Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Friday, July 27, 2012

Snow to Make You Feel COOLER

I got this idea from one of my Blog and Facebook friends,  LYNN. She had seen a 'snow' picture that George had posted some time ago --and thought it would be nice to see some SNOW pictures during the HOT SUMMER....  Great idea,  don't you think?

During our big Summer trip out west in June of 2011,  one place we visited on our way home was the ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK in Colorado.   A few days before getting to the Rockies,  we had suffered in the almost 100 degree heat at the Arches.....  SO--you can imagine how wonderful it felt to get to this area and enjoy some cooler temperatures and SNOW....

SO---today,  I'll share some pictures taken on June 25, 2011 ---as we drove over 12,000 feet UP into the Rocky Mountain National Park.   The first picture above was taken as we got into Estes Park, CO ---before driving into the national park.  Beautiful area,  isn't it?????  Be sure to click on the pictures in order to see some enlargements.




This picture was taken from the Sheep Lake and meadow area just inside the Fall River entrance into the park.   We stopped to admire the mountains that we were going to drive UP!!!!!  We also looked for some Bighorn Sheep --but didn't see them at that time...




We went UP-UP-UP......  The higher we got,  the more snow we saw.  However,  the roads were clear --thanks to the snow crews who have to work hard to get them clear...  See those poles along the way?  They are there so that the crews will know where the road is supposed to be --when there is heavy snow on the mountains!!!!




This shows one of the huge snow banks along the road.....  Can you imagine having to scrape THAT much snow????




We actually stopped the car several times to even walk and play in the snow.   Even though we had shorts on that day,  the temperature up there was in the 50's..... BUT--it felt so good compared to the temperatures we had experienced in Utah.




Here is another picture taken from inside the car ---as we drove along...  We felt like we were truly on  TOP of the world... AND--we almost were!!!!! ha




This  is a picture of the Alpine Visitor Center at elevation 11,796 feet.....   The building was still almost covered up with snow!  Amazing to see this on June 25, isn't it?????




Finally,  here is one last picture of the snow we saw at  the Rocky Mountain National Park  that day...  We took many, many more pictures here ---but hopefully,  you have enjoyed seeing these.  AND---if you are having a very HOT SUMMER,  maybe these pictures will help cool you off just a little.

Have a great weekend.  I'll see you on Monday.
Hugs,
Betsy

51 comments:

Ms. A said...

My neighbor always dreamed of living in Estes Park, so when he retired from the PD, they moved up there. After about 15 years of freezing their butts off, they moved back to Texas!

I think I would enjoy the cold, just not having to drive in it.

diane b said...

It is amazing to see so much snow in summer. The photos are super and I love the one of George in his shorts in the snow.

Small Kucing said...

arent you cold wearing shorts and t-shurt in the snow?

Certainly a good idea posting these photos. here very hot.

amelia said...

I love these pics but then I love the cold and snow!!
Very chilly this morning, 8c when I got up!

Snap said...

Thanks for trying to cool us off!!!!

Catherine said...

Betsy! What are you and George doing out playing in the snow. Please don't encourage it. Winter will be here again before we know it!! LOL!

It does look beautiful though.

Happy weekend!
xo Catherine

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

Just beautiful, Betsy...and refreshing. We're thinking about visiting the Rockies in September. Not sure how much snow we'll see, though, after such a hot summer.

Elizabeth Edwards said...

that one photo of the snow back that is freaking awesome!!! love it. that is amazing that the snow can get that high. wow!! nature & weather is so mysterious. wow!! great views. i agree snow is what we need to see when it is so hot & humid out. wow, thanks!! enjoy your weekend. wonder if i have snow to share. ha. ha!! (:

Jeevan said...

Awesome and cool! I enjoyed the snow pictures and the clear roads... the view on the mountains, meadow and lake is fabulous and scenic! I too like looking into winter or pictures captured at hill station to feel cool while summer heat.

