wildlife

hike #62: Wheeler Peak (NM) 13,159ft

Published September 2, 2013

3 day holiday weekend – rest & relaxation. Huh? I don’t think so.

Ran a 10 mile race Saturday 7am, back home showered at 9am, drove north to Longmont & dropped off Ro at Windstar Kennels by 10 – then hit I-25 South for a long weekend in Taos, New Mexico. The plan? Food, art and…hiking of course. In particular, New Mexico’s highest point – Wheeler Peak – a 13er approx 30 minutes from the Colorado border.

Woke early on Sunday & drove north to Taos Ski Valley for ‘hike day’. Added 30 minutes to my journey thanks to iPhone directions which pushed us on Indian Service Route 700 – a 3 mile dirt road stretch thru an Indian reservation. Scenic sage & yellow mustard dotted the native NM landscape. Nice diversion; sometimes best to take the road less traveled 🙂

Driving UP through Carson National Forest, was surprised by the lush New Mexico surroundings. I had pictured cactus & desert in NM – not so, this place overwhelmed with bursts of colour and earthy scents of spruce & pine.

Parked, geared up, then hiked 3 miles to Bull-of-the-Woods meadow before veering onto Wheeler Peak trail. Another mile past treeline was welcomed by stunning colour – yellows, greens, dull orange & vibrant patches of red wild flowers. Wildlife tally – marmots & bighorn sheep. What an amazing panorama!

Up the initial false summit, caught my first glimpse of Wheeler Peak. 3 or 4 more ‘false’ summits later, had climbed not one but 2 13ers (Mt Walter and Wheeler Peak). (unfortunately) Stopped no more than 20 minutes for pics & a food break before trekking down, darting from immense clouds carrying rain, thunder and streak lightning.

HAPPY MOMENT – Not far past Mt Walter on my hike return, the sun peeked out creating a double rainbow – literally we were hiking ‘over’ the rainbow 🙂 Finished the last mile bushwhacking in & between mountain roads before stumbling upon Taos Ski Resort (mighty fine luck – sometimes good things happen to good people).

Sunscreen, salt residue & a little dirt didn’t stop us for filling our stomachs soon after. Washed in a bathroom basin and ended the day with dinner at Sabroso – HIGHLY recommended!

SHORT DETOUR – Traveled home via San Luis – Colorado’s oldest town, established in 1851. Walked the Stations of the Cross to a small Catholic chapel built high above the local village.

Perfect end to an outstanding weekend! Big FAN of Labor Day!

: Welcome to New Mexico!

: scary road sign

: Wheeler Peak, NM’s highest

: more lush than Colorado – great hike start

: followed horse trail to Bull-of-the-Woods meadow

: whatta view – that’s Colorado in the distance!

: lotta colour – beautiful hike

: Hello, Marmot!

: Bighorn sheep

: HOORAY, I can see Wheeler Peak!

: surprise 13er summit (wrong mountain)

: Mt. Walter summit

: Wheeler Peak straight ahead!

: Wheeler Peak 13,159ft – highest in New Mexico

: quick celebration (lotta clouds, thunder, then lightning – yikes!)

: quick WOW shot – Wheeler Peak summit

: lovin’ my Alaska rain jacket

: literally hiked OVER the rainbow – AMAZING day!

: Welcome to Taos, New Mexico!

: rattlesnake-rabbit sausage in spicy cherry sauce

: San Luis – oldest town in Colorado (established 1851)

: Shrine of the Stations of the Cross

: scenic depiction of the Saviour

: sharing stories with a local – FAAANNNTASTIC weekend!

Posted in Pacific/Desert | Tagged hiking, kyrkan, road-signs, wildlife | Leave a comment

all-American family vacation

Published July 6, 2013

Day 1 ReCap — Cog Railway up Pikes Peak (14,110ft), Ash & Tom’s engagement, Garden of the Gods drive-thru AND an hour-half lantern tour at Cave of the Winds. Kick back on Days 2 & 3? Nope, not on my watch 🙂

On the road at 730am, family breakfast, then up Hwy 36 to Estes Park for a day in the Rockies. Driving thru Rocky Mountain National Park on 4^th of July weekend is about as all-American as it gets. Lotta picture opportunities this day. Wrong time of the year to see wildlife – but still viewed chipmunks, marmots & elk (far in the distance – good to have a zoom lens). ALSO kinda fun for folks to see snow & bundle up in sweatshirts and long pants in July.

