15 replies to this topic

[Scrapinator]

I had a day on my own so I decided to head to the west side. Mostly I wanted to see if the Crater was open yet but I was also hoping for some moose sightings.

As I was heading into the park I saw these two beautiful Mule Deer bucks. After seeing them on this morning, I noticed they were hanging in the general area of Upper Beaver Meadows and the turn off to Bear Lake for several days. OK, maybe they weren't the same two bucks, but there were two bucks hanging around that area for several days.



I also discovered where the elk bulls were hanging out -- right at the top of Trail Ridge Road.



I can't tell you how many years I've driven by the Lake Irene sign and not stopped, but it's been many. I decided this time to stop and see what Lake Irene was like. Of course, I was first taken by some Marsh Marigolds.



Then I arrived at Lake Irene. My picture is not nearly as beautiful as Marsha's, but here it is for what it's worth.



Just beyond Lake Irene, I saw this beautiful little Pigmy Bitterroot.



Then I noticed that a section of the old Ute Trail continues just beyond Lake Irene. So, I decided to follow it a ways to see where it lead. I hopped a little stream a couple of times.





And came to a large open area covered in wildflowers. It was a wildflower bonanza.



It contained more Columbines that any single area I had seen so far.



And a little still life with buttercups.

[Scrapinator]

At first I thought this was Kinnikinnick, but I have since decided this is Dwarf Whortleberry.



Some small Bluebells.



I believe Diane (Diane85) revealed at one time that Bistort is one of her favorites, so here is one for her.



I believe this is Self Heal.



I walked around the meadow for a while and decided to continue on down TRR. I'm going to go back to that section of Ute Trail at some point and see where it leads. I stopped at Coyote Valley Trail (remember I'm looking for moose). Oh, and by the way, the Crater was still closed. My hike was accompanied by a rather wrenching sound of chain saws.



I like to continue going at the end of the trail and (again) wander around the meadows. Sometimes things just catch my eye and i just have to take a picture., like these.





I love all the flowers that were blooming -- a yarrow.



And some small flowered Penstemon.



And tons of Asters.

[DrCloud]

Lake Irene!

It always seems to be a place that's just on the way to somewhere more important.

That meadow picture (the one just before the columbines), though, is going to make me stop to take a good look. Thanks! HPH

[Scrapinator]

I went all the way to the west entrance and decided to turn around and was eventually awarded with my moose sighting. It was a mama and two babies. Not the best picture as they were quite a distance away.



Going over TRR again, I just had to stop and take a picture of one of the Moss Campions that are growing in the tundra along the road.



I also decided to drive down Bear Lake road so I could stop and get some pictures of the Prickly Poppy that grows in just a couple of spots along the road.




Overall it was a restful day and a great way to spend some time in the park. It was a precursor to what became some of my favorite hikes of this trip. But the highlights of those will have to wait.

[mwilson]

We were told at Lake Irene by some volunteers a couple of years ago that the section of the Ute that goes from Lake Irene comes out along the road somewhere, but I'm not sure where. It might also be mentioned in the Lisa Foster book. I think it would require 2 cars to do it. I would love to complete it, because then we would have followed the Ute Trail from Upper Beaver Meadows to wherever this section comes out. Weren't those columbine awesome? We took pictures of them too, but I don't think it is one I posted in our report. We followed the Ute Trail for awhile and climbed up a ridge to see what was on the other side. It was just another ridge! I'm glad you stopped; it's such a peaceful place, unless you are there an noon when there are lots of people enjoying their picnic lunches. As far as our reflection picture, we were just lucky to be there when the sky was clear and the lake was calm. It is one of my favorites from the trip though. Glad you got to see some moose.

[Allie]

Love your wildflower photos, and congrats on the moose sighting. Never stopped at Lake Irene, but want to now after seeing your photos, and Marsha's. Pretty place.

[Lynette]

I love the picture of the yarrow. The penstamen in the back are gorgeous.

[Monica]

Becky,
I love your pictures! We saw the moss campions, too. Of course I didn't know their name until I just read this report. I thought they were beautiful little flowers and so strong for surviving the tundra.
Looks like a lovely day for you. I'm glad you got to see the moose!

[foxfire]

Great pix! Flowers galore! Lake Irene is pretty. We were suppose to go there after "2005 Never Enough Summer Rendevux (sp) " but it was starting to slightly rain so we all went to the park in GL. Nice little area right off the road.

Fox

[John]

One of the best columbine shots ever!

[Rhonda]

Love your flower pictures with the accompanying names. Lake Irene is beautiful and restful.

[mistylady]

Wow, Becky, your flower pictures are great! The crater usually doesn't open until the middle of August. It is always open when we are there in September. We always do The Crater and Lake Irene when we are there. We enjoy both places when on the West side.

[Becky J.]

What a great variety of pictures.
I also love the flowers.

Becky J.

[Scrapinator]

mistylady, on 14 August 2011 - 02:02 PM, said:

Wow, Becky, your flower pictures are great! The crater usually doesn't open until the middle of August. It is always open when we are there in September.

I've caught it open as early as the first of August, but no luck this year, darn it

[B-Jay]

It looks like you had a rewarding and relaxing day on the west side. Seeing your pictures makes me eager to get back there soon.

B-Jay