Thanks for the snow and have a nice weekend :)

Big Dude said...

Thanks Betsy, I needed that - I feel cooler already. I may print one out and keep it with me. If I had a private jet, I think I'd fly down to the Andes a few times a month to cool off.

Sharon said...

Sorry Betsy! Didn't work - I'm STILL hot and it's only 7:38 a.m. Geez!

Still amazes me that we were in Estes Park on EXACTLY the same dates in 2011. We could've very easily have seen each other. I have so many pics that look just like yours. Especially the ones taken on Trail Ridge Road. What a hoot!

RoeH said...

Looks great to me. Very tired of triple digits here. I love seeing snow up there.

Dorothy said...

It's fun to see these snow pictures in July! We stopped at the same spot as in your second picture. That's where we saw our first Magpie. It appeared to be injured or sick and let us get close to him. That is really some beautiful country and I would like to be there right now! Thanks for the COOLNESS!

Ruth Hiebert said...

These are gorgeous.I have been through that area and saw some snow,but not that much.Have a fabulous weekend.

MadSnapper said...

i have ac blasting so with that and your pics i am shivering. LOL i have never seen that much snow piled like that on the side of the road, not even in a photo. that road going up up up looks scary to me and the fact they need sticks to find that road.

Amy Burzese said...

So refreshing! I love the Rockies. That is one huge wall of snow!

linda m said...

Thank you, I really needed some relief from the heat. I feel so much better now. Have a great weekend.

Anonymous said...

Hard to imagine that much snow later in the year! Very refreshing pictures this a.m. after another week of oppressive heat! Have a wonderful weekend.

TexWisGirl said...

thanks for the cool-down! :)

Donna said...

How refreshing! It's amazing how much snow still lingers in the high mountains during the summertime. We remember one trip we took to the Canadian rockies to do heli-hiking. While we were hiking on July 4, it started to snow on us!

Chatty Crone said...

Now that was refreshing - but the road - with that ice bank - that was a lot of snow. And what was the weather in Utah? Looks like another wonderful trip my friend.
sandie♥

Rose said...

These were wonderful to see! I can at least imagine coolness!

Sylvia K said...

Marvelous, snowy captures, Betsy! Perfect for a hot day -- and we've had some of those lately!! Those banks of snow are incredible! I remember seeing those every winter when my family and I lived in Montana!! Have a beautiful weekend!

Lynn said...

Oh my what magnificient pictures! First time through, just admired the SNOW. Second time, admired the awesome mountains. We were scheduled to take a trip over the continental divide to Grand Lake while there, but the day before a blizzard way up high, closed the road and the trip was cancelled. Bummer. We saw snow on the mountains which I loved, but nothing like this much snow! Terry most likely would not have had an easy time getting me back in the car. I love and miss snow, but until it knows how to snow on grass/trees and not on the roads, I will stay here in FL. hehe. Thank you Betsy for thinking of me. I so enjoyed these delightful "refreshing" photos. Blessings, my friend.

DeniseinVA said...

Breathtaking scenery, I am glad you reminded us to enlarge the photos to see all its magnificence in clearer detail. Thanks Betsy and have a great weekend.

Miss Debbie said...

That is really amazing! Would love to see that some day!

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Beautiful pictures! We actually watched Frosty the Snowman the other day to try to cool off ;-)

Rohrerbot said...

That looks nice. Would love to have a little bit of that melt off down here:) CO is really beautiful and I always enjoy the mountain views. We were there in October last year and the cool breezes off the mountain tops really made for some chilly evenings when the night went down:) As for Yosemite, it should be pretty nice as well. Several family and friends came back. Lots of sun but it wasn't too hot. Have a good weekend! Chris

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Maybe we should have thought about the Rocky Mountains for a vacation this summer instead of waiting until September! I've been to Colorado before, but the mountains are always fabulous to see. And you know, I think I feel a tad bit cooler after viewing your photos, Betsy!! Thanks!

Rose ~ from Oz said...

