Rocky Mountain National Park, Moraine Park

This is a view of the west end of Moraine Park looking west. The valley floor is about 8800 feet above sea level, the peaks above are about 12,000 feet. The valley was formed as the glaciers flowed east from the high country creating moraines of rock that define the sides of the valley on the north and south. The glaciers melted creating an ancient lake that silted in over the centuries leaving a large grass plain which the elk browse as a food source. In time the grass will give way to a forest of conifers. Frequent storms this year has raised snow levels to 150% of normal in the high country.