Rocky Mountain National Park

by Mike Graf

  Mom looked at her family. “Do you want to hang out or head back?”

  “Can I write in my journal for a few minutes?” Morgan asked.

  “Of course.”

  While Mom, James, and Dad searched for birds, Morgan wrote.

  Dear Diary,

  Guess what? I’ve got a new hobby—birding!

  And, if I’m anything like some of the other people on this ranger walk, my notes will stay with me for life! That way I can keep track of all the birds I’ve seen, forever.

  So here are my recordings for today. Location: Upper Beaver Meadows, Rocky Mountain National Park

  Birds Seen:

  *Nuthatch *Pine siskin (2)

  *Red-tailed hawk

  *Broad-tailed hummingbird

  *Mountain chickadee

  *Chipping sparrow

  *Lincoln’s sparrow

  *Ravens (several)

  *Song sparrow

  *Williamson’s sapsucker

  *Western tanager *Magpies (several)

  *Green-tailed towhee

  That’s a pretty good start!

  Speaking of a start, my mom says today is a good day to start training for our climb up Longs Peak. We’re going to begin our conditioning on the Deer Mountain Trail.

  Why is today a good day?

  Because the weather forecast only calls for a slight chance of afternoon thundershowers.

  Morgan

  8

  Training Day #1—Deer Mountain

  This is James Parker reporting from the top of Deer Mountain.

  It’s our first official hike over 10,000 feet in the Rockies. Deer Mountain’s elevation is 10,013. There are some trees up here, which Mom says wouldn’t be the case if we were in California. Trees stop growing in Rocky Mountain over 11,000 feet.

  This is a great hike! And popular too. I can understand why. From a small rocky point we can see all of Moraine Park and Glacier Basin. And we can also see Longs Peak, Thatchtop, and our final training hike for climbing Longs—Flattop, at 12,324 feet.

  But maybe there’s another reason this trail is so busy today. It’s the weather! For once it looks like we won’t get drenched with afternoon thunderstorms.

  CROSSING THE LINE

  Tree line in Rocky Mountain National Park is between 11,400 and 11,500 feet. Tree line exists at this elevation if the mean, or average, daily temperature during the warmest month of the year (July in this case) is 50 degrees. When the highest average temperature is below 50 degrees, trees can’t make enough food and sap can’t flow, so there is no growth. Also, the season is too short for trees to grow when the highest temperature averages below 50 degrees.

  James stopped for a moment and watched Dad as he strutted over to an outcrop of rocks. Dad stepped up on one then looked around, making sure no one else but his family was at the summit.

  “Uh-um.” Dad cleared his throat as he stood on top of the rock perch. “I’m here to bring you an up-to-the-minute weather report from high in the mountains in Rocky Mountain National Park.”

  Dad waved his arm across the horizon. “As you can see, it’s a beautiful day here on Deer Mountain. And,” Dad pointed to the clouds, “right now it’s only partly cloudy, with just a few puffy cumulus clouds decorating our skies.”

  Dad looked at his family, smiled, and continued. “Thunderstorms? Maybe a slight chance later this afternoon. As usual, if you’re out in the high country, always be prepared. But, I have to say, today is a great day for a hike in our spectacular Colorado landscape…”

  Unbeknownst to Dad, another family of hikers was approaching the summit. They heard Dad and paused to listen.

  Morgan, James, and Mom sat together watching Dad’s antics as he presented some more. “That’s right. Warm, sunny skies today with, believe it or not, temperatures in the seventies, even in the mountains. But remember,” Dad emphasized, “every 1,000-foot gain in elevation means a drop in temperature of about three to four degrees, so…”

  The other family of hikers strode up, interrupting Dad’s report. Dad stopped speaking and stepped off the rock, blushing with embarrassment.

  The hikers all clapped.

  A person in the group nodded approvingly at Dad. “Thanks for the weather update,” he said. “We were wondering if it was going to rain again today.”

  Dad half smiled, looked away, and said, “Oh, I was just kidding around. Don’t take my report seriously.”

