May 2012
Blog 99: Slow Trains and Rugged Trails
Contents
Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past weekHeadlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading
Note: click on any photo for a larger image/slideshow)
Rearview Mirror
Hikes and Day Trips
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Durango. Along with business, each day was filled with hikes and road trips (short and long). Here are a few shots from the first part of the week.
Shooting Trains
The famous Durango-Silverton narrow-gauge train runs parallel to highway 550, just the other side of the road from our park. Twice in the morning we heard the train whistle as the 8:30 and 9:30 trains chugged and puffed their way to Durango. Twice each day in the afternoon we heard them return. Thursday morning Jan and I walked the five minutes from BERT to the train tracks and set up our photo gear (on the tracks) awaiting the train. At 8:50 a.m. as planned, this old steam engine chugged north and I took a few head-on shots while Jan shot me shooting the train.
Note: We thought of tying Jan on the tracks (just like in the movies), and I would take shots as the train approached. However, since I had no rope, we decided against it. :’>
On to Vallacito Lake
After shooting the train, we broke camp and were out of Alpen Rose by 10:15 taking the short trip to Vallacito Lake and Blue Spruce RV Park. We stayed here three years ago and just love the place--trees, mountains, water--it has it all.
After setting up, we drove the half-mile to the San Juan Forest Vallacito Creek Trail trailhead and headed out into the Weminuche Wilderness for an hour-and-half hike.
Friday: The Challenging Hike
By 6:17 a.m., the four of us were at the Lake Eileen trailhead. The air was heavy with the sweet smell of pines, and the temperature was holding the line between light and medium jacket attire. The literature said it was a “challenging” two-mile trek up the mountain, but well worth the effort to make it to Lake Eileen. The literature was right on both counts. Our four-mile round trip took a full four hours. We walked up and up the rocky path full of switchback turns, going over/under/around fallen trees that blocked our path. With the constant bubbling of Vallecito Creek in the background, we stopped several times straining to locate the source of the sounds of buzzing hummers, singing mountain bluebirds, and tapping three-toed woodpeckers.
Twice we had to cross the speedy creek--one time the only option for the Pups was to walk over the racing water about 20 feet on the top of a fallen pine. Mountain Mitzy and Jerry the Wild were up to the task, fearlessly walking the dead trunk in the same fashion of the Great Farini high-wire crossing Niagara Falls.
Here are a few more shots from this gorgeous, yet trying, hike.
Saturday: Even More Challenging Hike
After breakfast, we took a 20-mile driving tour to Lemon Reservoir to see the sights, scope out possible future campgrounds, and hike the Burnt Timber Trail. All we knew about the trail is that it eventually hooked up to the Colorado Trail. Well, if we thought the trip the day before was challenging, then this baby was grueling! After 50 minutes of what seemed like straight up, we turned around and found some meadow trails that were more to our liking.
Wonderful week.
Headlights
May 27-30: Blue Spruce Campground Vallacito, COMay 31-June 2: Sundance RV Park, Cortez, CO
June 3-7: Ridgway State Park, Ridgway, CO
June 8-9: Cedar Creek RV Park, Montrose, CO
June 10-13: One Mile Camp, Gunnison, CO
June 14-17: ???
June 18-22: Chatfield State Park, Littleton, CO
June 24-27: Cheyenne Mt. State Park, Colorado Springs, CO
June 28 on: ???
See you next week.
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Blog 98: Durango
Contents
Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past weekHeadlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading
Note: click on any photo for a larger image/slideshow)
Rearview Mirror
Sunday: Mother’s Day Adventure
After a brisk walk in the 34-degree daylight and breakfast, everyone loaded into the car to celebrate Mother’s Day with a hike and a road trip.
Golden Eagle Encounter
Within 300 yards of leaving San Luis State Park, a mature (meaning really big) Golden Eagle swooped up from the desert directly to our right then cut across our path no more than six feet off the ground and within six feet of our car windshield. We could see every feather detail of this mottled brown giant as we barely missed a collision. I’d had my camera on my lap, but had no photo op during this three seconds of raw action. In my mind I hoped our new friend would circle back, but he kept on flying. Added to the consumption of a pot of strong coffee, I was buzzed for the day.
