This hot summer day we headed up to Rocky Mountain National Park late morning for an afternoon of hiking.  We made it halfway up Long’s Peak, and around 2pm started crossing paths with many hikers returning from the summit, or at least an attempt to the summit.  I’ve never acsented to the top as it requires a 3am start.  Unfortunately I’m not one that can count myself in the “14er” club yet, as in the summer I prefer camping in the wilderness as opposed to long strenous hikes.  (That and cycling is my preferred cardio choice.)

We drove a few miles down highway 7 to Estes Park, a popular tourist town packed with RVs and full of the typical small tourist town sights:   Taffy shops and souvenir stores selling the typical kitch, but Estes Park also has one nice pool hall, an independent bookstore, and some good restaurants.

Upon arriving at the Stanley Hotel we must have appeared more grubby and sweaty than I thought, because we were given the artic cold shoulder by the lobby staff who was busy shuffling hordes of wedding guests around in and out of various rooms.  

We checked in, showered up, and went out for dinner.  Returning late at night we wandered around the property exploring some of the haunted nooks and crannies found among the long corridors and wide Titanic-esque staircase. Turns out the cute little room we had, complete with a dormer window, was right around the corner from room 407 which is supposedly haunted. 

I took a photo inside of the elevator and captured this.  Apparently it’s some sort of ectoplasic string of energy. (X-files theme here.)  Art Bell has not returned my e-mail.