DAY 37 Rocky Mountain National Park – 9/20/09

( TOTAL MILAGE TO DATE – 7852)

 Sunday we drove east on I 70 from Grand Junction, CO into Rocky Mountain National Park.  The weather was cold, windy and rainy and there was a lot of traffic headed to Denver.  Once we  headed north on route 40 into the mountains the rain let up and we had some pretty clouds to drive through as we took the “Trail Ridge Road” east over the mountains and down into Estes Park.  We saw quite a few elk but the real excitement was the drive. 

 Trail Ridge Road It is the “highest continuous paved road” in the United States and reaches 12,183ft.  Up near the top it also does not have guard rails.  As we headed into some of the switchbacks it seemed that we were going to drive off into the clouds.  The mountains are massive.  We made it  over the top and down into Estes Park but my palms were a little sweaty and Patti covered her window with a pillow to avoid looking over the side.  We checked into the Best Western Silver Saddle and then went to a late dinner at the Stanley Hotel.

 Tomorrow we do the “Ghost Tour” at the Stanley.  

 

*****Heading into the mountains*****

 

Slip to the right is a long way down!

Nightime at the Stanley Hotel