2009: Year of Many Hikes to Moraine Park, Part 2

So, the Whole Family

(minus one fisherman)

Hikes to Moraine Park!

The river is an instant magnet, especially for our champion rock thrower!

Aunts, Uncles, Cousins all join in, throwing rocks and looking for fish.

Snack Time! A Hike is not a Hike without a Snack! Notice Everyone looking Down? Remember Why? The Sun is Bright!!!

Time to Rest .....

and enjoy the Beauty .....

2009: Year of Many Hikes to Moraine Park, Part 1

What fun it is to be able to hike from the Y into Rocky Mountain National Park!

We sent our Scouts to blaze the trail.

They went well prepared, taking CamelBaks to insure hydration

and discovered a winding river, deep green grass, and majestic mountains.

Our Scouts then summoned the Entire Family for Multiple Journeys back to Moraine Park.

2nd Annual Hayride & Marshmallow Roast

A little help from Dad!

Cousins get in on the fun too!

Tastes Good but Looks Wierd!

Baby J thought the Hayride was Fun . . .
Even Without the Marshmallows!

We All had a good time!

2009 The Summer of ........

Can You Guess? It didn't always occur in the cabin!

2009 The Summer of ........

Can You Guess? It took Lots of Preparation.

And created Lots of Trash!

2009 The Summer of ........

Can You Guess? Our Beautiful Babes were in on it too.

2009 The Summer of ........

Can You Guess?

Ladies on YouTube!

The Summer of 2009 marked a lot of firsts for us at the Y of the Rockies! Some of us saw bears, badgers, and turkeys for the first time; some of us caught really big fish for the first time; some of us rode ponies for the first time; a n d .......... da..da..da..DA! We ladies were on YouTube for the first time! Emily got the starring role!

2009 Family Photo is Here!

This is one of my favorites; there are several!

I had the CD copied today and will get yours to you as soon as possible. I'm anxious to get your opinions of all the pictures.

First Summit of Hallett's Peak 2009

Hallett's Peak (left) from Sprague Lake

The Snow Field to the right of Hallett's is Tyndall Glacier,

one of five active glaciers in Rocky Mountain Park

Alex, Matt, and Graham rose very early on Tues, July 28 to hike to the top of Hallett's Peak. It was a fun, rewarding, and very long day! They had climbed to 12,713 ft with a 3, 238 ft elevation gain! They also summited Flattop Mountain on their way. The Flattop Mountain Trail closely follows a route used by the Ute and Arapaho Indians to cross the Continental Divide and reach Grand Lake.

First Rides on the Y Ponies

Our Sweet Little Munchkins had a Great Time riding the Ponies! So much so that they went back for a Second Ride!

Proud and Dutiful Parents guided the Ponies along Minnie Mouse Trail.

July 2009: Jim Saw His First Bear!

In The Cabin! "Our" Bear had already visited other cabins and homes in the surrounding area and she reportedly has four or five friends who frequent various parts of Estes Park. The top photo is her youngest friend, affectionately known by the townspeople as Gingerbread. Gingerbread is a cub, just weaned from its mother. Below is another friend, a three year old.

Both are Black Bears, despite their color. Black Bears are generally not agressive, and, indeed, "our" bear was on her way out of the cabin as soon as she heard our voices downstairs. However, once a bear learns he can get food from humans, he persists in his attempts, rather than go back to search for food in the wild. Unless he can be scared back to the wild, he must be killed for fear his persistent efforts could cause harm to people who, ironically, put him in that position to begin with!
These photos were taken by Richard Hahn of Estes Park. You can click on the photo to see Twitter's larger version. The one on the bottom will grace the walls of Highlander as a reminder that we should not, even unwittingly, feed the bears!

Remember the motto: A Fed Bear is a Dead Bear!

Can't Wait to See The Hummingbirds!

Could it be the Hummingbird which draws us to

Colorado?

SCHEDULE OF 2009 EVENTS:

AA 1207 Arrives at DIA from DFW on Sat, July 25 at 2:55 pm. GiGi's favorite chariot, as well as a rental car, will ferry all to Highlander.

Nondenominational Church Service, Hyde Chapel, Sun, July 26 at 10:00 am.

Family Photography with Cathcart Photography, Mon, July 27 at 10:00 am. Wear blue or green.

Family Hayride and Marshmallow Roast, Fri, July 31, 7:00 pm.

United 0978 Departs DIA for IAD on Sun, Aug 2 at 11:25 am. AA 1202 Departs DIA for DFW on Sun, Aug 2 at 11:55 am.

THE REST OF THE TIME IS YOURS TO ENJOY ALL THE Y AND RMNP HAVE TO OFFER, INCLUDING THE HUMMINGBIRDS!

Stanley Steamers Visit Estes Park!

Remember last summer when we learned about the Stanley twins, their Stanley Steamers, the Stanley Hotel, and what a huge impact they had on Estes Park becoming a tourist town? The Banking and Water Systems are just two examples of this. Well, this is an awesome video about the Steamer enthusiasts and their cars visiting Estes Park last week to celebrate the Stanley Hotel's 100th Anniversary. Gorgeous scenary, including a lot with which you are familiar - even the Y and the Baldpate Inn! Please enjoy!

Estes Park Elk on TV

A Fun Video Seen on NBC, June 14, 2009

..... although there are a lot of elk, or wapiti, in Estes Park year around, most of this video was probably taken in the Rutting Season, Sept - Oct, 2008. During the Rutting Season, the largest and healthiest bulls gather their harem for mating. They bugle loudly, beginning with a low, resonanat sound and ending with a high pitched squeal. Even more dramatic is the sparring with the other bulls who may try to take cows from their harem.

Watch more NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams videos on AOL Video

First Highlander Visit! Part III

HIGHLANDER'S LOWER FLOOR

View From North Side of Deck

I love that the snow seems so close!

Lower Level Family Area

Also has a table with 4 chairs and a TV.

The 2 doors lead to the Bunk Room

and the Lower Level Bedroom.

Lower Level Bedroom

Has the best views of any bedroom in the house!

Bunk Room

and Lower Level Fire Exit

Awesome Lower Level Deck

No stairs leading off the deck!

First Visit to Highlander! Part II

HIGHLANDER'S UPPER FLOOR

Early Morn View From The Upper Deck

Hope You Can See the Mountains Under Those Clouds!

Upstairs Living Area
(Didn't Notice the Dust on Tables Til I Saw this Pic!)

Kitchen is Great!

Jim Perfected His Pancakes on a Griddle that His

Friends, the Fawcetts, Gave Us - Yummy!

Master Bedroom

A King Bed & a Huge Bath!

Master Bath - Huge! And With a Tub!!!

In Fact, All 3 Baths Have Tubs with Showers and

The Other 2 Have Doors That Separate the Sink from

The Toilet/Tub Area

Second Upstairs Bedroom

Notice the Windows on 2 Sides of the Room?

Love It!

All But The Bunk Room Have This Luxury!

A Dining Area, You Ask? Yes! There is one! I just forgot to photograph it. The large table seats 10 although there are 12 dining chairs. Right outside the door on the deck is a large picnic table.

The Lower Floor comes in Part III.

First Vist to Highlander! Part I

Our Memorial Day week trip to CO was awesome! The weather was awesome! Estes Park was awesome! The Y was awesome! And Highlander was awesome! Oh, yes, our neighbors, the Godloves, were awesome too!

These pictures taken as you enter the Y Camp Grounds - across the street from the Administration Building.

Now, on to Highlander!

Part II will show the inside of Highlander.