  Dad walked over to his family and sat down. Morgan put her arm around him. “You sounded like one of those weathercasters on TV!”

  “You know,” Dad reflected, “I always wanted to be a meteorologist.”

  The family gazed at the views all the way down to Estes Park, far below. Then Mom took out some food for a mountaintop picnic.

  9

  Thursday morning broke with clear skies in Glacier Basin. The Parkers packed a picnic lunch and trekked from the campsite to the Park & Ride bus area. They got on the next bus heading up the road toward Bear Lake.

  The family got off the shuttle with many other hikers who were also heading out on the Glacier Gorge Trail. A couple of volunteer rangers greeted everyone as they exited the bus.

  “Do you need anything?” one of them asked as the family walked up.

  Dad glanced at the stack of pamphlets in the elderly gentleman’s hand. “Is that a map of the area?”

  “Yep, all the trails around here are on it. Here you go.” The ranger handed one to Dad.

  “How’s the hike to Mills Lake?” Mom inquired.

  “Spectacular,” the man replied. Then he looked at the Parkers. “And it only gets better after that.” The ranger checked the sky, then his watch. “You’re off to an early start; that’s good. You might consider going all the way to Black Lake. See how you’re doing with the altitude. And keep watching the sky for those pesky thunderstorms.”

  “Thanks,” Dad replied. And with that, the Parkers were off.

  The first part of the trail passed by several aspen groves and gurgling Rocky Mountain streams. The forest was vivid green and sparkling with water droplets from the rain shower the evening before.

  The family stopped with many others to gaze at Alberta Falls, which plunged onto a series of rocks and boulders, right next to the trail. Then they continued on through Glacier Gorge.

  The cool, clear morning and bright sunshine made for wonderful hiking. Morgan, James, Mom, and Dad did make it all the way to Black Lake, over five miles away.

  By then it was around 11 AM. They sat for a while on the rocks and gazed at the circular lake nestled against cliffs leading to high mountains.

  Eventually the family retraced their steps, and they returned to Mills Lake by lunchtime. The trail skirted the shore, and the Parkers looked for some flat rocks to sit on and picnic. Many of the best spots were taken by other visitors with the same idea.

  Morgan noticed some people leaving. “How about that one?” she said, pointing out a large rock.

  The Parkers waited for the group to completely pack up, then they took their place and pulled out lunch.

  “It couldn’t be a better day,” Mom said happily.

  “I agree,” James added.

  While sitting on the rocks, Morgan pulled out her journal.

  Training Day #2—Glacier Gorge

  Dear Diary,

  It’s been a great day in Rocky Mountain National Park! So far this hike has been warm and dry, although I doubt that will last. There are clouds building up and they look like giant cauliflower balloons. In the distance I can see shafts of rain coming down.

  But here we are in the sun at Mills Lake. Mom says this spot was made for a picnic. Why? It could be because the waters are sparkling clear. Maybe it’s because of the deep mountain bowl the lake is in. Or the rock table we are sitting on. Whatever the reason, it’s a popular place. And there are also several people fly-fishing.

  What else about the scenery? Well, we are surrounded by mountains over 12,000 feet tall. And above us is Longs Pea
k—which is over 14,000 feet. Will we all be standing on that throne soon?

  Anyway, of all the things to be concerned about in the Rockies (hypothermia, thunderstorms, and altitude), so far today, all is well. I guess, as Mom says, we’re getting acclimated. Only James and I now have slight headaches—not bad for being almost 10,000 feet above the elevation at home.

  Oops, Mom just nudged me, asking me to pack up. Guess why? The sun just disappeared behind a cloud.

  Gotta go!

  Morgan

  The Parkers made their way back along the same trail they came up. Halfway back to the bus stop, Mom recalled the song from the ranger talk the night before:

  Are you hiking?

  In the park

  Water is essential

  Drink, drink, drink.

  As Dad sang the second verse, his family echoed the reply:

  Are you hiking?

  In the park

  Don’t forget the sunscreen

  Put on lots.

