and a blizzard.