Labor Day 2016 (Colorado mix)

Published September 4, 2016

Last time I saw Sarah, she set up a sweet hike above scenic Lake Louise in Banff Nat’l Park. Hike day culminated in a high-altitude tea aside an alpine lake, Lake Agnes. Set the bar mighty high, huh? Well…she IS Canadian after all.

Early morn hot air balloon, diner breakfast – next up, one of my hike faves, Brainard Lake.

Alpine lake, lodgepole pine, glacier snow on the peaks – all at 10,300ft starting elevation…pretty SPECTACULAR. Ever Google the elevation in Toronto? 249ft. True flatlanders. Whatta sport – thin air, little oxygen, yet not a peep of negativity outta Sarah. Hiked to Long Lake – pic I use as my website cover art. LOVE LOVE this place. Sharing the experience with friends, no words. Full heart.

Anything any better? uh…Cue, wildlife. Chipmunks, pika, black squirrels, elk – easy. How ‘bout MOOSE? FAAANNNTASTIC! Shower, change of clothes, night trek up Boulder Canyon to Gold Hill Inn. Fine dining at 8,000ft. Kinda hard to match Banff but folks – an alpine hike, 2 moose & a 5-course meal at 8,000ft – I attempted to reach that bar. WOW, whatta day!

(whole lotta photo credit: sarahontheroad.com)

: 5000ft higher than my Colorado home

: perfect day for a hike

: lodgepole pine & glacier-fed water

: Ponderosa pine

: thin air & cool temps – LOVE it!

: Aspen yellow, the beginning of Fall

: photo credit: sarahontheroad.com

: website cover art revisited (Long Lake) — my blog’s now 5 years strong

: Ro’s a smilin’ — sign of a mighty good hike

: FAVE shot of the day!

: alpine pallet, so much colour

: wildlife alert: MOOSE!

: a drink & a soak before heading home

: photo credit: sarahontheroad.com

: high-altitude fine dining

: a rare non-hike, non-marathon, freshly-showered dinner pic 🙂

Sunday: [marathon] bib pick-up day in Colorado Springs. 10 minute chore – check, done.

Garden of the Gods. Monolith red rocks curtained by mighty Pikes Peak in the background. 2 ½ hours from home, but I visit this Park at least twice a year. Any excuse, friend/family visit to Colorado – Rocky Mtn Nat’l Park to the North, Garden of Gods to the South. Both treks highlight every itinerary. AWESOME amazing acts of God.

Manitou Cliff Dwellings. Something old, something new – well, at least new to me. LOVE history, LOVE everything Native American. Visited the three-story Pueblo-style Cliff Dwellings, descendants of the ancient Anasazi (existed 1100-1300 A.D.) Honestly not a ton to see & do, but happy to have gone once. Museum’s a bit dated – more walk-thru placards than actual artifacts.

Dinner & a short tourist walk downtown. Highlight: the healing waters of Shoshone Spring & a random local releasing their pet sugar glider (small, nocturnal gliding possum). Startling, unexpected but pretty cool experience.

Night sleeps in Manitou Springs, tomorrow another 26.2.

(even more photo credit: sarahontheroad.com)