Day 43 8.3
I enjoyed a cup of coffee in camp with Talie this morning & realized I’d left my favorite water jug at the 4way yesterday. The jug had two really awesome stickers on it & it holds ice for super long periods of time. Then I was in a hurry to get into town, hoping I’d still find it where I’d left it. I talked to the people in charge of the 4way & KBUT the radio station even advertised it in their lost & found. But, it was gone. The cleaning crew hadn’t taken it, but someone else had. I was bummed about that for sure, but it was my own fault I’d forgotten it after I’d refilled at the water station.
I decided today would be good to hike Gunsight Pass Road…a 5 mile road that I never see another hiker on. Sometimes a mountain biker & a few times some ATV’ers. This is about the 4th time I’ve hiked this road…I hated it the first time I hiked it & vowed that would be my last. But, a couple of years later I gave it a 2nd chance, & now really enjoy it when I know all the other trails will be filled with other people. And, I knew this time of year, there are tons of wild raspberry bushes alongside the road. I was getting a late start, so I didn’t know if I’d go all the way to the top or not.
So many pretty views & they just get better as your climb up on the road.
And I was finding lots of yummy raspberries! I picked a 1/2 bag full & ate quite a few more as I hiked.
Myself on the trail today.
I was feeling hot & gross after my hike today …it’s been getting warmer & hotter. So, I drove back to camp. The road that goes up above my campsite, has a stack of firewood that the Forest Service created when they cut up a dead tree in Site #9. So, before I ever pulled into my site, I took Camper up the road & loaded the back with firewood…twice!
Then I got out both the screen tent & the castle tent & set them up…sided by side. I was super sweaty by now, but it was time to take a camp shower! I showered in the screen tent, then changed into clean clothes inside the castle!…YAY! That was great!
I decided today might be the last time I’d go to Bonez for awhile & it was happy hour, so me & my clean little self took off towards town & the best margarita anywhere!
I spent another lovely evening visiting with Talie. Even made myself a camp cocktail with some tequila & some ‘muddled’ fresh raspberries…yum! Talie & I enjoyed another campfire, good conversation & a beautiful night sky!
Day 44 8.4
Danny gets here today! Super excited to have him be here for a little longer than a week. I went around town collecting some things for his birthday celebration. I grabbed a slice at the Stash then drove out to Slate River Road to hike a new trail (to me).
The GB Loop trail starts at the Gunsight Bridge, but the parking lot was full (it was early afternoon) so I parked up the road in the Oh Be Joyful lot. There’s a trail that connects to the two places, so I put on my chaco & began my hike. I thought it was a just a short trail, but it went on longer than I anticipated & was nicer than I thought it would be. About 2/3 of the way through this hiker/biker trail, Dan from the Brick started to ride by. He stopped when he recognized me & we had an awesome conversation about missing the Brick, him now enjoying the summer instead of working all the time & more about his most recent trip floating down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. It was such a wonderful random conversation. We talked of possibly meeting up later out at camp once Danny gets here…we’ll see what his schedule is like. He is busier than he thought he’d be, but in a much better way than owning the Brick. But I will forever have great memories of that place & it’s employees & customers that I got to know & become friends with….& of course, I miss it’s awesome selection of fantastic beer.
Once near the end of the trail, I wondered if I could hike the river all the way back to my 4Runner. I asked a couple of fisherman if they thought the river was unobstructed, but they didn’t know. So, I just took off walking the way of the water (which is pretty low…the deepest I encountered was a little above my calves). I eventually ran into a fence….I didn’t know it was legal to put a barbed wire fence across the water. I climbed over it & kept on going. But then I came to a gigantic log jam —I really wasn’t sure how to begin climbing over it & I couldn’t see on the other side of the jam. After checking it all out for awhile, I decided I really didn’t want to climb over it. So, I turned around & hiked back through the water the same way I’d come. It was a hot day & it all felt super refreshing & my little camp feet were super super clean!!
After my hike, I went to the laundromat & then back out to camp. I laid all my clothes out to dry, then read my book for awhile.
Happy National IPA day!
Talie was going to camp with us—Danny was anxious to see & visit with her & she was still testing out her ways at camp. I made quesadillas for all of us for dinner, then we built another campfire for the evening.
We all enjoyed a super laid back evening chatting away, watching the alpenglow, then the skies…a super nice night at camp.
Day 45 8.5
Happy Birthday Danny!
We had a slow easy morning in camp, sharing conversation & enjoying the warm morning sun. I had a little birthday gift for him…he wanted a new chair with a cup holder; I also bought him a bag of Colorado’s famous & sooo wonderderful Palisade Peaches, a birthday cookie & a morning muffin. He also got some new camp towels & part of his bday gift had been rolled in with his Father’s Day gift….my new fave bamboo hoodie from Free Fly. So, he’d already had it since June, but today was the first day he’s worn it.
We had a full day planned & wanted to stay where there would be phone service so when the kids & grand girls call to wish him Happy Birthday, he could talk to them. When you get this age, talking to your kids is about the best gift there is. So, we took the trail to the Lower Loop, caught up & enjoyed the views.
