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May 15, 2011

Fort Collins, Colorado

Spring has been slow to arrive in Fort Collins this year.  We have had 4 days of cold rain in the last week.

The scenic drive up Colorado 14 along the wild and scenic Cache la Poudre River is just a delight.  There are many places to stop with river access and photo locations along the way. This footbridge crosses the river to allow access to the Gray Rock trail.  While I was set up on the bridge taking pictures, a forest ranger crossed the bridge and said she has spotted a mountain lion about a mile down the trail!  Yes I would love to get a pic but I am just not that brave.

The river’s headwaters are in the [2] Front Range in [3] Larimer County, in the northern part of [4] Rocky Mountain National Park. The river descends eastward in the mountains through the [5] Roosevelt National Forest in [6] Poudre Canyon. It emerges from the foothills north of the city of [7] Fort Collins.

The name of the river means “Hide the powder” in [8] French. It refers to an incident in the 1820s when French trappers, caught by a snowstorm, were forced to bury part of their [9] gunpowder along the banks of the river.

The river is a popular summer destination for trout fishing, [10] whitewater rafting, [11] tubing, and [12] kayaking in the Poudre Canyon.  I am certain many of my extended family will remember the rafting trip I took them on during a family reunion in Rocky Mountain National Park.