Wednesday 7.13....what a fantastic day! I slept good last night, but woke up to no mountains...they’d all disappeared in the low hanging clouds. So, after grabbing a town coffee, I headed south to explore. I ended up on a good dirt road headed towards Spring Lake Reservoir...it was a nice drive
on my drive back the sun popped out so I headed back to Crested Butte!
my original plan today was to hike from the top of Washington Gulch road, but since I couldn’t even see it, I’d made a plan change. By the time I got back to CB, there were only some low hanging clouds, so I started the drive up the mountain....& what a perfect day it turned out to be
I ran into a couple on the trail & we took each other’s picture...what I look like with no make up, camp hair, no shower for days, & a heart filled with joy....my first day “high”....literally & mentally! the trail starts at 11,000’
still lots of snow on the trail
my first Columbine...such a beautiful Colorado flower
& in a relatively short hike...all these BIG MIND-BLOWING views of Gothic Valley...my first time on this hike, but sooooo not my last. It was very cool & supremely beautiful
timer shot...in such a happy spot
on the way up the trail, there was this bench...inscribed “Dad/Bill” with a date; this is the view when you put your feet up. I thought this to be a pretty cool memorial
I know mining is such the history of CB & most of Colorado, but I’m still always amazed to see how much mining crap is “strewn” around the tops of the mountains
one amazing hike...but according to the new guidebook...there is another one close by...& so I found the trail & started straight up the mountain
this trail skirts about an 8’ snow drift & still lots of snow at the top, but so worth the effort…
timer-shot; a breathtaking view of the Slate River Valley
a close up & distant view of the beginning of the Slate River...still more snow now than water, it melts/runs down the mountain to create the river
so, here’s a side-note...you know I’m always meeting cool/fun/interesting people on my travels...today, hiking the 2nd hike, I met a family from Austin, TX...we chatted a bit & I took some pics of them (from across the mountain top) to email them later. We said good-bye, & I was set to hike 2.5 miles up to Paradise Divide...I wasn’t sure if the 4WD road was even open & I knew there were a couple of streams to cross, so I decided to hike it rather than drive the extremely narrow & unknown condition road...except...the family from Austin was going to try to drive it & offered me a ride...oh boy! it was fun
the road was in better shape than when I’d been up here before, but it definitely hadn’t gotten any wider...meeting another car was....well, I was glad I wasn’t driving solo & had to negotiate a back-up...but the views are very pretty up here. (Kindle...I peeked out to Yule Pass...bet most of it’s covered in snow...I still wouldn’t do it again if it was bone dry!)
one of the Maroon Bells peeking over Cinnamon Mountain
a little mountain-top lake....in early morning this reflects the mountain in the background...a Colorado photographers favorite spot
ok...see the condition of this sign? this is about the 4th one I’ve seen like this....it’s bears...eating the signs...mmmmm
the family from Austin took me back to my car saving me from the 2.5 mile hike...it had been so much fun “riding” the road with them & visiting about all the amazing hikes in Crested Butte
I’m going to camp again tonight off Washington Gulch road...this is my view. It’s Crested Butte mountain...pretty cool, huh?
these white Columbine are right out my car window
my “home sweet roam” tonight & dining room....bombay potatoes, one of the Wisconsin beers & a sweet view!
so, I’d been sitting here reading for about an hour, the sun shining brightly, when I felt raindrops...seriously? the SUN WAS SHINING...& the downpour came anyway...for about 35 minutes
just as I was getting ready to take a “nature-shower”, it stopped....& left this fantastic rainbow....right before my eyes. I may not be too clean tonight, but I feel spectacular! it’s been a pretty perfect day. And just when I thought the “OMG” moments were over….
wow!