Day 2 Halfmoon Creek Trail

This was a beautiful trail ride and a popular one.    We stayed in the trees for quite awhile.   The trail

follows the creek and is a busy camping area on the weekends.    We forded the stream a few times.

Coming out into the open, the mountains circled us.  

And at about 12,000 ft, we came to the well-preserved Champion Mill.   Built in the late 1800's, it mined both gold and silver.   It is a massive structure and I always wonder just how they did it.  

How did they get the lumber up the mountain, how did they work so hard at that altitude, how many horses did it take to get the heavy metal equipment up those slopes??

It leans a bit......it wouldn't surprise me to see it all in a pile after the heavy 

winter snows.  

And old boiler and bricks.

Some people wandered inside to take pictures and look around......I wasn't that confident in a 120 year old structure.   

Nearby, there was a field of thistles.....

I love the lens on my camera.....I can get REALLY good close ups of the busy bees.  

Note the pollen grains on his head !

Old log structures still exist.    The slopes near all the mines that we saw are full of tree stumps....just as they were left so long ago.

Coming back, we forded the creek again, this time a bit deeper and longer.    Our lunch stop was in the trees next to the stream.....very pretty.  Small biting flies made it a bit uncomfortable.  

We took another fork of the trail and headed up to Iron Mill.   This route was rougher and we really

didn't get to any mine structure but did see remnants of cabins.  

The Dusky Beardtongue is very prevalent along the roads and in the meadows.   Note another busy bumblebee.  

I have no idea what these spikes are.....they came in different colors but they aren't in my flower book....but enjoy anyhow.  

On the Iron Mill trail, there is an "obstacle".    I couldn't get a decent picture but this Jeep is about to drop into the chasm....and the crowds are hoping for some action and trouble.!

The trail was very rocky and narrow and then we came to the creek, surrounded on both sides by large boulders.   Of course, the rock crawlers and adventurous types seek out these challenges.   Mike had no trouble getting thru altho I thought he went a bit fast ......I'm not sure our Jeep would have made it but the guys were all prepared with their winches and lifts.  

This trail ride was a favorite of the week....minus the above.....It was beautiful in the trees along the streams and then glorious vistas greeted us above tree line.    Weather was perfect.............By the way,  time spent in the mountains is not deducted from your life !!

Day 1 Hagerman Pass

Good News !!   We're back down to where the oxygen is plentiful and the WiFi is Fast !!!  

It was a wonderful week at All 4 Fun.   About 400 Jeeps and 800 adventurers were in attendance.    Leadville rolls out the welcome mat as this is a big boost to their economy.   

This is the view from our front window......a very large gravel pit about 5 miles out of town.   RV's congregated around the edges and tents and smaller campers headed for the pine trees.    A very large event tent was off to the right.....evening music and entertainment along with all of the free beer you cared to consume.    They had activities for the kids and Friday was devoted to Vendor Day.....all the tricks and toys you could ever want....including Jeep jewelry.      Dry camping was a non-event and we even came home with surplus water.   They did offer pumping out services on Wed but I think we would have done OK without.    We had excellent cell service and Direct TV and only ate out one night!    It never got hot and jeans and sweatshirts were the fashions of the event.     

This is Michael, trying out the course for the races later that evening.....he didn't win.   Later in the week they made obstacles out of large boulders and a mini mountain to climb.   

 Each day, there was a choice of 12-15 trail rides to go on.   They ranged from the mild but scenic to one called Carnage Canyon.    We stayed in the middle.      Our first choice on Monday wasn't offered so we opted for Hagerman Pass.   This follows a railroad bed built in 1885, linking Aspen to Leadville. It was the highest standard grade railroad in the country.   The line only operated for 6 years.   Remnants of the trestles and tunnels are still visible.

We lined up at 9 am , with a Wagonmaster in the lead and a Tail Gunner at the rear.    Depending on the number of Jeeps (or other 4x4 vehicles), it can be a slow drive.

