My Travel Journal (2004 Trip to the West)

My Journal from the 2004 Western Trip
by Daniel Deppen

July 17, 2004

We landed in Denver, Colorado. Uncle John and Aunt Calista rented two cars. (We needed them because we were eight people: Bob, Oma, Uncle Dave, Uncle John, Aunt Calista, Cally and Sylvia --and, of course, ME.) Now our two-week adventure could start. As we were driving on the highway to the Rocky Mountain National Park, we saw an oil pump. It was still turning.
How cool! I had to draw this in my journal.

To learn more about
oil pumps and how
oil drilling works,
READ THIS.

We saw an oil pump in a field near Denver

From another perspective

Rocky Mountain National Park

After driving about 2 hours from Denver Airport, we got to our cabin at the Blackhawk Lodge near the Rocky Mountain National Park. We got settled and then drove to the closest Park Ranger Station. They had a number of interesting exhibits for kids. In one we were allowed to try on all kinds of neat clothing to try on. I thought it was really cruel the way they used to trap the animals.


Topographical Map	Too small!	This one?	Perfect!	How about this one?	Trappers' tools	RMNP Station

I also learned from one of the exhibits how the valleys in the Rocky Mountains were formed. There were two ways: one the valleys were forged due to the power of the rivers and the other one was from glaciers. When I got home, I drew what I've just learned.

Rocky Mountain
National Park
Ecosystems

River-shaped Valley

Glacier-shaped Valley


Mills Lake, named after Enos Mills. Mills was a dedicated naturalist who helped establish the national park by campaigning for the preservation of this land for the enjoyment of generations to come.	Do you want to learn more about Clark's Nutcracker and hear the call of this bird?	We are are enjoying the breathtaking beautiful of this Rocky Mountain National Park scenery.