A Young Elk Bull

In early December of this year, my wife and I were driving around in Moraine Park in the Rocky Mountain National Park after a light snow the previous night. The snow plows clearing the snow off of the roads also scatter gravel and salt as they go along. The large herd of elk cows and yearling bulls that live in Moraine Park were all along the roadways

eating the salt. We came upon this three-year-old young bull elk in the road also eating salt. It was kind of unusual to see a young bull as big as him still staying with the cows. Normally the mature bulls, after the mating season ends in the fall, stay together in their own herd over the mountain in Horseshoe Park. As we approached, he moved to the side of the road. Back of him was a little rise with some trees in the background. I thought, if he will just go up there on that little rise and pose for me, I bet I can get a good picture of him. As if he had heard my thoughts, he turned and walked up on the rise and struck a pose. He made my day and now you get to see this painting of him.

For about the last twenty five years, Corinne, my wife, and I give each other a Christmas present each year by going to Estes Park, Colorado for a few days early each December. For the first few years, we always stayed at the Holiday Inn in Estes Park. Then one year, they kicked us out on our second night there because they needed our room for a large group that was to be there for a wedding. So, we looked around and found some nice condos along the banks of the Fall River up closer to the Park. After staying at several of the condos and motels along the Fall River, we decided that we liked the Aspen Winds condos best, and specifically we like Unit #6. From its balcony, there is a very good view of the river and the nearby mountains. We have seen mule deer, elk, Bighorn sheep, foxes and coyotes at or near this condo. In the spring, the willows along the other side of the river are full of migrating birds. Year-before-last, I did a pen and ink drawing of the view from the balcony of Unit #6 and used it to make our Christmas cards that we sent out that year. The owners of the unit #6, bought a print of that drawing, had it framed and it now hangs on the wall above the breakfast table. It is kind of neat to see something that I drew hanging on the wall in a condo in Colorado. By-the-way, we have never been back to the Holiday Inn in Estes Park except to eat in the restaurant there.