Here's some photos. I didn't take that many because there were so many cameras on our trip; hopefully I'll get some more from the other gals.
I finally went grocery shopping. That's about as exciting as my day was. ;)
I'm selling more stuff on ebay. Just trying to "simplify my life" and un-clutter my life... not that it's really that bad, but moving makes you THINK you have wayyy to much stuff!
Phew, it was a long day.
Was up late finishing moving/unpacking everything, and spent my first night in my new apartment, in my log bed, listening to crickets and coyotes... I did get ahold of the group that was hiking today, and the plan was to meet at 5:30 am in Estes. This means that I was up at 4 am trying to find my hiking gear in all the stuff strewn about the apartment.
We hit the trailhead around 6:30 am and when all was said and done, we reached Grand Lake at around 4 pm. 17.2 miles. It was a long day but it was FANTASTIC! I'll do an official "Trail Log" when I post my photos; I'm just too dog tired right now. I feel great except my knee is a little sore for some strange reason.??
Now I'm winding down, listening to the people at RockyGrass Festival cheering from down the canyon. It looks like fun, maybe next year? I did go downtown Lyons yesterday night and sat outside, eating great pizza and making my cell phone calls. I think I'm going to like living down here. :)
In unrelated news, Tim is still on that fire and won't be back until Saturday at the earliest, perhaps as late as the 8th. We went over our schedules, and it looks like between his trail crew overnight trips, both our friends' weddings, and various other random 'stuff', we aren't going to be in town at the same time much! So it looks like I will be accompanying him to Portland, OR for his friend's wedding in two weekends! I'm excited and a little nervous to be meeting them and dancing and all that stuff, but it should be fun! I've never been to Portland so it will be a mini vacation. This weekend, I am really going to Montana this time. Really. Unless something else comes up, again! ;)
Definitely time to crash. Photos from our super-hike coming up soon!
Tonite just might be my first night staying in my new apartment! Yippee! I knew sooner or later I'd get my butt in gear and finish. This past weekend I had planned on heading up to Red Rock Lakes NWR in Montana to visit my old coworkers, and hitting up Buffalo, WY to see Gregg... But it looks like I'll be doing that next weekend instead. Tim had sent me a text this morning saying they were on their way back, but a little bit later he sends me another one saying they were being sent to Idaho for the Potato Fire. I was kindof bummed to hear that, since now he might not be back until the 8th. He had invited me to his friend's wedding in Oregon, but since he's going to miss that he now wants to go on a vacation. His suggestion: Alaska. ;) But we'd need longer than a 3 day weekend for that adventure, so we'll see where we decide to go. I haven't really gone out of the area much this summer, so I'm definitely overdue for a trip!
In the meantime, I've beening hanging out with his housemate Dave a lot, and since I refuse to buy groceries until I am moved in to Lyons, I've had to eat dinner there probably 5 out of 7 times this past week. Last night we watched the bluegrass band Wildwood Holler!, and they were really good! I had gone down to Lyons and rode my motorcycle back up to Estes for the evening - which was a great ride up - and rode it to the Rock Inn. When I went to leave, the darned thing wouldn't start for some strange reason. I have a slight idea what it could have been, but I hoped that it would start up in the morning when it was warmer. Fortunately, she did start and I rode her back down to Lyons. I knew I should have gotten it service before I rode it! ;) But boy did I look cool with my leathers on... and a motorcycle I couldn't start. Yesterday was definitely one of those days, all around!
Work has been fun and busy with all those trees to take down in Grand Lake. Over two days, Cisco and I felled 30 trees, bucked them up, and started hauling slash on Thursday. Still lots more to go and I was pretty tired and sore, but felling trees around houses, cars, other trees, etc is fun! In other related news, there is a 4-yr term position for a Maintance job in Grand Lake that I was encouraged to apply for... I haven't decided yet what I am going to do, because I really enjoy tree work and using my degree, but the pay would be good and I'd have benefits and everything. The only other catch is that I'd be cut off from Estes from October through May every year, unless I wanted to drive 3-4 hours!! I love the west side folks, but obviously I've got some close friends on this side of the Divide... Got a lot to think about with that one.
Since I've been such a slacker, I had to give up the chance to play at some billionaire's ranch with Markus (a west side Roads guy) and his buddy. I don't really know how or why, but I guess they get to Ranch-sit and this guy has tons of insane toys - huge entertainment system, some giant "hampster-ball" things - just like the ones you stick your hammies in, except they are human sized - and a trampoline on the water and something about a "blob" - yeah I have no idea but it sounds like fun!! If I can get everything done maybe I'll be able to join them but in the meantime I am on a mission to move the last few boxes of clothing and food!!