Betsy awesome pictures!! what a (cool) drive! Really magnificent country. (er, the photos didn't cool me down, made me shiver) as I sit here typing on my laptop with the fire roaring. :))

Arkansas Patti said...

Thanks Betsy. I needed that. If we don't get a break soon (there is nothing under a hundred forecast for the next 7 days), I'm packing my bags.

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Well I'm chilled out now- cool pics of one of my favorite places to vacation!

Beth said...

Your pictures are lovely, Betsy! I especially love the top one of the lake. The water looks like it would be really, really cold. Amazing that there could still be that amount of snow left in June. That was very refreshing...thank you!

Starry Dawn said...

Hi Betsy,
Oh!! I just love your pictures taken at the Rocky Mountains in CO.
The view is just breathtaking.
You must have felt on top of the world when you were there...
I'll soon be posting a treat for waterfall lovers inspired in you, precious heart, Betsy.
I truly enjoy viewing your blog so much. Thanks for sharing your love with the world, Betsy!!
Have a blessed time you and George!! See you soon...
Warm Hugs,
Poet Starry.

Gardener on Sherlock Street said...

That was refreshing. Beautiful. We love Rocky Mountain National Park. We have made it a point to go every five years. We honeymooned there.

Gardener on Sherlock Street said...

That was refreshing. Beautiful. We love Rocky Mountain National Park. We have made it a point to go every five years. We honeymooned there.

SquirrelQueen said...

I'll bet that was refreshing after the Utah heat. I love those views of the mountains especially the last one. It reminds me of places in AK.

I do feel cooler after looking at your beautiful photos Betsy.

Have a great weekend!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

I am out West visiitng my children and yesterday we were up in Estes Park whihc is outside the RMNP! It was warm up there this weeek --and very beautful as always. We went horseback riding..a real adventure for me..lol!

Anonymous said...

nice post thanks for sharing...i saw your blog on other followers nice looking for to visit more blessings !

Janice K said...

Love them!! We have spent more vacations in Colorado than anywhere else...It all started when Jack and I started were on our first day and began sharing that we both had been on trips to Colorado and loved it. We went there together on our honeymoon and just keep going back instead of going other places. Probably the most memorable trip was when we took our children there for the first time.

Thanks for the memories!!! Have a great weekend.

Shilpa said...

Cool capture on the snow capped mountains and roadways between the snows! Awesome.... and thinking of snow or ice is a simple pleasure feel to go through this summer heat. Thanks so much for snow and breathtaking pictures.... Betsy :)

Hugs nd Kiss
Shilpa

Small City Scenes said...

Nice shots Betsy. The mountains out here still have snow on them too.
Thanks for having me in your thoughts and prayers. MB

Diane AZ said...

Hi Betsy, I did feel cooler looking at your snow pictures, thanks! It looks like it was a beautiful day when you were in the Rockies. :)

Terry and Linda said...

Estes Park has been stricken with drought this year. Not green now.


Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com

Lynda said...

It really is refreshing to look at those cool pics on these hot days. When I was a kid, I LOVED being outside in the summer - - - swimming or going on a picnic. But at my current age, I would rather be inside the a/c house doing work!!!

And I know I saw the pics before but did not remember the part about the poles marking the road. Very interesting and scary, too that they get that much snow.

GreatGranny said...

Love it, still hoping to get some here this winter...thanks

Connie said...

That is one way to keep cool on hot days like today! Great pictures, Betsy. I hope you and George are having a nice weekend. :)

Neal said...

Very beautiful Betsy. I posted snow pictures 2-3 weeks ago...thought it might cool me down but it didn't. :)

MTWaggin said...

Aahhhh the mountains. Love the shot Betsy!

trump said...

Great Idea Betsy and I plan on posting some spring and Summer pictures when Winter comes on my own blog, and as always your pictures are magazine quality. Richard

happyone said...

Yes, that was a good idea.

I love the first picture!!!