We headed out to RMNP for a quick camping trip before our little one arrives. We were able to go camping and fishing in RMNP and had an amazing time. We drove through Grand Lake and stayed on the East side of the park. Shortly after our arrival we encountered a bull moose right by our campsite. He was busy eating willows and didn't mind a few photos being taken, but we stayed a good distance away. Later that day we were able to drop a few lines in the water near our camp and catch a few little trout. It was great to be able to fly fish right from our camp site. Speaking of our campsite, the elk herds came down early and ventured through each evening. One night there were 3 yearlings with their mommas right next to our tent. It was surprising how they just wondered through camp, basically ignoring all the humans and eating what they wanted.
On day 2 of our trip we drove into Grand Lake for some better fly fishing near the inlets to the lake. We had to scrambling our way through willows/swampy area to make our way to the water. It was a little unnerving since we kept seeing moose beds and had heard the area was milling with bull moose. It is not their mating season, so the moose are not as aggressive, but still a bull moose can weigh up to 1800 pounds! Whoa, that's a big animal. We found a great fishing hole where we stayed for a few hours. At one point, I had just hooked a beautiful fish and was reeling it in, when Dave spotted a bull moose across the stream from us. I quietly tried to put my fish back in the water as Dave snapped a few pictures and watched the moose. I was scared but Dave had us move to the other side of the water and kept a close eye on our big friend. He was not interested in us at all. He was more into eating, so thankfully we were safe. But my nerves were firing. I was excited from the fish as well as feeling like I might be trampled by an enormous animal. We were safe and it was an amazing experience to get so close to such a large animal in the wild.
Later that day we went for a few hikes/walks through the park. It was such a wonderful trip with Dave. Special time spent with the man I love before out family becomes 3. I can't believe out little one will be here in a few months.
