Sure we have a few more months to go before summer is in full swing in Rocky Mountain National Park. There is no doubt we are going to have more snow in Rocky Mountain National Park, and there’s a good chance it could be a big dump of snow or two. Even so, the pendulum has swung and the thaw has arrived in Rocky.
The signs can now be seen everywhere. Mountain bluebirds have returned to the meadows, bull elk are sprouting new sets of antlers and water is transforming from solid back to liquid form and flowing freely through the meadows and parks at lower elevations. Sure there’s still a long way to go before shorts and flip flops but its a start. 
With the spring melt off now on it’s way, photographic opportunities in the park which have not been possible since early fall abound. Crusty winter snow and ice has melted away from the banks of Fall River and the Big Thompson river. Warmer weather this week should also go a long way towards unthawing some of the lakes and ponds which still are quite frozen.
It’s a great feeling hearing the sound of water bumbling and trickling over rocks and boulders again, no longer muffled and frozen in ice. The signs of spring are beginning to gain momentum and emerge from their long winter slumber.
I took the opportunity to explore Horseshoe and Moraine Park this past week. Weather was spring like with a combination of snow, sun and wind and not necessarily in that order. Along the banks of the Big Thompson river I was lucky enough to be party to a beautiful spring sunrise.
With the skies colored in magenta and red, the flowing waters of the Big Thompson were a perfect compliment to the spring sunrise over Rocky Mountain National Park. In only a few more weeks I expect some of the lakes to really start to thaw. I’ll be there, hopefully mother nature cooperates with a few more sunrises like this one.