Rocky Mountain High

Jean's Trees!
I just love the trees we find out here along
Interstate 70.

From Idaho Springs to the National Forest
entrance was 16 miles. From this sign to the top of Mt.
Evans is an additional 14 miles.

Bristlecone Pines.
They are the oldest living trees in the world.
Some have been dated to more than five
thousand years old.

Continuing to climb.

Echo Lake seen below is 10,000 feet.

We have just crossed the timber line.

Still climbing higher!

Summit Lake is 12,830 feet high.
The temperature was 46 degrees at 1:00.

We are now making the return trip down.
Note the thin line towards the upper left.
That is the road we were driving on.

Here is part of the road we were on.
By the way...yikers bikers!!!
We have seen hundreds of bicyclists pedaling
the mountains. God know why!

An out cropping of granite.

Alpine Grass.

Bristlecone grows twisted for a stronger foundation
against extreme winds.

Between 8,000 and 9,000 feet aspen is the
dominant tree.

Another Continental Divide.
This time it is on US 40 on our way
to Winter Park.

This is the view from the Continental Divide.
Note the switch backing of the roads.

Driving these high Rocky Mountain roads was
an adventure. We had shear drop offs, hair pin
curves and challenges with these high altitudes.
But the Colorado Department of Transportation
was helpful with reminders like these!