Anyway that's all for now. Supposed to hike the Continental Divide tomorrow - Bear Lake to Grand Lake, about 18 miles. It's a group of like 20 people and I don't have anybody's phone numbers, so we'll see if I can get ahold of them! ;)
Cisco and I started the huge task of felling all the hazardous dead beetle-kill trees in the Grand Lake housing area. We flagged 65, but those are only the REALLY bad ones. Both of us were excited to get to start doing more cutting than paperwork, and we started an hour early today just to get to the West side and start working earlier. Normally this would be ok, but last night was so warm and nasty in my apartment that I just couldn't sleep! In any case, we cut down, bucked up, and piled slash for 17 lodgepole today, and I am exhausted. We get to do this again tomorrow, and probably the day after that, and the day after that...
I loved it. :)
After setting Truck up for a tune-up/pre-trip check (might go to Montana this weekend to visit Red Rock Lakes), I went to the coffee shop and asked Chris what he wanted to make. He suggested a Kind Shake with espresso and caramel because he likes it; so I ordered one and gave him the leftover shake. We were both happy with the arrangement. :)
It's storming here again. Still didn't finish moving my stuff to Lyons; something always seems to come up lately, or it's raining. No big hurry. And I STILL haven't called my mom back. She's been trying since Friday. Woops. ;)
Tim was bounced from Arizona, to Utah, back to Arizona for fire... but he still hasn't even seen fire. I'm kindof glad now I wasn't dispatched, though the money would be really nice right about now!
Trail Log: Crystal Lake, from the Lawn Lake trailhead (15.4 miles round trip, 2,980 ft. elevation gain). My intention was to wake up at 2 am and check out the weather to see if I could do Long's Peak, but there was thunder past midnight and clouds at 2 am, so I figured I'd play it safe, pick a different trail, and maybe sleep in a little bit! I hit the trailhead around 9 am, which was later than I preferred - there were already dark clouds hoovering to the west of the Mummy Range. My guidebook says this is a strenuous hike, but I think that all comes from just the distance of the hike - the trail itself was not too steep, but a constant gradual uphill hike up a relatively smooth trail without many obstacles - rocks, roots, etc. More than halfway to Lawn Lake, it did get a bit rockier but still didnt' seem that tough. The trail follows the Roaring River, and you can still see the dramatic results of the 1982 Lawn Lake Flood, when the dam broke and water carved out the mountainside. There are still large boulders strewn about, but trees are moving in. It was a cooler day - mid to upper 60s - and it was pretty humid due to all the precipitation we've had lately. The trail was pretty wet too, with lots of small streams over the trail - but it also made for great wildflower displays!
Fortunately there weren't many others on the trail so I had plenty of solitude - but it certainly wasn't quiet due to the constant rushing and roaring of the river, streams and waterfalls along the way. I reached Lawn Lake (6.3 miles in) and felt pretty good and curious to see Crystal Lake, so I kept hiking. This took me above treeline and amongst alpine wildflowers, surrounded by rock and water. It was beautiful - probably one of my favorite hikes this year. I passed Little Crystal Lake and didn't linger long at Crystal Lake - ominous clouds hovered over Fairchild and I didn't want to be caught up there in a storm! It took me about 1 hr 45 mins to Lawn Lake, then an additional 30-40 minutes to reach Crystal Lake; and about 2 hours to get down from there. I was back at the trailhead around 2 pm. My legs are pretty sore and that was the longest hike I've done this year, but it felt good!
I also can't forget to add the trail I did with my stepdad and brother when they were here!
The Loch (5. 4 miles round trip). This was a beautiful hike that takes you past Alberta Falls. It wasn't particularly challenging but my stepdad wasn't quite used to the elevation so I was worried I was going to have to carry him down! We didn't hang out long though, because dark clouds and thunder closed in on us... Which we got dumped on of course. It was a little chilly and wet on the way back down, but it didn't bother me much! Anyway this is a great hike for anybody in halfway decent shape to see an apline lake. And if you're in good shape, it's well worth continuing on to Andrew's Glacier and the other alpine lakes past that!
I did call and complain to Budget about how horrible their truck was. They refunded 10% of my money, which really doesn't satisfy me but whatever. I'll go Penske next time! This weekend I am still thinking about all the stuff I need to do, but I'm just having so much fun that moving my crap is the last thing on my mind. I met up with Tim's housemate Dave last night at the Rock Inn to listen to Uncle Sq'Earl, an all-chick bluegrass band. I usually run into somebody I have not seen in a while, and this time it was Rachel, a girl that did interpretation for the Park back in '03. And whadda ya know, she lives in Lyons too! I am so excited to have somebody to hang out with down there.
Well I have a BBQ/horseshoes party to go to at Tim's neighbor's place, drink a few brews and grill venison and elk... Not a bad way to spend the weekend, eh? :)