  James led the third set of words:

  Are you hiking?

  In the park

  Lighting is a danger

  Watch for storms.

  Eventually the family returned to the trailhead, caught the next bus down, and walked back to camp.

  10

  It was nearly 3 PM when the family got back to their campsite at Glacier Basin.

  Using the picnic table as a prop, Dad started stretching his ankle. “Now that’s the way to hike in the Rockies,” he announced. “Leave early and get back before any storms hit.”

  Mom, who was sitting in the sun and reading, looked up from her book. “When do you think we should leave for the hike up Longs Peak?”

  “At 12:30 AM, to drive to the trailhead,” Dad replied. “And we should get started on the hike by 1:00 AM, no later.”

  After a few more stretches, Dad stood up and yawned. “I think it’s time for a nap.”

  “I’ll go in the tent, too, to read,” Mom responded.

  A while later, the sun instantly disappeared. James and Morgan immediately noticed how much cooler it felt. They joined their parents inside the tent.

  James snuggled into his sleeping bag and checked the family’s cell phone for the time: 3:15 PM.

  Large splats of rain began pattering down on the tent. James sat up and looked outside. He could see the raindrops hitting the ground. Then thunder rumbled in the distance. “Here we go again,” James announced.

  Dad opened his eyes. “Yeah, but at least we’re in here and not out there!”

  It quickly became darker. The rain began to pound on the tent. Lightning lit up the area, even though it was the afternoon.

  The Parkers listened to the storm. Mom eventually turned to her family and said, “I guess we’re stuck in here for a while.”

  But Dad scooted out of his sleeping bag. He slipped on his shoes, some warm clothes, and began unzipping the tent.

  “Where are you going?” Mom asked.

  “To make sure we don’t have anything out there that can’t get wet.”

  Dad stepped out into the onslaught. The rain was pouring down, and gullies of water flowed through the campsite. He dashed over to the chairs and firewood and hurriedly threw them under the picnic table. Dad covered the whole stash with a tarp then noticed that a small pool of water was forming around the tent. “We’re camped in a lake!” he called out to his family. He dashed over to the car, opened it, and leaned inside, grabbing a few towels.

  Dad left the car and jogged back, splashing through puddles along the way. He hurriedly slid inside and noticed that his family had scrunched their sleeping bags together in the middle of the tent. “The sides of this thing are leaking,” James informed Dad above the din of the storm.

  “That’s not a surprise. You should see how hard it’s raining out there.” Dad held up the towels. “That’s why I brought these.”

  Everyone grabbed a towel and scrunched it into a corner of the tent. When all was set, they gathered in the middle by their sleeping bags, listening to the storm continue on.

  “Well, what do we do now?” Morgan asked.

  “Wait it out, I guess,” Mom replied.

  “We definitely don’t want to be out there,” Dad said. “It’s like a flash flood. I wish I had a rain gauge set up. I bet we’ve had almost an inch of precipitation.”

  Dad grabbed his thermometer and unclipped it from his jacket. He slid over to the tent door and placed it outside before rejoining his family.

  After a few minutes, James again checked the sky conditions. “It’s still pouring,” he reported. “And there’s water everywhere.”

  “I wonder if we should be thinking about other plans for dinner,” Dad pondered.

  Mom picked up the park newspaper then glanced at James, who was still looking outside. “Is it showing any signs of letting up?”

  “It’s hard to tell,” James replied.

  Morgan slid over to the tent door. She opened it and read Dad’s thermometer. “Forty-five degrees,” she announced.

  “Wow,” Dad exclaimed. “It’s gotten cold!”

  Mom looked at the family. “How about we get out of here?” she suddenly suggested.

  The family bundled up and sprinted toward the car. They hopped in and drove through the storm, heading toward the park exit.

  On the way out, they passed the Moraine Park Visitor Center. There were a few cars in the parking lot. “Let’s check it out,” Dad suggested.

  It was shortly before 5 PM when the Parkers stepped up to the door. They stood outside for a moment, letting water drip off their clothes.

