At 7:30 am on Sunday morning, we appeared at the Moraine Park Campground ranger station, much to that ranger's surprise. Remembering the queuing I'd endured earlier that summer in Yosemite, I was going to be certain that we had a home-sweet-campsite for that evening. Procuring a lovely site at the far end
of the campground, we proceeded to the Moraine Park Museum for a bit of breakfast before heading to "The
Importance of Being a Beaver" presented by Ranger Robbyn.

When we approached the gathering group for the talk, I heard the ranger telling a joke about a Navajo. I whispered to Kira, "Go tell him "Ya'ah teeh". His
eyebrows went up and we proceeded much to the group's surprise to introduce ourselves to each other in Navajo. Originally from Ft. Defiance, I explained to Kira and Grange that he was a long way from his home and would appreciate the greeting.

Ranger Robbyn was a hoot and proceeded to share many interesting facts about the beaver as we hiked around the nearby beaver pond. I have a soft spot in my heart for this giant rodent. I explained to the ranger that as a kid, my family camped at a spot many a Saturday night just above the Crystal Trading Post. Nearby was a beaver pond and we were fascinated in watching these industrious creatures. Ranger Robbyn made an argument for the beaver as an intelligent creature, not one just showing "repercussions", this was his term, to the surrounding environment.

At noon, it was time to head to the Beaver Springs Visitor Center to meet up with my old high school chum, Patt Garcia, and her partner, Bob Blasko. Old
friends are the best friends. Patt and I hadn't seen each other in several years yet we picked up the conversation where we left off and chuckled at each
other's greying hair.

After setting up camp, we headed for them hills. Patt was in charge of hike selection and she picked a dandy
introduction for the kids, starting at Bear Lake and proceeding past Nymph Lake, Dream Lake until reaching Emerald Lake. The hike was an easy 2.8 mile with a 600 foot upward elevation change, a piece of cake for the kids after experience 7+ miles with a vertical climb of 2500 feet from the Yosemite Valley earlier this summer. Nymph Lake was my favorite, filled with lily pads and baby ducklings, one which had an
affinity for Grange's shoe. Grange couldn't resist
jumping into the water once we reached the topmost
lake so he was a bit soaked on the return trip.

Driving toward our campsite, we noticed a large herd of elk. The bull of this herd was a twelve-pointer. I marveled at seeing so many sleek, healthy animals
in their natural environment. We also spotted a pair of coyotes, an unusual siting and indicative of their probably trying to hunt the herd. We noticed the elk calves were grouped into what looked like a nursery surrounded by older cows with the bull not too far
away. We spotted only one other bull, a relative youngster trying his best with the ladies. It did not seem to concern the old bull much and apparently the
females weren't taking him too seriously either!







Hiking and camping have always provided me a great excuse for pigging out at suppertime. Patt prepared chicken and rice. I had tortillas, plus sweet Olathe corn which we'd purchased in Gunnison. Patt brought along a hot sauce assortment to die for so we had a proper feast that evening. Too tired to play Mexican Train, we headed off to Dreamland for the evening.

Monday morning, I woke the kids and with Patt, took them on a small jaunt to the river. The kids are proving to be game fish. Kira's initially crabby mood
has slowly improved as the week has progressed and Grange has just been happy-go-lucky throughout. After a breakfast of bacon and eggs with more of the great hot sauce, Patt selected a hike which took us up several waterfalls. Slightly longer at 5.5 miles, the kids handled it easily and we marveled at different views of Longs Peak, the mountain which appears on the
Colorado quarter.

On our way back to camp, I stopped to say hello to our friends at Eagle Plume's in Allenspark. Sometime during the late 1920's, Charlie Eagle Plume, started helping the original owner, Katherine Lindsay, with her trading post and he continued to entertain and
educate people until his death in 1992. His adopted daughter, Ann Strange Owl, her husband, Dayton and
their daughter, Nico, continue to run the store and
protect the Eagle Plume collection which Charlie put
into a foundation shortly before his death. I was a
young girl, probably around Kira's age the last time I
had visited the store so it was a pleasant surprise to
find it so many years later as a happenstance of our
hike which took us by the old trading post.

We feasted again that evening. (I personally downed three large burritos doused in hot sauce. Steve said
we would be fat as ticks if we kept up this pace! The kids grew tired and headed to bed while Patt, Bob and I watched meteors and satellites.

The next morning while packing the campsite, the kids finished their Junior Ranger programs. Rocky Mountain
National Park has an extensive program where the kids must attend a ranger-led discussion; identify plants, birds and animals; learn lightning safety and what to do when lost; and pick up trash. We left the park
with a greater appreciation for the creatures within
and the subtle beauty of this national treasure.