Never Summer, Colorado High Country

Hello to all,

It led us away from the western edge of the meadow at Skeleton Gulch. It was new to us, our first morning at Skeleton Gulch, Never Summer Range, Rocky Mountain National Park. We had put on our exploring boots, headed in a random direction and there it was. A barely discernable trail beckoned us.

It wound up through stands of pine. Dark shadows cloaked the roots, flat areas carpeted with needles were guarded by rings of gray-green trunks. Pale purple Columbines and flashy yellow Cinque Foil grew among tall mountain grass, butterflies trying to choose which nectar to drink.

Tracks of deer and elk marked the way. We climbed over bare granite, packed dirt and gnarled root. Our breath shortened in the high altitude (near 11,000 feet), lungs worked overtime drawing in the cool, invigorating air that kept us going. We were both watching our footing when the trail stopped on a ridge.

Looking up we saw . . . 

Let the picture say its upteen million words because a thousand wouldn't cover it.