Zapata Falls Hike
Just five miles south of the Dunes is the Zapata Falls Recreation Area run by the BLM (Bureau of Land Management). We took the three-mile path up the bumpy, curvy gravel road, ascending a couple thousand feet in the effort. At the trailhead we trekked up the old stream bed, stopping off to enjoy Zapata Falls. From here we continued up the mountain, climbing another mile before retracing our steps. Along the way we had panoramic views of the Dunes and the entire San Juan Valley. Wonderful hike.
Jan decided she’d like to see some yet-explored sights for Mother’s Day, so instead of turning south at Mosca we turned north.
Colorado Gator Farm
After careful but short deliberation, we passed on visiting the Colorado Gator Farm, continuing on past Hooper.
UFO
However, just a mile or so past Hooper we were “forced” to turn into the UFO Watchtower just as though a cosmic energy took possession of our Honda Element. What a place!
Ute Theater and Cultural Center
We continued going north on 17 with mountains on all sides to look at and not much else. We took a left at the junction of 285, deciding to explore the town of Saguache. As we turned down the main drag of this old town of 500 residents, I decided I wanted a cup of coffee to go. Pulling into a parking spot, I walked across the street to the local cafe. When I returned, Jan had found/created a new lifelong friend named Denise, the proprietor of the Ute Theater and Cultural Center. She had been drinking Mimosas outside of her establishment and had invited Jan inside to view the snack bar, wine bar, and old-time theatre…
Back in the car we returned home to the Park via Center, Hooper, and Mosca.
Monday: Breaking Camp
After four days, we had seen most all the sites in this area we had wanted to see. So by 7:45 a.m. we were on the road out in the brisk morning sun. We took the back roads all the way to Highway 160 West. As an example of the remoteness of our travels, even going 35 miles an hour for a big stretch, we drove over 30 miles with no one coming up behind us. Talk about stress-free driving.
Tuesday: Durango
We started the day with a downtown walk and stops at the Colorado Wildlife and BLM (Bureau of Land Management) offices to get ideas for hikes and locations for spotting wildlife. Later in the afternoon we took a road trip checking out both the town of Mancos and the Mancos State Park. Adjoining our campground is a ranch where horses run.
Wednesday: Junction Creek
By 6:45 a.m. we were at the Junction Creek trailhead of the Colorado Trail at the base of the San Juan Forest. We took a two-hour hike up Colorado’s most famous trail, then drove to the top of the world to Animas Overlook where we took in a vista of tall mountains, forests, and valleys.
Late afternoon we scouted out our hike for the next day.
Thursday: Hermosa Trail
This morning we took the high-altitude Hermosa Trail in the San Juan Forest.
Friday: Scenic Skyway Trip
Took an hour walk along the Animas River.
Early afternoon we took a 50-mile drive up Highway 550, part of the San Juan Scenic Skyway all the way to Silverton. Oh, yes, scenic it is! Made several stops along the way scouting out future hikes and future campgrounds.
Saturday: Navajo Country
Late morning we took a road trip south into the Ute Reservation, checking out Ignacious, Arboles, and driving through Navajo State Park, considering it for a stay in the future.
Wonderful week.
Headlights
May 20-23: Alpen Rose RV Park, Durango, COMay 24-30: Blue Spruce Campground, Vallacito, CO
May 31-June 2: Sundance RV Park, Cortez, CO
June 3-7: Ridgway State Park, Ridgway, CO
June 8-9: Cedar Creek RV Park, Montrose, CO
June 10-13: One Mile Camp, Gunnison, CO
June 14-17: ???
June 18-22: Chatfield State Park, Littleton, CO
June 24-27: Cheyenne Mt. State Park, Colorado Springs, CO
June 28 on: ???
See you next week.
Blog 97: Snowy Hikes and Mountain Vistas
Contents
Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past weekHeadlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading
Note: click on any photo for a larger image/slideshow)
Rearview Mirror
Baby Owls
Within 20 yards of our campsite at Chatfield State Park was an owl nest occupied by a momma Great Horned Owl and her two owlets. We could hear her hoots most early mornings.
Canada Work
On Sunday we traveled back to the Colorado Horse Park and set up camp. Early Monday morning, Jan and the Kids drove me to the Denver airport where I flew to Canada for work. My engagement went very well and I got back to Denver late Wednesday night.
