It finally feels like summer.  Summers are short in Estes and you need to be ready to take full advantage of the warmer weather.  We grabbed a picnic, and some firewood and headed into the park for date night.  We went to upper Beaver Meadows.  This is one of our favorite spots.  The views are spectacular, but then again, they are spectacular everywhere in the park.  However, this picnic spot is only 3 miles from the Overlook, has nice restrooms, fire pits and picnic tables.  The best time to go is during the week, or in our case, on a Sunday evening.  We arrived at around 5:00 p.m. Sunday and were the only people there!  I say people because there were lots of Elk, birds, squirrels, chipmunks, etc everywhere.  On our way there, we passed a Bobcat carrying some creature in its mouth up our driveway next to the Overlook.  He went right up the front steps of the Overlook and onto the deck.  We thought about notifying our guests, but by the time we would have contacted them, he would have been long gone.  Summers here.  Time to start your Estes vacation!

Its that time of year when the Bull Elk are growing their new antlers.  Initially, as they grow, they appear very thick and covered with velvet.  In fact, they are referred to as velvet.  Here is the definition from Wikipedia.

1. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velvet_antlerVelvet antler refers to the whole cartilaginous antler in a precalcified growth stage of the Cervidae family including the species of deer, elk, moose and caribou.

Later in the summer the velvet disappears and the antlers look more "normal."   

This Bull Elk was right in front of the Overlook yesterday foraging.  Right now, everything is very green and lush in Estes.  This will change in the next few weeks as things dry out.  However, for now, the Elk and Deer are loving all the vegetation.