Hello, Beautiful friends! I hope you have lovely weekend planned. Maybe it is going to be slow and cozy or packed full of life (nicer way to say you are busy😁) I hope it is filled with joy. With further ado, I would like to share a small post about where I was last year at this time. I would like to keep it as a memory on my blog. So, enjoy and share if you have been before to the place before!!
Our daughter last year did an internship in Estes Park, Colorado, for the Rocky National Park. We are deep southern people, so this was a wonderful experience. We took a road trip to see her this time last year. I have soooo many pictures and so many more beautiful ones compared to these. But the ones I am sharing are the ones that are easily accessible and have a special moment. I will probably do a longer post about my experience but for today a short glimpse is all I planning to share.
I love to hike. I have been hiking on and off for years but over the last two years I have hiked consistently and experienced so many amazing places. This was my first time visiting the Rocky Mountain National Park. A picture COULD NEVER explain the way I felt. This was literally one of the most beautiful and refreshing places I have ever visited. I loved the hikes and the view. We drove a sketchy road all the way to the Alpine Center at 11, 796 ft above sea level. It was fantastic. Oh, and yes, you will see me in shades a lot even when it is cloudy. I was having major altitude sickness and vertigo. Keeping my shades helped alleviate the brightness from the clouds. I know that makes no sense. But it did.
The weather was nothing I like I have ever experienced. One-minute, warm 70's and sunny and then in a few minutes it would be snowing and 28. It was majorly overwhelming hiking like that. It would rain one minute, snow mix one minute, sunshine and beautiful one minute. I am serious all in one day and all in a few hours.
We came across a moose literally right in front of us. Like 30 ft away. We had stay put for a long time to let it cross. We came across two elk bugling and fighting. It was rutting time. Literally, they were locking antlers. It was pretty nerve wracking. We also had to stand still for a long time until they moved off the path. If you have never heard an elk bugle. Look it up. It can be intimidating for sure.
I love funny hiking shirts. I also collect Bigfoot things!!! I just think it is fun and cheesy!!!
While this saying is funny, it can actually be dangerous. :)
This photo was after I finished a hike. It was an achievement. A moment I will treasure.
Last year (2024), I hiked 168 miles total. I hiked in Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Colorado. I set goals every season of miles I wanted to hike. It was a great challenge and one I hope to do again next year. I took a break last year just to enjoy hikes and not focus so much on clocking mileage. I also burned myself out a little. I have hiked a good bit this year BUT NOTHING like last year. We also had a milder summer last year opposed to this summer. I did a ton of hiking last summer. But this summer was very minimal. I try to hike at least weekly during my hiking seasons. In the hot summer months, I like to hike at least one hike a month, but I like to hike two times. I didn't do that this year. My last hike was the last week of June. I am itching to get on the trail. I can't wait...
Floridia Hiking is coming up in a few days. I will hit a state park and then hike some in Everglades National Park. 🥾
DO YOU HIKE? DO LIKE NATURE WALKS? ARE YOU AN OUTDOORSY GIRL? HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO THE EOCKY MOUNTAINS? MAYBE YOU ARE A WATERFALL CHASER??? I would love to know your answers!!!
With Love,
Chrissy T
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8 comments:
We are big hikers; mostly we hike trails near our home which are definitely more like flat wooded trails. But every now and then we head into the mountains. We're headed to Glacier National park for some hiking but I am definitely worried about altitude sickness and grizzly bears-- you know when they recommend you hike with bear spray that bears are more of a problem. We saw some black bears in Smoky Mountain national park but were told that just standing still and letting them walk away was sufficient.
haha...me, HIKE? Oh No!! I do good to walk to the mailbox these days. I get my exercise walking around the stores when I shop. I do outdoor when I can control things. Bugs and stuff...lol....I do like being out in my yard, working, walking around and just enjoying. We have a couple walking areas around here but I don't like snakes, spiders and ticks! Not been to the Eocky or Rocky Mts. (Read your above question). I love waterfalls
Hi Chrissy, I've never hiked. I've had some foot and knee problems and am just getting to where I can walk alright again. I long to see some of these places. You described them beautifully.
What a difference from the deep south to the Rockies (one of my favorite places), but so glad you enjoyed it. The weather can certainly change at a moment's notice.
Oh, one of my dream places is the Glacier National Park. How blessed you are to get to go. Yes! I would definitely be on guard and make sure you are talking and making noise on trails. Bells or whatever on your backpacks help too. I will say that it was hard hiking the Rocky Mountains. The altitude was hard for me. I did have altitude patches and that helped a lot. My blood pressure kept dropping so I did have a bp cuff to make sure it wasn't too bad. I have BP issues so I monitor it. I hope you have the best time though. You will have such a wonderful experience.
Hey! LOL! I totally get it. It is definitely not for everyone. I totally understand. But hey you look walking and your yard and that is just enough. :)
Oh, my friend they are beautiful. Many are now getting to be accessible to those with mobilty issues. They have little roads that you can drive and sight see. My grandmother did this and she said it was the best time in her life. She just road and soaked all of the beauty in and then at easy little stops and overlooks she got to get out and soak it all in.
Oh it sure can!!!! It is brutal.
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