From the Northern Lights to shining community events — Estes Park keeps finding ways to glow.

Howdy, neighbors. Buck Timber here, still blinking at the sky like I woke up before the coffee finished brewing. If you stepped outside this week, you know why. The Northern Lights showed up over Estes Park looking like the mountains were getting an early start on Christmas.

Bright red sky. Soft green along the horizon. The whole ridge glowing like holiday lights that finally won an argument with the dark. Mo Pass said he could feel the solar storm in his teeth. I told him that is probably just what happens when you chew wintergreen gum like a wood chipper.

What a sight. We do not get many of these this far south, so the whole town stopped to stare. Folks stepped onto porches, pulled over on the shoulder, and held their phones up like they were trying to save a memory before it slipped away.

On November 11, 2025 a severe geomagnetic storm was triggered by the Sun and reached the U.S., including Colorado. What NOAA G-scale level was assigned to this storm when the alert was issued?

If you ever get the itch to stretch your legs above Estes Park, the Gem Lake Trail is one of those classic climbs that rewards you the whole way up. It is a moderate hike with steady elevation, enough to make you feel alive but not enough to make you question your life choices.

The views along the way are worth every switchback. You get clear looks at the valley, Lumpy Ridge, and the kind of rolling granite that makes this corner of the Rockies feel like no other. The trail winds past odd rock formations that look like Mother Nature got creative on a slow afternoon. When you reach Gem Lake, you find a small, mirror bright pool tucked right into the rock basin. On a quiet day the lake sits so still you can hear your own thoughts echo off the granite

Remember to bring plenty of water, take your time on the granite steps, and give wildlife the room it needs. Around here that is just good trail manners.

If Gem Lake is on your list, consider this your nudge to go. It is a local favorite for a reason, and Buck approves.

This season is picking up speed in Estes Park, and the town is filling the calendar with events that mix fun, community spirit, and a little early holiday magic. Whether you want pets, parades, performances, or pine trees, there is something for everyone.

🐾 Pet Pictures with Santa
Saturday, November 15 | 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Bank of Estes Park on Highway 7
$25 donation to benefit the Pet Association of Estes Park
Bring your furry sidekick for a holiday photo you will laugh about for years. Funds support shelter pets and local animal care.

🏃 Turkey Trot 5K at YMCA of the Rockies
Saturday, November 22 | 9 a.m.
Sweet Memorial Program Building
Free to join, family friendly, and dog friendly with leashes. A perfect pre pie warm up.

Buck’s note: Mo Pass says the secret to finishing strong is imagining a cinnamon roll waiting at the end. I think that is the only reason he runs at all.

🎭 “The Lightning Thief” – EPHS Thespian Troupe 7284
November 13 to 15 | 7 p.m.
HS Auditorium
Adults $15 | Students $10
Local students take the stage with big energy as they bring Percy Jackson to life.

🎨 Mother’s Café Arts and Crafts Show
Saturday, November 15 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
1480 Golf Course Rd
Handmade gifts, pottery, jewelry, and local art. A relaxed stop for early holiday shopping.

🎄 Festival of Trees – Estes Park Quota
November 12 to December 14
The Estes Park Resort
More than 40 decorated trees created by local nonprofits and businesses. Raffle tickets help support community programs, and you might take home the tree that steals the show.

Tuesday night was the real showstopper. The sky opened up in bright reds and sharp greens that looked like someone painted the whole valley with a giant holiday brush. The wind cut through the ridgeline, but nobody seemed to care. Cars packed the pullout by the Estes Park welcome sign on Highway 36. Folks leaned against their bumpers, zipped their jackets higher, and stared at the sky like they were trying to memorize it.

You could hear the wind, the clicking of phone cameras, and every so often a quiet “wow.” When the reds brightened, people pointed. When the greens deepened along the horizon, everyone shifted to get a better angle. It felt like half the town showed up to watch the same moment unfold.

Wednesday was a different kind of beauty. Softer, quieter. The clouds drifted in and muted most of the color. What we did see came through as light pinks and pale greens brushing the sky. Not as vivid as Tuesday, but still enough to make you stop for a second. The kind of glow that feels like a secret shared with whoever stayed out past dinner.

Mo Pass said Tuesday was the main course and Wednesday was the dessert. I told him that was the first time he has ever compared science to a meal, but he was not wrong.

These storms do not come often, and when they do, they remind you how lucky we are to live under a sky big enough to surprise us twice in a row.

Buck’s takeaway: Some nights roar, some nights whisper, and both are worth stepping outside for.

Did You Know? Estes Park Addition

• The Northern Lights you saw this week were strong enough to be visible as far south as Texas and Florida. Colorado usually needs a strong solar storm to see any color at all. Tuesday's storm reached G4, which is the second highest level on NOAA's scale.
• The red color in the aurora comes from oxygen more than 150 miles above the ground. Green comes from lower levels. Pink shows up when the colors overlap. Tuesday delivered all three.
• Gem Lake is one of the oldest named places in Rocky Mountain National Park. The trail sits on Lumpy Ridge, a granite formation that started taking shape more than a billion years ago.

Buck's Joke Of The Day

Why did the turkey bring a microphone to dinner?
Because it wanted to roast everyone! 🦃

G4 (Severe) — the second-highest level on the NOAA geomagnetic storm scale.