I grew up on Mt. Rainier’s doorstep, and my dad taught me to love and respect everything the outdoors had to offer. With him I visited many of the west’s National Parks - from the Redwoods to Yellowstone to Arches and so many more in between. Even after I left home and married, his love for the National Parks encouraged me to venture out and seek new adventures in new areas of the country.
This picture was taken in Rocky Mountain National Park, on the trail between Bear Lake and Alberta Falls the day before he died.
Sincerely,
Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National park offers breathtaking views of the spectacular Rocky Mountain range, with 60 peaks over 12,000 feet, small permanent glaciers, lakes, waterfalls, and historic and cultural treasures including ancient trails, game drives, cattle ranches and lodges. This park’s rugged landscapes harbor hundreds of high-elevation plant and animal species — some that are increasingly rare outside the park or are found nowhere else. Some of the park’s human-made structures speak to the boom-and-bust cycles and neverending search for adequate water supplies that characterized the nation’s westward expansion.
State(s): Colorado
Established: 1915
“Nature and beauty is the one thing we can still hold onto. The parks give us so much more - they are a place where we can go to enjoy our natural surroundings as they should be. The parks give me a sense of peace and tranquility, and I enjoy spending time there, and sharing it with my family.”
National parks represent the best of America. Why do you care about protecting and preserving them? Tell us why parks matter to you!
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