I just got back from attending a meditation retreat out in Colorado, where I lived for fifteen years before moving to California. The retreat took place at the YMCA of the Rockies in beautiful Estes Park, which is known as the Gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. Estes Park is famous for its elk, who wander down from the higher elevations and gather in town. You can see them grazing on lawns, ambling through the downtown area, or resting on the grounds of the famous Stanley Hotel (which was the inspiration for Steven King's haunted hotel the Overlook).
On my walks along the grounds of the YMCA of the Rockies, I saw elk, coyotes, and a herd of mule deer. The elk all look a little shabby this time of year, as they are molting, nor was I able to enjoy the sound of the males' wild, eerie bugling, as mating season will not take place until early autumn. When it does, though, the elk will be even more in evidence as the males challenge each other for possession of the harems of females and bugle to attract potential mates.
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