The Colorado Rockies

We had a fantastic week-end

 in the Colorado Rockies.
This was my first time in the Rocky Mountains
and maybe it is ridiculous but,
although I knew they are called the "Rocky Mountains"
I was surprised, by the fact that, they are indeed very rocky.

Bear Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park

Early saturday Nathan and I met in Denver, Colorado.

We rented a car and drove ~1&1/2 hours 

to Estes Park, a small mountain town 

at the gateway of the Rocky Mountain National Park.

Estes Park, the Red & White hotel is where Steven Kings The Shining was filmed.

The mountains are breathtaking!

Our first day we arrived mid afternoon.
The drive into Estes Park was beautiful,
 we especially enjoyed the drive around the Trail Ridge Road

Trail Ridge Road, a very scenic windy mountain road.

We saw lots of Elk on our drive!

Elk!

Feeling small in a great big world!

I'm on top of the world!

We packed as much mountain time as we could into three days

By that I mean,
we hiked, hiked, and hiked!
There are so many trails it was hard to decide which ones to choose...

Day two we hiked to Chasm lake (8.4 miles & 11,760 ft)
 and Day three Flattop mountain (8.8 miles & 12, 324ft)
(although due to a midday storm we didn't actually summit Flattop)

Starting the climb to Chasm lake

Friendly ground squirrels!

Getting closer to tree level

It was amazing how short of breath and cold we got 

as we hiked higher and higher...

In the tundra, above tree level

Chasm Lake & View of longs peak

*Beautiful views from Chasm lake trail*

Crystal clear glacier water

Day three

Hiking to Flattop:

Above Emerald Lake

Brr, Nathan is freezing in the tundra on Flattop

*Views from Flattop*

Glaciers 

Our last little hooray before heading back to KC

was a walk and picnic along Bear Lake.

Bear lake

The Rockies are beautiful,
it was a great way to end summer 2012.

We can't wait to explore them again, 

maybe next time with ski's!

Good times in the Maritimes: Part 2

As per my request

Before I leave my home and native land

I wanted to go on a hike with my brothers.

So Saturday Craig, Chris, Avery, Austin, and I 

hiked Cape Split.

Cape split is a beautiful 16km hike 

featuring the NS hardwood forest 

and scenic views of the Bay of Fundy.

Angela, Chris, Avery, Austin

Our hike begins.

Angela & Riley

Avery & Riley 

The cute couple: Chris & Avery

Although the leaves are just starting on the trees

the mayflowers were out in full bloom

and I got a little obsessed with them.

Craig & Angela

We tried several times to take a nice group shot.

The ridiculous dog did not like all his humans in a tree 

So he joined us too!

The Girls: Avery & Angela

The Boys: Austin, Chris, Craig

Siblings! 

Siblings!

we made it*

The Cape

The Split

The group

Super Dog!

Our little Riley Dog was such a trooper! 

Oh so Nova Scotia...

It was a great way to spend my last Saturday in Nova Scotia.

As of today, I am officially un-employed.

It feels a little crazy!

But I am trying not to panic and focus on preparing for my road trip

in T-2days!