Today has the best forecast for our time here so we decide to take the most weather sensitive hike; a trail to the peak of Mt. Ida.  The route follows the Continental Divide for about 4 ½ miles starting at 10,758 ft and climbing to 12,132.  Air is pretty thin up there.   Signs here claim 40% less oxygen at 12,000 feet compared to sea level.  We noticed it.

Much of the hike is across open tundra above the tree line in the alpine region. Yellow bellied marmots watch from rock perches and occasionally take up guard positions right on the trail.  One challenged me as I tried to pass.  It was a bit un nerving for a second but once he saw I had nothing to share with him he scurried on to the next pair of hikers.  Pica bark from among the talus fields. I spot a horned lark.  Overall, wildlife is pretty sparse up here.

Below us gray talus slopes lead to mountain benches that shelter amazing alpine lakes circled in tundra. Snow drifts hang above them.  It is very Sound Of Music like.

Thunder storms are afternoon regulars so we were heading back down by noon. A cold wind of 30+mph blew in.  That hurried us on down just a little faster.  We stopped to watch and listen to a mama Ptarmigan and her chicks and to catch this pic of a beautiful Colorado Columbine.

The rain holds off so we explore some on our way back toward camp. We check out the Alpine Visitor Center and I climb the stairs to 12005 feet. I felt like I earned the “Got Oxygen” T-shirt they have in the gift shop.  Trail Ridge Road is slow going.  It gets even worse when a band of bull elk decide to pose just 30 feet off the road.  We grumbled a bit about the slow going but we gawked too as we went by.