Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Father's Day ride through the Rocky Mountain National Park

I spent most of today, Father's Day, tooling about the big road loop comprised of Berthoud Pass, Winter Park, Grand Lake, Milner Pass, Trail Ridge Road within the Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), Estes Park and back home to Denver via Lyons and Boulder.
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I left a little bit after 8:30AM and by 11:30 I was paying the $10 fee at the western entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park.  The weather was nice and warm down in the Denver Metro Area but it got a bit chilly as I made my way into the mountains, still it was not that bad at all.
I was riding Vikki, my 2004 Suzuki V-Strom motorcycle with Dauntless Sidecar Rig, and once again she proved more than capable of achieving and holding highway speeds on the I-70, US40 slabs with no issue and seemingly little effort.  This ride was also to introduce her to one of my favorite mountain roads.
 Enroute to the top of Berthoud Pass on US 40
Nice and sunny here

 The requisite sign of one's steed by the Pass Sign

 About 2 miles into the Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP)

 Another peak view heading towards Milner Pass

 Closeup view of the Green Knoll, part of the Never Summer Mountains

 Parked at the Never Summer Mountains overlook

Video of the Never Summer Mountains

A video of the sign naming the mountain peaks 

 The requisite picture of the Milner Pass sign


Riding up to the top of Trail Ridge Road from Milner Pass

The view from Trail Ridge Road


The view of the peaks from Trail Ridge Road

Down in the main valley on eastern end of the park
watching the incoming weather clouds engulf the peaks

Heading towards the Beaver Meadows park entrance


264 miles worth of riding today, perhaps seven hours in the saddle not counting time stopped for pictures.  I saw sun, lots of cloud, overcast skies, rain and a little bit of sleet at altitude.  A great Father's Day ride!

4 comments:

Trobairitz said...

What a great ride. Since moving to Oregon from British Columbia 10 years ago I haven't had the pleasure of going through the Rocky Mountains. I miss them.

Thanks for the great pictures and ride report.

Roger said...

GReat pictures and great blog....still looks cold to me though, but you have some great places to rid.

SonjaM said...

Spectacular, especially like the first one. I miss the Rockies for the scenery, but the coast mountains are not too bad either. Still looks a little nippy up there.

Oz said...

That is one of the best routes in the US. I have ridden it twice on a bike and a few times in a car. Never ridden it that early in the summer. Sure a lot of snow left. What a great Fathers Day ride. It was 105 where I was riding on Fathers Day in Texas.