This was our second hike/exploring day in Rocky Mountain National park. We decided to start the day with a big breakfast, so Anne and I went into town to get donuts, but we were delayed on the way by some elk in the road. So here are some obligatory elk photos, taken abut 50 yards from our cabin:
Elk in the road 
Elk among the cabins 
Elk cows, one with tags 
Bull Elk with cows
Our main event of the day was to go up to the Alpine Discovery Center, which was a long, uphill drive, through several layers of ecosystems. Some photos from a lookout along the drive:
Mountain ecosystems 
Anne and Emmi 
Elevation-based ecosystems
Finally we were in the alpine tundra, and then at the discovery center where we walked to the very top of the hill. Some hot chocolate at the center, then we hit the road again, stopping at another overlook for more tundra. Tundra photos:
Emmi, Kyle and Anne at the Alpine Center 
Snow and tundra above the tree line 
Emmi and Anne above the Alpine Center 
The top of the hill 
Looking down at the Alpine Centeer 
Fragile Tundra Environment 
Rocks driven to the surface by Ice-Age “frost heaves” 
Rocks on the surface of the tundra 
Rocks driven to the surface by Ice Age “frost heaves” 
Anne at the lookout 
Emmi and Kyle above the treeline
We stopped at another overlook, further down the hill:
Pines and aspens on the mountain 
Kyle, Emmi Anne and me.
Our final destination was a place called Moraine Park, which was a wide valley where the elk could be found. There was also a creek — the Big Thompson River? — and some vegetation restoration areas, which were fenced off from the elk but accessible by gate. These were the last photos of the day:
The Big Thompson River 
The Big Thompson River 
Protected vegetation along the creek 
A magpie on the fence 
Elk
