OPINION: A big photographic birthday card for Rocky Mountain National Park

Here’s a little visual love note from one who frequently appreciates your presence.

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Moonrise at Rocky Mountain National Park. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

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Moonrise at Rocky Mountain National Park. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Rocky Mountain National Park, you are so totally Colorado. Hanging lakes, frosty peaks, more elk than you can count. You’ve got it all. Thanks for 102 years of protecting wild spaces and wildlife from us humans.

Here’s a little visual love note from one who frequently appreciates your presence.

Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, seen from the trail to Odessa Lake. Jan. 15, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

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A family walks on Bear Lake. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Rocky Mountain National Park. Jan. 15, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

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Fluffy, snowy trees. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Rocky Mountain National Park (Kevin J. Beaty)

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A tourist on the tundra. (Kevin J. Beaty)

USGS research assistant Daniel Bowker treks up the "Wall of Denial" to check water monitors as he does each week at Loch Vale. (Kevin J. Beaty)

USGS research assistant Daniel Bowker treks up the "Wall of Denial" to check water monitors as he does each week at Loch Vale. (Kevin J. Beaty)

Rocky Mountain National Park (Kevin J. Beaty)

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Reflecting at Rocky Mountain National Park. (Kevin J. Beaty)

Rocky Mountain National Park (Kevin J. Beaty)

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Rocky Mountain National Park. (Kevin J. Beaty)

Rocky Mountain National Park (Kevin J. Beaty)

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Rain falls in Odessa Lake. (Kevin J. Beaty)

A boulder field at Rocky Mountain National Park. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

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A boulder field at Rocky Mountain National Park. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Rocky Mountain National Park (Kevin J. Beaty)

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Odessa Lake. (Kevin J. Beaty)

Odessa Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

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Odessa Lake. (Kevin J. Beaty)

Elk at Elk Meadows, Rocky Mountain National Park. (Kevin J. Beaty)

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Elk at Elk Meadows. (Kevin J. Beaty)

The night sky at Rocky Mountain National Park. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

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The night sky at Rocky Mountain National Park. (Kevin J. Beaty)

Odessa Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

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Odessa Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park. (Kevin J. Beaty)

Rocky Mountain National Park. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

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Rocky Mountain National Park. (Kevin J. Beaty)

Autumn colors at Rocky Mountain National Park. (Kevin J. Beaty)

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Autumn colors at Rocky Mountain National Park. (Kevin J. Beaty)

Rocky Mountain National Park (Kevin J. Beaty)

rocky mountain national park; nature; tourism; wilderness; kevinjbeaty

The tundra at sunset. (Kevin J. Beaty)

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Denverite members have made the decision to financially support local journalism that matters to you. Ready to tell your networks why? Sharing our “About” page with your own personal comments could really help us out.