ALBERTA FALLS – RMNP – #rockymountains

Image March 4, 2018 Dan Traun

ALBERTA FALLS

Just down the road from Sprague Lake is a short hike and a beautiful waterfall. At just over eight-tenths of a mile hike in, Alberta Falls is one of the more popular hiking destinations in Rocky Mountain National Park. The scenic 30-foot waterfall thunders down a small gorge on Glacier Creek. This trail offers hikers an excellent spot to view the waterfall and enjoy the surrounding scenery.

The waterfall is named after Alberta Sprague. Alberta was the wife of Abner Sprague, one of the original settlers in the Estes Park area. The Sprague’s began building a homestead in Moraine Park in 1874. This home eventually become a lodge that was used for hunting, fishing and dude ranching. The property was sold to James Stead in 1900. It remained in business as the Stead’s Ranch and Hotel until 1962. In 1910 the Sprague’s built another lodge near the current parking area for Sprague Lake. The National Park Service purchased that property in 1932 and razed it in 1957.

Abner Sprague would go down in Rocky Mountain National Park history once more when he became the first visitor to pay an entrance fee in 1939.

It was a lovely hike to the waterfall in September 2016 in late afternoon. We were delighted to meet some wildlife along the path as well. This is such a beautiful place to hike around and explore.

Destination, Photography, Travel

SPRAGUE LAKE – RMNP – #rockymountains

Image March 3, 2018 Dan Traun

Sprague Lake is a scenic lake in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), located on the south side of Glacier Creek, about two miles south of the Hollowell turnoff. The .9 mile walk around the lake features boardwalks and bridges with views of Flattop Mountain and Hallet Peak. The area is named after Abner Sprague, who started a homestead there in 1874. The area became part of Rocky Mountain National Park in 1915.

Sprague Lake is a special location in Colorado’s RMNP for my wife and I. We were married there November 18th 2013. Marry me in Colorado made the arrangements very easy. The setting could not have been more perfect. The weather was surprisingly nice for November.

The following photos are from our visit in September of 2016. Sprague Lake Loop is a lovely trail to hike around this picturesque location. The view of the mountains is truly breathtaking.

Extra

Destination, Photography, Travel

HOWTH – COUNTY DUBLIN – REPUBLIC OF IRELAND #discoverireland

Image March 2, 2018 Dan Traun 1 Comment

Howth

Howth is a village and outer suburb of Dublin, Ireland. The district occupies the greater part of the peninsula of Howth Head, forming the northern boundary of Dublin Bay. Originally just a small fishing village, Howth with its surrounding once-rural district is now a busy suburb of Dublin, with a mix of dense residential development, quarries and wild hillside. The only neighboring district on land is Sutton. Howth is also home to one of the oldest occupied buildings in Ireland, Howth Castle. It has been the site of filming for many films.

Howth was the last stop on our whirl-wind, all the way around the emerald isle, Ireland vacation. We didn’t get to explore the area much as we had just checked into our B&B and were in search of dinner. We were not disappointing with our choice to dine here. Crabby Jo’s seemed like a fitting establishment to find seafood. The lobster and chips were divine.

After a delicious dinner we did have an opportunity to walk around the wharf. It was quite chilly that evening and the wind was coming off the water 25 mph sustained with gusts a wee be more fierce. That was no deterrent for us Minnesotans. There was so much to look at and take in. The colors and textures of the nets, rigging and boats were quite captivating. We were delighted to see a seal in the harbor loitering about with not a care in the world. Feeding the seals is not allowed for fear they will become dependent on humans for food. Here are some photos from our walk around the wharf.