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So . . . you are headed into the rugged terrain of Rocky Mountain National Park. Chances are you would like to know a little bit about Estes Adventures (EA) and who your fearless leader will be on these expeditions.

For almost every trip booked with Estes Adventures, I will be your guide. On occasion you will be treated to one of our other highly qualified and experienced guides. Regardless of who takes you out, you will have a professionally guided trip into Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) or the Estes Park area allowing you insights into the local ecology, history and geography that few visitors to this area of the Rockies enjoy. Anyone can drive through RMNP. As our motto "Get Out & Experience More" indicates, we want you to get a real feeling for this very special National Park.

"Who Are You?"
Alison, my wife, and I drove into Estes Park, Colorado, for the first time in early 2001, set up camp and never left. It is a familiar story among the folks who call this special mountain town home. The Estes Valley is everything you would imagine of a picturesque high mountain valley - towering snow-capped peaks, clear mountain streams and lakes filled with various species of trout and plenty of wildlife.

Originally from North Carolina, I have always loved being outdoors and have had what some people term and ‘obsession’ with fishing and hiking. I suppose it began on family vacations to various mountain and coastal destinations. Joining Troop 17 of the Boy Scouts of America opened up a whole new world to me. Not only was this an environment where we were introduced to various outdoor adventures, such as 5 day canoeing trips down the New River or biking along the Blue Ridge Parkway, Troop 17 gave each boy the confidence in their own abilities to effectively communicate with other people. We were encouraged to take positions of leadership and often had to deal face to face with adults – a daunting task for kids in their early teens. In the end, I made many achievements: attained the rank of Gold Palm (two ranks higher than Eagle Scout), Order of the Arrow, Assistant Scoutmaster.

I attended North Carolina State University where I studied Biological Sciences and became a member of the NCSU Outing Club. I also started dividing my time between hiking the mountains of NC and salt water fishing on the Outer Banks. I joined the Raleigh Saltwater Sportfishing Club which allowed me to fish tournaments anywhere from Nags Head to Hatteras to Ocracoke. My first tournament was at Ocracoke, once the island hangout of Blackbeard, where my team took first place. Over the next several years I came to know the trails of the old majestic mountains in Western NC as well as the shoreline of the Barrier Islands.

In 1997, I decided to take a long distance backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail (AT), that legendary blazed footpath running from Springer Mountain, Georgia, to the summit of Katahdin, Maine. During almost 4 months of hiking, I covered over 1100 miles. As with most people who take on such long hikes, the AT was a life-altering event. Weekend getaways are invaluable for recharging your batteries but 1100 miles in the woods gives you a whole new perspective on the world. Clean drinking water flowing from a tap in any trail town seemed like magic. If you wanted to do something nice for someone, you typically offered them food or maybe even to carry some of their load the next day. Paper money held little value other than a great fire starter . . . and no one would ever dream of packing around coins – way too heavy for those counting the ounces upon their backs. Once again my love of being outdoors deepened. The idea of starting my own guide service began to simmer in my mind. It is so easy to get wrapped up in everyday activities that the opportunity to spend quality time outdoors seems to become more elusive. I wanted to share the experience and provide the opportunity for everyone to recharge their batteries through some kind of outdoor activity.

Upon returning to ‘civilization’ I tried unsuccessfully to avoid any sort of real job. As with most people I was assimilated back into regular society. Working in a cubicle, counting vacation hours, planning all week for the next weekend getaway. Paper money once again took on more of a significant role than a mere fire starter. Living in central NC, Alison and I spent a great deal of time driving either east or west to the chosen weekend destination. A brilliant idea occurred to move either east or west and eliminate 10 – 12 hours of driving every weekend. We started compiling a list of requirements our future home would need to satisfy.

We would need to be surrounded by natural beauty; something to inspire us by simply looking out the window. Convenient local hiking trails, preferably close to a National Forest or National Park where extended trips into the backcountry were possible. Good fishing options, whether it was fishing with delicate fly patterns or with hefty saltwater equipment.

In early 2001, Alison and I packed up her car and my pickup with items we deemed necessary for establishing our new home, such as an extensive cd collection, camping gear and plenty of kitchen implements, and began driving around the country. We drove west visiting towns and cities we had never been to before like Nashville, Memphis and Santa Fe. Once in New Mexico, we took a northerly route into Colorado – the first time we had ventured into ‘the west’ other than a previous backpacking trip to the Grand Canyon. We stopped in Lyons, Colorado, for an extended rest and realized that Rocky Mountain National Park was only a short drive up into the mountains. Once we topped the hill on Highway 36 and looked down into the Estes Valley, it took about 15 seconds for us to decide we had found ‘home’. We have never regretted this decision and have since bought a house in town and added the perfect dog, Dixie, to our family.

The Rocky Mountains are very different from the older mountains I had come to know and love back east. I continually gain new experiences and knowledge of my new stomping grounds. Alison and I take full advantage of our surroundings and hit the trail as often as possible. I am a Council Member of the Shining Mountains Group, the Estes Park chapter of the Colorado Mountain Club. I am also a member and webmaster for Alpine Anglers, a local chapter of Trout Unlimited. Recently, I began serving as a Volunteer In Parks (VIP) for a project in Rocky Mountain National Park. Music, my other great passion, also occupies a portion of my time. I have played the guitar and bass for years. I have since picked up mandolin and tenor banjo. My new project is to learn the 5-string banjo. I am as likely to play and listen to Bill Monroe and Doc Watson as I am The Who or Rush. If you check my cd player you are very likely to find either Todd Snider or Jimmy Buffett playing.

The experiences and changes in my life have brought me to this current destination where I live in Estes Park at the base of the Continental Divide of the Rocky Mountains. Starting Estes Adventures is both a realization and continuation of a dream that started several years ago. EA will always be dedicated to providing the opportunity for people to safely enjoy the exploration of Rocky Mountain National Park, the various surrounding National Forests and the Estes Park area. If you want to reconnect with nature and need a little guidance or advice, we’re your kind of people.

Thanks for visiting the website!

Michael Lyon

Estes Adventures, LLC
GoFish@EstesAdventures.com
(970) 577-0226 / (970) 231-0887
PO Box 792 Estes Park CO 80517

Estes Adventures operates under a permit from the National Park Service to conduct trips into Rocky Mountain National Park. Our Colorado Outfitter License Number is 2444. When selecting an outfitter, always make certain your guides have all required licenses & permits for a safe and enjoyable trip!