We all look up at an eclipsing moon high in the sky as we approach the block-shaped Longs Peak in very crisp air at 3 am. Way toward Wyoming , streaks of Northern Lights shimmer while we inch our way to the summit over icy granite. At 5 am we plant our feet at the very top over 14,000 feet to wait in early light for a bright and rising sun somewhere over Kansas with lots of prairie in-between, and then it happens. As the sun bobs up, the shadow of our high cold mountain moves quickly westward stretching out to Utah and revealing our planet’s unending whirl through space.
Sincerely,
Rocky Mountain National Park
This dramatic landscape of towering mountains and alpine lakes encompasses more than 265,000 acres - 95% of which are designated wilderness. With this intentional focus on protecting this unique landscape, there are few developed infrastructure areas in the park, which leads to traffic problems in areas including the Bear Lake Road Corridor and right off Trail Ridge Road. Alpine tundra also encompasses approximately 1/3 of the park. Alpine tundra is a fundamental and fragile resource, which requires park managers to give this ecosystem increased attention for protection.
State(s): Colorado
Established: 1915
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