Most of today was spent on the drive to the summit of Mount Evans. (Another link) There is a 14 mile paved road, starting at Echo Lake (10600' ASL) to a parking lot near the top, well above the treeline (14130' ASL). A short walk (but grueling at that altitude) takes you to the top of the mountain, at 14,264' ASL. Given my shape and lack of mountain climbing experience, this will likely be the only Rocky Mountain "fourteener" that I ascend! On top there were mountain goats in the parking lot, and the much sought after Ptarmigans!
The view from the top is spectacular. The drive is paved and fine ... but one of the scariest drives I have been on, if you don't like heights (I don't). Lots of shear cliffs!
Be sure to stop at Summit Lake on the way down or up (13,001' ASL) for beautiful views, and a nice hike!
After descending we stopped at the Echo Lake Visitor Center and enjoyed the hummingbirds, and then took a cool tour of Phoenix Gold Mines in Idaho Springs! We got a tour of the mines, and got to pan for awhile ourselves! (no luck!)After this, we drove north to where the trip all started - MacGregor Lodge in Estes Park, for one more visit! (GREAT place!)
The last stretch of the Mount Evans summit road
One of the great mountain-top views
Another great mountaintop vista
Survey marker on top of Mount Evans, just shy of the summit.
A view of Summit Lake from the summit
Some tundra flowers break through the rock
The tundra around Summit Lake was in full bloom
Summit Lake (13,001' ASL)
BIRDING: Not much today, the highlight was the alpine birding on Mount Evans. Many COMMON RAVENS when we first arriving, performing some fun looking aerial displays! There were also MOUNTAIN GOATS on the summit. Finally, while I was using the bathroom :) Melissa spotted the Ptarmigans. The family of four chicks and a female WHITE-TAILED PTARMIGAN were new for our life list! They ran right across the road. We have been looking for so long! Each chick was banded so there is probably some sort of study going on. HORNED LARKS also here, but not many birds.
At Summit Lake, we finally found BROWN CAPPED ROSY FINCH, at the Northwest Corner of the lake!
Lower, at Echo Lake Lodge, there was a COMMON RAVEN, and many Hummingbirds. Though mostly BROAD-TAILED, we spotted a few BLACK-CHINNED, and one CALLIOPE (didn't get a picture in time!)
Back in Estes Park at MacGregor's, there were RUFUOUS HUMMINGBIRDS now joining the BROAD-TAILED we had seen earlier in the trip.
Mountain Goat at the Mt. Evans Summit (Melissa's photo)
Juvenile White-Tailed Ptarmigan! (Melissa's photo)
The mother Ptarmigan was keeping a close watch (Melissa's photo)
A closer view of one of the young Ptarmigans (Melissa's photo)
Brown-Capped Rosy Finch at Summit Lake
Common Raven at Echo Lake (Melissa's Photo)
Black-Chinned Hummingbird at Echo Lake
Idaho Springs, Colo: Hoary Comma (?)
Rufous Hummingbird at Estes Park
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