  “Welcome to dry land!” a visitor center employee greeted them once they’d shaken off some of the rain and entered. “You can take a peek inside, but we close in a few minutes.”

  The family hurried upstairs and quickly glanced at the visitor center displays on elk, mountain geology, and the history of the park.

  Then they stepped into a room with large windows, a couple of rocking chairs, and a bench. The family stared out at Moraine Park and the mountains beyond. It was still raining, but the storm seemed to be letting up, at least in this part of the park. Patches of blue sky were now visible between the clouds, and bits of mountain poked through.

  Morgan and James sat down. “Now this is the place to watch a storm,” James announced.

  The visitor center clerk walked in. “That’s right,” he said, smiling. “We call it our viewing room. Perhaps you can come back tomorrow. We’re closing now.”

  Morgan and James stood up. The family looked out at the park for a moment longer. A solitary peak poked out between the clouds.

  Before turning to leave with his family Dad exclaimed, “I think that’s Longs. It’s way up there!”

  By the time they returned to camp after dinner and a walk in the town of Estes Park, it was dark. The storm had stopped and everything was cool and wet. The Parker family went right into their tent and to bed for the night.

  11

  The next morning the Parkers again got up early and trekked over to the Park & Ride area.

  “Training hike number three!” Dad announced.

  “Or, just another beautiful day in Rocky Mountain National Park,” Mom said, looking at the clear blue morning sky.

  A short while later the bus arrived. The family piled in and were hauled up the road.

  They exited again at the Glacier Gorge trailhead.

  Just as they had the day before, the Parkers trekked along, passing Alberta Falls and the junction to Mills Lake. But this time they continued on past The Loch, gaining nearly 1,000 feet elevation along the way.

  Eventually the family made it to another junction. “Well,” Mom said, “it’s either Sky Pond or Andrews Glacier. Which one should we do?”

  “I’ve read great things about both,” Dad commented. “But I really want to see a glacier, if that’s okay.”

  The family made their choice and took the trail to Andrews Glacier.

  They quic
kly climbed into an alpine zone, which had fewer trees. Soon they were above the forest completely. The Parkers hiked on through a field of boulders, taking their time to make sure their footing was stable.

  James turned to Dad. “How does your ankle feel?”

  “Tweaky,” Dad replied. “But I’m being extra careful with my steps. Thanks for asking.”

  Mom paused at one point to let the family rest and regroup. “How’s everyone doing?” she inquired.

  “I do have a little headache,” James admitted.

  “Me too,” Morgan added. “But I think I’m okay.”

  “Well, we’re over 11,000 feet in elevation,” Dad said. “It’s understandable that we’re having some altitude issues.”

  James glanced up, trying to pick out the trail beyond where they were. “Hey, look,” he pointed.

  The family watched two people zigzagging steeply up a slope. “We’ve got a lot of climbing ahead,” Mom realized.

  Dad stepped up, leading his family on.

  As James followed him, a wave of dizziness engulfed him. He put his arm forward, balancing against a rock. “I don’t feel very good,” he said to Mom.

  Mom watched him for a moment. “Why don’t you sit down,” she said, guiding James to a flat rock. “I’ve got a headache too,” she admitted.

  The Parkers waited there for a few minutes. Then James said, “Okay, let me try again.” He stood up, but instantly keeled over and groaned, and immediately sat back down. “You all go up without me! I’ll wait here,” he cried out, feeling both frustrated and sick.

  “You know the only cure for altitude sickness is to go back down,” Dad said.

  “I don’t want you to not finish the trail because of me,” James exclaimed.

  “I’ve got an idea,” Mom said while glancing at Dad. “Why don’t you and Morgan go on? I’ll take James back down to the junction and we’ll wait for you there.”

  “Are you sure?” Dad asked.

  Mom nodded.

  As Dad and Morgan hiked on, up the steepest section of the trail, James watched them longingly. Then he looked at Mom. “Maybe I’ll be okay to go on in a few minutes.”