After driving the Trail Ridge Road to the west side of RMNP, we set up camp in Green Ridge campground in the Arapahoe National Recreation Area, on the south end of Shadow Mtn Reservoir, which is between Grand Lake and Lake Granby. Now, I should point out that we had been told by our neighbors in Blue Mesa that this area is "moose capitol" - and I'd also read that about the Grand Lake area - so we were really hoping to see one. After missing the great moose in Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, not to mention my many trips to New Hampshire...I was half convinced they were as common as the great sasquatch or Loch Ness Nellie, and of course, the myth was simply being perpetuated in the interest of tourist dollars.....
Our new camp host told us the best fishing was on the trail just behind our campsite, which heads to the mouth of Lake Granby about 1.5 miles south. So that evening, we checked it out. It was a lovely trail with lots of wildflowers, a bit muddy in places, and sadly, large numbers of victims to the mountain pine beetle. Gary didn't have any bites, but on the way back - we heard (big) branches snapping a ways ahead of us. A few feet further on the trail....and there it was....a big ole papa moose, just maybe 30 feet from us.
He looked over, accurately assessed us as non-threatening, and continued his munching. Thank goodness he didn't wiggle his ears and blow bubbles!!! (reference to Disney Jungle Ride, for those who haven't had the pleasure of meeting a large animal such as a HIPPO!!!)
The pics are a bit blurry because it was very dark - I was surprised they came out at all!
Gary and the moose in the background, heading to the river. So my blurry pictures prove - they actually DO exist. Harrah for Bullwinkle!
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