Parks

al tours which can follow a planned itinerary or private and customized with one’s own group. Each tour provides knowledgeable guides that focus on birding and the outdoor world. The international tours are broken into three categories: easy, moderate, and adventurous so that travelers can decided what level suits them best. These treks have led Kaiyote to Taiwan, Europe, Nepal, Borneo, and the Columbia Amazon with more destination detailed on her website.

Rocky Mountain National Park

My husband and I met Kaiyote in February for a half-day guided snowshoe hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. We met her outside of the western

By Jeanine Consoli Freelance Travel Writer www.emptynestadventure.com

entrance following her through the park to the Colorado River Trailhead. The trail stretches for 7 miles and has a starting elevation of 9,040 feet with little elevation gain throughout. Kaiyote provided snowshoe gear which included shoes, poles, and snacks. We dressed for the weather, which was cold, but dry, and brought water. After a quick lesson on how to use the equipment, we set off.

We stopped often to admire the variety of trees, birds, and wildlife, during our tour and stepped off trail to dig down through the fluffy, white snow to hear the bubbling sound of the Colorado River flowing under the icy layer. Time flew by as we trekked roundtrip for three miles through the wintry landscape, admiring the beauty of the stunning surroundings.

In the spring or summer, Kaiyote leads private, small group guided hiking experiences, birding and nature excursions, or overnight backpacking tours. Rocky Mountain National Park has 359 hiking trails and covers 416 square miles with some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. There are over 300 species of birds, Elk, Moose, and Coyotes as well as smaller creatures like chipmunks and squirrels. If you trekked the Colorado River Trail in the spring or summer you’d see wildflowers, birds, and wildlife.

Great Sand Dunes

Natl. Park And Preserve

Great Sand Dunes National Park And Preserve in Southern Colorado has sand dune “mountains” that stretch for 30 square miles. The Ute tribe lived among the dunes 11,000 years ago and archeological work continues to this day. President Herbert Hoover first dedicated the area as a National Monument in 1932 to protect the naturally formed dunes. In 2004 the area expanded to 233 square miles to include the surrounding mountains becoming a National Park.

The Sangre de Cristo Mountains have some of the highest peaks in Colorado and the dunes are the highest in North America, majestically rising 750 feet from the valley floor. Kaiyote will guide her guests on a private birding, hiking, or backpacking tour in the park. According to Kaiyote, over 250 different species of birds make the park their home and there are 40 miles of hiking trails. In the evenings guests might look up at the sky to learn about constellations, the Milky Way, and enjoy the vast canvas of twinkling lights. Please turn

Grand Lake, Colorado – A Four Season

Destination

Grand Lake is known as the “Western Gateway” to Rocky Mountain National Park and is also known as the “Snowmobiling Capital of Colorado.” This adorable, authentic western town is a great place to spend time. You can stay in a rustic cabin or enjoy lakeside accommodations like The Western Riviera Lakeside Lodging with stunning views across Grand Lake.

The historic raised boardwalk has over 60 shops and galleries to explore as well as some incredible dining options including Sagebrush BBQ or Charlie’s Bar And Grill where you can savor great views and delicious food.

The outdoor activities during the spring, sum- mer, and fall at Colorado’s largest natural lake abound with boating, fishing, and sailing on the water. On land there are several activities like horseback riding, hiking, biking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, or wildlife viewing in Rocky Mountain National Park –a playground in any season. For