Stopped at the Alpine Visitor Center for souvenirs & snacks, then back down the mountain, quick chocolate fix at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, dinner at Mimi’s Cafe, followed by game night at the hotel. LOVE LOVE family game night 🙂

Youngest player starts with 2 extra cards (unspoken rule)
Never wear glasses (safer to struggle & squint)
Never go the bathroom (will return to extra cards in your hand)
Stay alert (or you may miss a turn)
Volunteer to be the score keeper (less chance for math errors in my favour)

Gotta say Uno ‘house rules’ did not help this year – all kids are now grown & wise to my ways 🙁

Up again early on Day 3 for a high altitude hike (it’s a vacation, right?) The 20 & under crowd stayed behind (& slept) while six of us older folks ventured to Chautauqua Park in Boulder. Plan A – hike to Devils Thumb. Plan B – hike to Royal Arch. Ok, ok these are Flatlanders (and family) – so went with Plan C: Mesa Trail to NCAR.

2.5 mile (one-way) hike through Ponderosa pines & panoramic views of Boulder at 6,200ft. Super fun day hike — very proud of my fit family. At NCAR, 3 of us trail ran back to Chautauqua to retrieve cars — in only 38 minutes!

Showers, hotel check out & airport departures. Unfortunately all good things come to an end.

Ro enjoyed last minute family time while Ash, Michaela & Maddie showed off souvenirs purchased for cousins who could not attend this year (closest to $40 total without going over). This year’s games winner: Madeline.

: Day 2: Estes Park & RMNP

: gal cousins

: Rocky Mtn Nat’l Park

: she picked the right brother to ask for a ride 🙂

: Mile High smile

: Beeeeutiful!

: Ute Trail jazz hands

: father/daughter love

: don’t let the shorts fool ya – she was cold! HA!

: quick – everyone take a picture!

: marmot

: Mushroom Rocks (RMNP)

: Victory!

: just another day in the Rockies – LOVE it!

: Day 3: Chautauqua to NCAR day hike (Boulder)

: our sweet Ponderosa pine (smells like butterscotch)

: Ro enjoyed the extra lovin’ – Come Back Soon!

Posted in Family, RMNP | Tagged wildlife | 2 Comments

hike #56: Flattop (12,362ft) & Hallett Peak (12,720ft)

Published June 8, 2013

Having run races for 3 consecutive weekends, was very much looking forward to hiking again.

Signed up for a Saturday meetup hike in RMNP – hiking not just one mountain, but 2! Per protrails.com, this hike rated strenuous because of its almost 3,000 ft elevation gain. YES!

Running on little sleep (late night at the Rockies game), quickly pulled together hiking gear & supplies (poles, crampons, water, light snacks) for today’s day hike. Barreled north to Estes for a 7am group meetup. Took the opportunity to buy my RMNP annual pass at the Fall River entrance – unfortunately, I should have entered at Beaver Meadows. The extra 20 minutes needed to reach Bear Lake Trailhead from Fall River meant I missed my group. Argh.

No worries, I’m strong. All geared up, I’ll catch them on the trail. Hit snow early on. Post-holing in lower elevation slowed my pace so decided to hike straight UP & intercept them on the trail to Flattop Mountain – the first of two peaks attempted this day. Crampons on, poles steadying my climb – snow & boulders ahead. Slow hard work but eventually made my way UP. Looked high-and-low for signs of human life, having been isolated for an hour & not wanting to find myself food for bear.

Spotted 2 hikers, trekked across a snow field & glacier & asked if they were part of my meetup team. Nope – but Ft Collins hikers, Cammy & Erik said I could tag along. Wildlife biologist & a geologist – dream jobs, right? Snapped a few shots and snow scrambled the remainder up Flattop. 12,000+ ft, beautiful panorama. Exactly what I needed to re-energize & refocus. That said, my most unimpressive summit to date – completely flat for the length of a football field. Kinda odd so high up.

Cammy pointed to Hallett Peak & once again led the way. Supposedly only another 400ft but all straight UP. Was it worth it? Heck, yeah. Located smack on the Continental Divide – now this is the kinda peak I’m used to climbing. AND as luck would have it, my meetup group had also summited & were snapping group pics. Introduced myself & down we all travelled together…along with Cammy & Erik. Pelted with ice shards on the hike return (ouch), then watched marmots sunbathing on the rocks below.

Shower, sleep — ‘long run’ day tomorrow. I’m a beast!