Super excited to host my sister, niece & nephew last week – their first visit to Colorado.
[Gotta say though, made myself a wee bit crazy cleaning & painting before their arrival. 2 downstairs walls were ‘in-progress’ when I learned they were coming – 6 different splotches of green, blue & slate ‘til I decided on a colour.]
Been an unusually wet summer for my arid home state. Couple that with my sister’s natural string of luck – and we’re talking monsoon rainfall with high in the 50’s…in mid-July. Yep, without bad luck, my sis would have no luck at all. HA>
[Day 1’s hike shortened due to lightning. Horseback riding in Estes cancelled. Rocky Mountain Nat’l Park – fog, rain & snow – Alpine Center closed. Waterworld? Folks were wearing fleeces all week…bathing suits? Not so much. I’m telling ya…she’s got some luck.]
After 3 days of touring the USA’s 2nd most sunniest state – in the rain – I decided to take a day from work to join in the fun.
Wednesday’s forecast – 100% rain, heavy at times. Yikes.
Met up with my family in Boulder, dropped the car at a Park N Ride, and travelled an hour-half west on I-70 to Silver Plume. Train ride in the Rockies & tour of a silver mine – rain or shine, there’s a lot to see & do in Colorado 🙂
[Thanks to a few thrift store purchases the night before, we arrived warm & appropriately layered.]
Colorado rail lines were created in the mid- to late 1800’s when silver mining was the state’s most profitable export. Easy 4 mile ride to Georgetown. Scenic path cut thru lodgepole pines — pretty views. The mine tour however…now that’s a reason to write home. Hippie Mike, our guide, was crazy knowledgeable. Lot of the original [mining] equipment remains abandoned underground. Got a tutorial on mining, learned ’bout Tommy Knockers & nabbed a sizeable stone to remember the day (rock garden addition) 🙂
Next up – St Mary’s Glacier. Who doesn’t wanna see snow in July, right?
Parked, geo-cached & WHOOSH – welcomed by a deluge of rain. My family are good sports – no fuss, no muss – hiked a mile in elevation & heavy precip. Just past St Mary’s alpine lake, another 500ft UP – SNOW, whole lotta snow. FAAANNNTASTIC!
Glissaded down a glacier swath with my nephew – Colorado fun in July 🙂
Glissading is the act of descending a steep snow- or scree-covered slope via a controlled slide on one’s feet or buttocks
Wet & cold – no worries, got it covered. 20 minutes away, finished our day at a mineral springs in Idaho Springs. Temps topped out at 115°F. Hot, soothing & relaxing – super end to a super fun day.
Friday’s plans? Mt. Bierstadt, my family’s first 14er.
-
- Silver Plume to Georgetown — 4 mile ride near the Continental Divide
-
- upper right — check out the elevation
-
- my beautiful family
-
- rain or shine — much to see & do in Colorado 🙂
-
- clouds rolling in over Georgetown’s scenic rail bridge – WOW pic!
-
- train selfie
-
- hard hats & smiles
-
- over 900 feet into Leavenworth Mountain
-
- WHOOSH — whole lotta rain
-
- St Mary’s Lake
-
- FIERCE!
-
- fave shot of the day – LOVE these two!
-
- hot, soothing & relaxing — super fun day
Glissading in July — only in Colorado 🙂
Lebanon Silver Mine
First 2015 marathon in the West – ROAD TRIP!
Have always wanted to hike in Wyoming’s Bighorns – just south of the Montana border – so planned a 3-day weekend around the Casper Marathon on Sunday. Unfortunately, late spring snow (2 weeks ago) followed by a week of heavy rain impeded my plans – State Highway 16 from Buffalo to Ten Sleep flooded so…Plan B.
North on I-25 from Colorado to Casper, straight shot. Stopped an hour short, near Douglas – first destination: Ayres Natural Bridge. Snapped a pic & snagged some sage (natural car deodorizer & FREE). Short walk over the natural bridge cut by LaPrele Creek (tributary of Wyoming’s North Platte River). Peaceful place. Would stop here again on Sunday, after my run.
Storm clouds rolled in. Spent the afternoon at Casper’s Tate Museum viewing dinosaur bones, then the Nat’l Historic Trails Interpretive Center – 4 major wagon trails passed thru Casper (Oregon, Mormon Pioneer, California & Pony Express).
Dinosaur digs & fossils make “the Cowboy State” a paleo- tourist destination. More dinosaur finds in Wyoming than any other U.S. state.
So many fossils at Tate – WOW! In New York museums, you see maybe 2 or 3 dinosaurs. In small town Wyoming – big dinosaurs, little dinosaurs, mammoths, sediment fossils. GREAT way to spend an afternoon. Highly recommended.
