Colorado bound, 21 Trailblazers, comprised of 16 JetSetters and 5 RoadRagers, settled into Moak Lodge, heard elk bugling in the night, and awoke to a collective case of sinusitis. Weather ran the gamut with the first 2 days being Forever Summer. Sun. we drove through Rocky Mt. NP, doing 4 short hikes to get acclimated. On Mon. we hiked Fern Lake Trail to the falls and on to Fern or Cub Lakes. Two moose were sighted on the descent, a rarity on the east side of the park. After driving up the dirt Old Fall River Road with its panoramic vistas on Tues., we experienced gale-force, chilly winds trekking down the Old Ute Trail from the Alpine Center to Milner Pass where it was balmy. 

Wed. found some of us hiking the Bierstadt Trail with its scenic vistas up to the lake while another group tackled Glacier Gorge Trail to The Loch. Thursday featured The Quadruple Crown Lake tour, starting out in rain and sleet, up to the lakes - Nymph with its lily pads, Dream with its white caps, Emerald with its mountain backdrop and Hiayaha with its ancient tree. With the trail ascending higher and higher, a few hikers balked at the steep rim trail to the fourth lake in favor of a shortcut down past Alberta Falls. Friday found some on a trail ride, with one rider mounted on a horse named Arkansas, others making a steep trek up to beautiful Blue Lake, and another group hiking down Glacier Trail where there was an incredible moose sighting in a pond. 

Aspen in golden fall attire was everywhere, and animal sightings included elk in abundance, moose – supposedly non-existent on the east side of the park, a snake, a fox, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots, Stellar Jays, mule deer, ducks, colorful trout, and ptarmigans, to name a few. Haiya-HA, y’all! (This is our new club battle cry.)