San Luis Lake State Park
Thursday, after I conducted a webinar from BERT, Jan drove us to San Luis State Park in the San Luis Valley, just ten miles west of the Great Sand Dunes National Park. It was like we had the campground to ourselves--the busiest night of our stay had only four other campsites filled! From our site, 7,500 feet of elevation in the high desert, we had awesome views of both the Sangre de Christo Mountains to the east and San Juan Mountains in the west.
Friday: Dunes and Birds
Great Sand Dune National Park
We started the day by scoping things out, first stopping at the first-class visitor center at the Park to help us plan our priorities. We had visited here three years ago and this is one of our favorite places.
Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge
We drove to the town of Alamaso, and after stopping at their visitor center and having a very nice Mexican lunch at Ninos, we drove to the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge. Here we had a great time enjoying the marshes and lakes full of a variety of birds with the handsome mountains serving as a background. The evening brought the much-wanted sounds of a constant rain that soaked into the parched desert.
Saturday: Snowy Hike and Stormy Birds
Mosca Trail
Leaving the Kids to guard the coach, Jan and I headed out early driving back to the Dunes and up to the Mosca Pass Trailhead. We were the first ones at the trail and almost the first ones into the park. (Lots of slackers sleeping in, I guess. :,>)
Within a quarter mile, our topography changed, and a soft, white, and wet visitor joined us and stayed along as a companion throughout our upward journey. The snow added a strong visual contrast to the greens and blues of the surroundings and highlighted the occasional reds of a blooming prickly pear cactus. The senses were further heightened audibly with the constant gurgling of the creek that bordered the trail, spiked with a birdcall every now and then. In addition, the intense fresh smell of the forest after rain and snow added a feeling of newness as we ascended above 9,500 feet. Wonderful hike.
Medano Creek
From the trailhead, we drove down to Medano Creek to try and get a few pics while the light was still soft. We walked along and through the rushing water (only ankle deep) admiring the landscape and enjoying the families with kids and pups playing in the water or hiking up the dunes.
Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge
Next, we drove back to Alamosa and had breakfast-lunch at a local diner. From here we took the back roads to the Monte Vista area, spending time exploring the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge (associated with the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge we visited the day before). What a perfect day for finding/watching/photographing birds--a big storm was brewing in the mountains so all the birds were out in the air, swimming, flitting, and flying around, all alert to the possible dangers of the weather.
Wow, what a week!
Headlights
May 13: San Luis State Park, Alamosa, COMay 14: Navajo State Park
May 15-24: Alpen Rose RV Park, Durango, CO
May 25-31: Blue Spruce Campground Vallacito, CO
June 1-17: Ridgway? Montrose? Gunnison? Crested Butte?
June 18-22: Chatfield State Park, Littleton, CO
June 24-27: Cheyenne Mt. State Park, Colorado Springs
June 28 on: ???
See you next week.
Blog 96: Netting and Zooing
Contents
Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past weekHeadlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading
Note: click on any photo for a larger image/slideshow)
Rearview Mirror
We continued to camp at Chatfield State Park close to the grandkids, with Austin spending most of the time with us.
Netting Birds
One morning we drove to a nearby Audubon property to watch them net, examine, measure, weigh, tag, and release birds caught in their special nets. Austie got a big kick out of the whole procedure. Here are a few shots.
Early Birthday Present
Before the whole hullabaloo surrounding Austie’s upcoming birthday erupted, we decided to give Austin his present early. Here is a shot of him opening up his present--a waterproof, dust-proof, shockproof camera (we shall see). There’s also a shot of me shooting the box-opening action.
Afternoon at the Zoo
We took Austie to the Denver Zoo to let him try out his new camera. Here is a carousel shot of Austie and a couple of birds from the afternoon.
This and That
Here are a few odds-and-ends photos of this past week.
Baby Natalie
The little sweetie is getting cuter each day! Here is a shot of her alone and one with proud grandma. If you want to see more, click here.
Headlights
May 6-10: Colorado Horse ParkMay 11-14: Great Sand Dunes National Monument?
May 15-24: Alpen Rose RV Park, Durango, CO
May 25-31: Blue Spruce Campground Vallacito, CO
June 1-17: Ridgway? Montrose? Gunnison? Crested Butte?
June 18-22: Chatfield State Park, Littleton, CO
June 24-27: Cheyenne Mt. State Park, Colorado Springs
June 28 on ???
See you next week.