 Lizzie, at 15, has been driving in this event for the past several years.   She stayed up with us when

 Alex and Becca left the next day.

 Looking down on Turquoise Lake as we climbed.    It was an overcast day with occasional drizzle.

 Our group shot at the top of the pass at 11,925 ft.   Alex seems to think it's warm out.

 On most trips, there are streams to ford.....some were quite deep and can be impassable in the spring.

 This is a mushroom.   They were quite plentiful and some were very red with white dots.....I expected to see little fairies sitting on them.    I haven't looked up their name yet.   And don't know if they'd make a good lunch or a good poison.

 We stopped for lunch along the lake.    Most, if not all, of the jeeps have CB radios and the Lead will point out things of interest, people comment and the Tail Gunner announces when we've all caught up. Sometimes it's interesting, sometimes it's very quiet and sometimes it's just tedious chatter from those who like to hear themselves.    We did stop for photo ops and for the all important 10-31.......potty break.   Men to the left, ladies to the right.    I don't know if there are snakes at 11,000 ft but I kept my eyes to the ground on my walk to privacy.     We always had a stop before we climbed above treeline !

 We decided to take a different route back to camp and headed over the mountains to Eagle...west of Vail.

 The entire day, we spotted no wildlife, unless this large bunch of bovine counts as wild.   Actually, this one didn't look too friendly.

 If there is mud, Alex has to make sure it ends up all over the car..........

 We drove thru aspen groves....would be a beautiful drive in the fall.

There were wildflowers everywhere.....fields and fields of them.    I will post some impressive pictures as the week goes on.

This was our one night out.....At Tennessee Pass Cafe in Leadville....note the tin on the walls.   A unique menu was a nice surprise.  

Going off the grid for a bit......

We're leaving on Sunday for the Mile High Jeep Club's annual All 4 Fun event in Leadville.   Known as the TWO Mile High City, at 10,152 ft., it has a long and colorful history.  Due to a brief gold and the silver mine boom, Leadville was the 2nd most populace city in Colorado in the 1880 at over 40,000. Closure of mines (molybdenum) in the 1980's caused serious hardships and now  tourism and outdoor recreation , coupled with it's history has rejuvenated the town of over 2,000.    We'll be trying out our dry-camping skills (no hookups).   But there's always the trusty generator to run the refrigerator, TV, phone chargers and hot water heater.......after all, we're not that serious about ' real' camping.
Paul and I and Mike will be there for much of the time with Becca, Alex and Lizzie coming up when schedules permit.     Each day, there are group trail rides, rated 1-10 in difficulty.   At our age, we'll stick with the mid numbers probably and avoid the 10's that threaten to destroy you and your Jeep.  

Supposedly, we'll have cell phone service in camp and if there is decent 4G, I might be able to post  some pics.....or find a hot spot in town.   If not, we'll reconnect in a week or so.  

Meanwhile, we have been busy with my Botany Class ....ask me anything about pistils, sepals and flower reproduction  and  Paul's Parker Pickler's group.  A number  of snowbirds from Arizona are his partners.  

Lousy connection tonight so no pics ..... you'll just have to come on over and see the sunset over the mountains for yourselves.  

Mountain peeks...........

I've decided not to overload you with views of scenic peaks and distant valleys and give you just a sample so that you'll want to see it for yourself.   But, might I suggest, you not do it in July and August.     We headed up to Bear Lake, one of several scenic roads off Trail Ridge Rd in Rocky Mountain NP.   The Park is extremely busy and as we approached the parking lot, we were greeted with traffic control Park Rangers.   There is a shuttle to several popular areas of the park but we had no initial plans to park, just a drive-by.    But, we were able to slip into a empty spot and stretched our legs on a 1/2 mile walk around this high alpine lake.  

We were not alone.    The families and young and old couples and groups with Rangers swarmed the trail and the lakeside.    

I was surprised at this quiet part of the trail, except for one handsome grandfather, and had to capture the moment. 

  But, I'm  gratified to know that so many people are enjoying Mother Nature's beauty and sharing with the children.   