The Arts Fair was going on this weekend, so we went over there & looked at all the unique art & gorgeous jewelry. I said hello to one of my favorite artists that come to this fair…Michele is the designer of Sidhe Designs & I love her work. I was able to see her when she was at the Brookside Art Fair in Kansas City this year & bought a pair of her earrings I really love! The weather mostly cooperated & it was nice to be here…usually we aren’t here this late in the summer & miss the fair.
After we looked at everything, we walked up Elk & then to the Dogwood Cafe, which was where we’d be celebrating Danny’s birthday. We both enjoyed a yummy cocktail & really really loved their cheese & sausage plate…soooo very good. The atmosphere there is wonderful too…awesome place to chill & celebrate at the same time.
Then we drove back out to camp, built a fire & made a camp cocktail. It was a lovely evening & the sky lit up too….a Rainbow!
Day 46 8.6
We took our time in camp & made breakfast burritos this morning. So, by the time we got to Scarp Ridge, the parking was packed. We waited for some hikers to vacate their spot, pulled in & started up.
The rewards of this hike are so fantastic! This is the third time I’ve hiked it this summer & always love it (& it never gets any easier!)
After our hike, we took the long scenic route into Gunnison by way of Ohio Pass Road. We ate a pizza & had a drink at the High Alpine brewery. Then went to a place my friend Susan told me about called Garlic Mikes. I’ve passed it a gazillion times & knew they offered dinner on boat trips down the river, but Susan told me there was a riverside bar. So, that’s where we found ourselves next. Yay…it was cool!
Relaxing by the river. Happy guy!
Once back at camp, Danny pulled out his clippers & went into “barber” mode & gave me a nice camp haircut. He takes care of the bottom & I chop the top!
A magnificent sky over Gothic mountain tonight!
Day 47 8.7
We left earlier this morning to drive out Gothic road. We made a switch from Plan A to Plan B & decided on hiking Hasley Pass…it’s another one of our favorites.
Danny climbing to the top of part of the trail…it’s steep for sure!
The view from the top of the pass at 12,110'…Snowmass Mountain in the far background.
After we hiked part way down from the pass, we found another trail & started exploring it. We found Frigid Air Pass in the distance & could even see a few people on top. We thought we might make it across the valley below & possibly intersect another trail, but the farther we hiked, we realized it was a long long way. So, we backtracked & headed back down the way we came.
A zoomed view of Frigid Air Pass.
A tiny waterfall at the beginning/end of the trail. It was a nice place to wash off & cool down.
On our drive back out Gothic road, we stopped at RMBL’s Visitors Center & visited with Greta & bought some Third Bowl ice cream…yummy!
Back at camp we made fresh guacamole & tacos. Both of us read & later Talie joined us & we all watched a breathtaking sky!
Day 48 8.8
Today we hiked the 401 to the viewpoint….a lot of the flowers & skunk cabbage have died, but there were still enough to color the mountains.
I always love hiking the 401…but when the Fireweed is blooming, it’s just spectacular!
Flower-people say that when the Fireweed begins to bloom, you know it’s the end of wildflower season.
Danny standing in between all the Fireweed.
Theres a road that goes near this trail, & I wanted to explore it. So, on our way back, that’s what we did. The road ended sooner than expected, but then it turned into a trail that just kept climbing higher & higher. It eventually takes you to the top of Mt. Belleview. We knew we weren’t up for that big a hike on top of what we’d just done, so we turned around to head back down. But, we got some new views in that we really enjoyed.
We’d brought some food with us in the car, so after the hike we went to Rainbow Park & made a picnic. It was Monday night & we decided to go to Alpenglow & listened to Dragondeer play. And we also shared some Third Bowl ice cream (since the beer they serve there isn’t very good).
Day 49 8.9
We had coffee in camp this morning with Talie, then headed back out to Gothic Road…this will be the 7th & 8th times I’ve driven it this year….I think that’s enough. But we both love North Pole Basin & were looking forward to another big hike today with beautiful weather & still some wildflowers to see.
We’ve hiked this trail several times over the years, but this year I wanted to explore the knob that sits off the trail instead of climbing all the way to the top. Danny is always up for going off trail!
And so we did. There was still snow on the other side of the knob, melting down to keep the stream flowing all the way down to the lake. It wasn’t a spectacular new view, but it’s always cool to ‘see what’s on the other side”.
This is one of my favorite photos of Danny this summer. He’s such a strong hiker & super fearless. So fun to hike with & always ready for more adventure. I can’t wait for him to retire!
So much Rosy Paintbrush!
Danny looking at the Basin from a new view.
The waterfalls in this basin are so awesome.
Our hike was over, we cleaned up in the river, then I drove out Gothic road saying good bye until next year. In town, we grabbed a burger at Slap Burger, then a Margarita at Bonez then it was back to camp.
Another perfect sky view from camp &….
….another great campfire tonight & hearing more about Talie’s adventures all over the world. I know it’s my last few days here this summer & every moment becomes so much more present.