-
- 2 miles off the Oregon Trail, often visited by emigrants traveling West
-
- natural bridge cut by LaPrele Creek
-
- dirt road treasure near Douglas (LOVE this sign)
-
- a paleo- tourist destination
-
- 11,600 year old Columbian Mammoth (unearthed locally in 2006)
-
- afternoon storm clouds rolling in
-
- Mormon Pioneer handcart
-
- the Pony Express – St Joseph MO to Sacramento CA
Started Saturday at Garden Creek Falls in Rotary Park (crazy beautiful), then hiked Casper Mountain. Not the Rockies experience of the Bighorns, but a good 5-mile day hike. Probably not the best prep, day before a marathon but…I’m a lover of mountains.
Afternoon plans? Float trip on the North Platte. No rapids here, lazy river float. What I most remember is our Riverton-based guide’s colloquial speech. A fourth generation Wyomingan, he recommended a trip to Fort Caspar where Native Americans were slaughtered. Couldn’t be taught not to steal cattle – so were exterminated. I asked about Sacagawea’s grave site in Fort Washakie. He commented she was a Sheep Eater, a Mountain Shoshone. Seriously? And if so, who cares? None of his facts matched any ‘semblance of reality.
In rural Wyoming, there are Cowboys & there are Indians. Seems the two do not mix – even in 2015 🙁
-
- Bridle Trail – 5 miles roundtrip
-
- 1957 tragedy – 4 teens veered off Mountain, 3 survived
-
- lazy river float, no rapids here
Flying home from Fargo, arrived in Denver to near white-out conditions. SNOW.
Woke Sunday – everything blanketed white, temps in the upper 30’s & SUNSHINE. Happy Mother’s Day 2015 🙂
Spring snow – especially precip received in mid-May – never hangs around long. Enjoyed a long walk with the dogs around Waneka, best way to start a day. Sno’ Ro couldn’t have been happier, burying his face multiple times, coming up bearded white. Amazing skyline – night’s storm cleared all sky clutter – local Flatirons spired majestically through the low hanging clouds. SPECTACULAR!
surprise snow, temps in the upper 30’s – pretty much perfect
Flatirons blanketed white over Waneka Lake
Royal Arch, Boulder (6,915ft) – Sunday May 10th
Generally I laze around after marathoning but with fresh snow wanted to get out & get my hike on. The Rockies have gotten socked with heavy Spring snow for the past two weeks (high avalanche danger), so settled on a local day hike in Boulder – one of my faves, Royal Arch. Gloves, boots, snow pants & a tee – typical Spring hiking attire in Colorado.
[Things can change fast in the mountains – although I hike light, always pack a jacket.]
NCAR to Chautauqua, Chautauqua UP to Royal Arch. Good to get some altitude. Hiked Royal Arch in 2012 & 2013. Missed last year – trail closed due to Flood Damage. No better way to celebrate 7 weekends marathoning.
“In God’s wildness lies the hope of the world – the great fresh unblighted, unredeemed wilderness. The galling harness of civilization drops off, and wounds heal ere we are aware.” – John Muir
gloves, boots & a tee – typical Spring hiking attire in Colorado
Bear Peak, Boulder (8,461ft) – Sunday May 17th
Week ago I arrived in North Dakota, mentally dragging – travel fatigued, burnt-out. 4-mile hike to Royal Arch, got some altitude & started the process of healing. Bouncing back, finding balance. In the gym Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.
Whenever not marathoning, I’ll be in the mountains – hiking, climbing, trail running, backpacking. Mind’s more alert, no ‘zone out’ option or risk injury falling over rocks/exposed roots. My quads ache, steadily climbing/pushing UP. The unevenness of bouldering & trail running is the antithesis of repetitious road running. Good for the soul.
Finished front porch Spring planting yesterday – first step in re-imagining my home after Ash & Tom’s move next month. Change.
“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity; and that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life.” – John Muir
Drove to Boulder to hike Devils Thumb with my friend Cliff. Departed Shanahan Trailhead in South Boulder, hiked Mesa Trail to Shadow Canyon, then UP UP UP more than 2,000ft vertical. Popped up on the saddle between South Boulder & Bear Peaks. 15 minutes north thru charred forest (Flagstaff fire 2013), short boulder incline & a rock scramble, summitted Bear Peak – first time since Thanksgiving 2012.
Downed half a turkey-cheese sub & took in the scenery, Longs Peak shrouded heavy white. Crazy beautiful. Caught some rain AND some sunshine on the hike return – just short of 10 miles total, 2,900ft+ vertical 🙂
Hot shower & Chinese take-out (broccoli/garlic sauce). Good day. LOVE LOVE my Colorado life!
-
- Shanahan trail
-
- Shadow Canyon – over 2,000ft vertical
-
- SUMMIT SUCCESS!
-
- Longs Peak shrouded heavy white
-
- when not marathoning, summit selfies
