After a fun couple days in Boulder and Denver, on Sunday we headed north. Though Kim only had one day to acclimate to the altitude, we pushed the limits and went to the Rocky Mountain National Park for some exploring. We didn't know exactly where we were going, but with some tips from friends and the visitor center, we found a couple nice hikes and got to see a wide range of scenery. We went up to somewhere between 10,000 and 11,000 ft above sea level before the day was through.

Inside Rocky Mountain National Park

Everything inside the park looks like a postcard. Whatever direction I turned, I had this urge to take a picture. Being from the Midwest, I'm not used to seeing mountains silhouette every view. The mountains, the wildlife, the lakes, waterfalls, cliffs...it's all beautiful.

Our first excursion was to Alberta Falls. It was a nice little hike, and at the end you were rewarded with a non-stop roaring waterfall. There is not a good vantage point to see the entire thing in one shot, for the upper falls wind around a little bit. If you climb up a ways at the falls, you can see out over the treetops to the valley below and the mountains beyond.

Albert Falls

Next, we made the trek to Bear Lake. There's a trail all the way around the lake, and the view changes dramatically depending on which side you're standing. The snow capped mountains in the distance peak out over the trees. Reflections ripple in the water. Bob Ross must have came here for inspiration.

Bear Lake

We continued up the trail beyond Bear Lake to Nymph Lake, which doesn't offer quite the same breathtaking views. It's smaller, more secluded, and seems more peaceful in general. In the lake were tons of lily pads (I don't know what the correct term is), which was another new thing for me. Those are a little less common back in Indiana.

Nymph Lake

We hadn't really planned too much in advance for our trip, so being low on food, water, and energy...we figured we should head back to civilization. After eating, we went swimming at the local rec center, and sat in the hot tub for a while to relax after an eventful day.

The day seemed to fall into place, and capped off a great weekend. Here are a few pics from the trip.