The Secrets of 34

Libby and I took a very pleasant afternoon tour of some of our favorite spots along Hwy 34. The highway stretches from Grandby, sixteen miles south of Grand Lake and Shadowcliff, north through the park where it is known as trail ridge road. It shoots east through Loveland and way into Nebraska, too, but thats a different day trip.

We jumped in my car and Libby showed me her favorite Pelican-spot on the other end of Shadow Mountain lake- nearly a dozen American Pelicans perched on a long floating log only a few hundred feet from shore. "They're always here' she explained. We couldnt get too close to the water- the ground was soft and wet- but the white birds are enormous and easily observed from our distance.
Osprey, too- A big nest set atop a large dead pine near the Green Ridge Rec. area further down the road. Mama-bird watched us pull up to her fenced tree and flew away only as we neared by foot. A few little heads popped up to peak over the rim of the nest. They were baby Ospreys, but still very large birds. As we watched, mom came a went a few times- flying from her nest and babies to the tops of nearby trees in nervousness. The fence has been placed around the nest like a yard and has been posted with NO TRESPASSING OSPREY NESTING AREA signs.

Even further south we visited the Willow creek and Monarch lake areas. The gravel road to Willow Creek Reservoir was one I recognized from last fall. We visited last year to find the intense fall colours of the large Aspen groves that line the walls of the valley. No yellows and oranges this time, but the gravel road sure offered some pretty amazing views! Monarch was also nice. The windy, dirt-road drive from the highway is always a good thing and Monarch was smooth and glassy. I dont remember things being so green last year (with the exception of the dying trees, of course!)