 Later, we went in search of a hiking area we had done many years ago.   I knew it was beside a lake and also that it was along the Peak to Peak Highway, west of Boulder.    We finally found it but my, had the area changed in 20 years (and so have we).    It's called Brainard Lakes in the Indian Peak Wilderness  and has been completely redone to include a large campground (no hookups but storage containers to ward off bears at each site).

The rain clouds were hovering late in the day so we didn't stay but we  made ourselves a promise to come back in a week or so.  The elevation is at 10,000 ft and the trail climbs to almost 11,000 ft but we remember much of it as being rather gentle.    We got caught in a downpour that long ago day so next time we'll start earlier.   

 Our CG at St Vrain State Park, near Longmont, was situated on the prairie with several large ponds.   It was a haven for wildflowers and birdwatching.  

 These cormorants and pelicans were preening themselves in the mirror-lake for their photo-op.

 This toad had no such hope of changing anything........................

Chautauqua and Mountains........

Well, we certainly didn't mean to be away this long......we've moved back and forth between State Parks a couple of times (trying to find a spot for the busy weekends) and  have had little connection with the electronic world.    So, now that I have you here, let me hold your attention with a   "few" pictures.    Actually, I pared down the amount I was going to post and will share them over a day or two.....I have tons.  

  We're spending our days in the Denver area.   The grown-up grands let us share time with them !   This delightful young lady needs a JOB !    So, if you have a position in the marketing, business field, she will be a college graduate in December and even willing to relocate.   And just a reminder, that if you need a fully trained Fairy Godmother, she has all the credentials. !

And then, one fine day, we traveled out to DIA to meet up with the youngest Grands who were passing thru.   We had time for breakfast and a visit to the toy store near the gate.   After getting home, they were too close for comfort when a lightening strike hit a tree near their Scout campsite!!

If you've never been to Boulder, Colorado, home of the University, Pearl Street Mall, the Boulder Book Store, Chautauqua, the Flatirons and T shirts that say "Keep Boulder Weird", you must go there.   One of the most beautiful places is Chautauqua, nestled up agains the Flatirons.   In the late 1890's, Boulder was chosen as a retreat site for Texas educators.   One of only a few Chautaqua's remaining in the country, the original buildings are intact.    The Dining Hall has wide porches for al fresco meals, there are small cottages, each unique, for renting and an original concert hall with massive wooden open beams and beautiful accoustics.   The hiking trails up into the Flatirons are very popular.   The Colorado Music Festival is held there and we were fortunate to be able to sit in on a rehearsal for the sold out concert featuring a beautiful classical pianist, Olga Kern, doing Rachmaninoff's Concertos 1 &4 with the Symphony(she does it all from memory !).  It was a highlight of our summer.    Brunch on the porch was perfect.    ( I had planned to link you to many of the sites I mentioned but the connection is VERY slow and so I leave it to you to explore these attractions on your own.)  

One of our first outings into the mountains was up to Rocky Mountain National Park.    We've hiked and rode horses up there in the past but I don't remember it being so crowded.    We passed quickly by the hotel featured in the movie The Shining.

We opted to take the Old Fall River Road up to the top....it follows a beautiful stream and altho a gravel road, it is ok for regular cars.  

Views of the valley below.

Trail Ridge Visitor Center near the top.

The road in the early 1900's when it was the first road built.    Can you see how high the snow was.   The road usually doesn't open until well into June.

After finding the coffee among the serious crowds at the top, we started down and noticed this mother elk on her way to the Visitors Center.....

Maybe for shopping or just a break from Jr and Sr sunning themselves along the road.   I stuck my head out the roof to grab these pictures!

The rest of the herd was a bit farther down.    The antlers were just massive.

Here's the high point of the ride at over 12,000 ft.   And it was chilly and windy.  Fleece felt good.

Along the roadside, these cute little faces will pop out....not sure if they are curious or hungry.   But hikers beware.  Marmots have been known to eat the wires and hoses on your cars while you stroll the high country.  

To be continued............