San Diego -> Rocky Mountains

San Diego to Rocky Mountains via Hanging lake

I started Colorado Rocky Mountains National Park trip at 2PM from San Diego after completing all lease terminations activities are taken care.  It was too hot in San Diego, when i started.


I drove on I8. whole I8 from california after Mt Laguna junction is pretty much dry. Before Arizona border I see sand dunes miles after miles. I have  not aware of this. Next, when i read solar city(where thousands of solar panels fixed and producing power). I new it is in CA But i actually saw on I8 in two places one in  CA and another one in Arizona State. Interestingly, they two panel types are not same. I think Arizona panels may produce more electricity because of more heat.

I stopped around 5:30 to fill gas and to take quick break. I stopped and opened the door. I felt San Diego is much more better in terms of heat. Those complains about San Diego temperatures need to visit Arizona at least once to experience the real heat.  In Arizona temperatures are hitting around 110. it was first time i experienced that much heat in US. When i tried to clear my car front glasses, Water was evaporating within  few seconds.  i need to clean immediately after applying soap water. Then, i drove to Saguarao National park. When i reached NP  there was little light left. i did drive through inside park and stopped one or two places to enjoy sunset. i was very beautiful.

My initial plan was to stay at Tucson, when i see the map and driving hours, i changed the plan wanted to stay within 3 hours distance range. I stopped at Globe. Driving HWY77, it is interesting HWY seems lot of hill side riding, Driving on HWY 77 in day light might even more fun.

After break fast started to petrified forest national park. Reached there by 10:40. Spent just more than an hour. Stopped at few view points. This is the first time I see petrified logs. First I confused with rock , I left there by noon. Then drove to Sand dunes np. 

Drove on hwy 40 till Albuquerque New Mexico. On the way I see lava cliffs on road side for couple of miles. I did not aware there was any old volcanic exists. I reached Albuquerque by 3, I took a short break. Had nice coffee then filled gas started towards Santa Fe then to almosa, co.  There was light rain with many thoundards with temperature more than 96 , it was strange for me. I never experienced any thing like that. When it rains temperatures used to be low, that's what I know.

Around 4 I passed sNta Fe almost till Alomsa there is light rains. By the time I reached San dunes no till one hour of day light left. So I went to Zapata falls on hills it is unsaved road. I did small hike to see falls. While coming from falls I see nice sun set.

 

I reached campground with very little light left. I pitched tent at piney campground. After I did not remember anything until next morning.

I wake up by 615, I packed everything, I am on my car by 6:30. 

 I went to dunes parking lot to catch sunrise. It spent an hour there, then started driving to black canyon np, drive is very beautiful, I drove elk scenic byway, I went to north rim of np, while coming I saw a fox crossing the road. 

First time seeing fox that close so I stopped captured few pictures. Then, I drove to glen wood springs to hike at hanging lake. It was very difficult. It is only 1.2 miles with elevation jumps to 1800 ft. It took me just less than 2 hours. Then, I drove to Rocky Mountains.

I drove on scenic byways all the way to rocky. By the time I reached gate. It was sunset. I entered np with west gate via grand lake. My campgrounds are on east side.
I drove to campground via misty clouds with 6-10ft visibility at alpine. I drove for more than 15 miles with this condition. I can clearly see a cloud comes touches my car front glass and passes,  it was like that cloud after cloud. When cloud touches for a second or two I see nothing more than 2 ft until my defroster clean little bit, so that I can at least 10ft road. It was awesome drive. I came to campground by 9:30. By 10 I am in my tent in sleeping bag.

Next day was my adventure started before sunrise. I was at alpine by sun rise to capture nice sunrise. I roamed at alpine vista points to capture nice pics, I spent till 8 on snowfields. Then, I decided to go for one nice hike. I choose granite falls it 5.2 miles one way. Initially I thought I can finish by 4 hours, but it took me just shy by 6 hours. Man, I was very out of fitness then itself I decided to drop at least 12 lbs after my trip. I enjoyed the hike. I met one though hiker doing AT. I talked to my mor than 30 mins. I asked him about thru hiker life style, he many intersteing stories. I showed me wild strawberries and heckle berries in the hike path. 

I think I was eating all the way till I reached falls and then till reaching trail head where my car parked. 

They tested really nice. At one place, I think I was more than 10mins picking huckleberries. And eating handful of berried at once. This is the first time I ate.  Near the trail head I saw moose and her cub. There park ranger was telling. about moose eating patterns, it seems moose eats 80% of one year food it eats in 180 days calendar. Rest 20 in rest of the year.  

 Then, I spent till sunset drive thru points. Before sun set , I was at my camping site. I prepared nice veg biryani. It is the first time in my camping experience I cooked Indian food while camping with very ease and in less than 10 mins. What ever I learnt about preparing camping food before I started the trip, paid off well.