Weekend trip

Steph came down for a visit the weekend before Halloween so we could take a trip to Glenwood Springs for their "Ghost Walk Tour" Check out the link below

Glenwood Springs Ghost Walk

It's pretty cool, we went two years ago and had a blast. The "Doc Holliday" ghost is pretty good. I'd say he does a better job than Dennis Quaid in the movie "Wyatt Earp". Anyway it is a lot of fun and if your ever rolling through G. Springs in October it is worth the stop and $15. I have to say it is also a bit creepy (appropriate for Halloween I guess) that there are actors pretending to be the very people that they are standing on. Kinda freaky.

Here is a picture of the old train depot right across where we stayed. It still functions as an Amtrak station, so not only is it historical but it still functions as a depot for folks traveling by rail.

G. Springs is laid out kind of weird. There is a downtown along the south bank of the Colorado River (shown below) but the the hot springs and historic Hotel Colorado are on the north bank and that area also has kind of a "downtown" feel to it as well. I guess the city planners thought that these two areas should be connected in a pedestrian friendly way, so there is a foot bridge you can take across the river and take pictures.

The first day we soaked in the hot springs which was pretty cool. Not as neat as some of the places I've hiked into but there is something to be said for having lots of room and being able to shower afterwards. [Side note: a buddy of mine and I hiked to Bagby hot springs near Mt. Hood Oregon about 15 years ago. When we got there we found the "hot springs" to be about the size of three bathtubs which were jam packed shoulder to shoulder with European folks. That was a little too close for comfort for me, especially since the youngest of them was probably 60 and half of them didn't have clothes on. Needless to say we turned around and hiked back to the truck without taking a dip.] So anyway these hot springs are not the 'great outdoors' but the pool was huge and you could wade around in it. The pool is 3 feet on one end and about 5 on the other so you can stand up if you get too hot. It's heated from geothermal water and regulated with filtered water from the Colorado so you don't cook. The next day was kind of a chilly morning so I walked over to see the steam come out of the pool.

Steph had never been inside a cave before so we thought a cave tour would be neat. We rode up to to the cave entrance on a gondola. Here is a view of the Colorado River valley from the window of the 'box on cables'.

Steph has been in mines before so this was kind of a treat because unlike a mine that's chiseled out of rock, caves have all kinds of cool stalactites and stalagmites. On the cave tour they had an observation deck that over looked a pretty neat view of the valley.

Here's a view from inside the cave. Steph thought this was pretty cool. I thought it was pretty neat but said to Steph, "if you think this is cool we should go to Lewis and Clark caverns, that is super awesome!"

We took the long way home. I've driven I-70 so many times it is kind of a boring route. So I suggested we take a detour from Aspen to Leadville. I snapped this picture along the way.

It worked out for the best anyway because when we left Leadville and were dropping down off the hill toward Copper and I-70 we noticed a ton of traffic heading south off of I-70. We thought "why the heck are so many people heading to Leadville on a Sunday night?" Well it turns out that just outside Vail there was a nasty semi-truck accident that dumped something like 3,000 gallons of methanol based nastiness and they had shut down a section of I-70. This stuff was flammable (and possibly explosive) CDTO was redirecting traffic off of the interstate. So had we taken I-70 we would have been sent on a detour anyway. Funny how things work out sometimes.

Who'd a thunk it?

Never expected to see bear tracks down here in the lowlands. Maybe up higher in the mountains. Anyway Phillip ran into bear tracks up higher one time but didn't have the camera with him that time. We went down to the river and since it was still cool in the morning, Phillip decided to take a walk up a wash he hadn't been up before, looking for rocks and arrowheads. Came across these in the wash. Makes one wonder just what they have to eat down here. I guess lizzards, snakes,birds and eggs, cactus fruits, acorns for a start. Maybe even raid the vineyards on the bench if they could scale the 6 foot chainlink fence. He might even find a beehive up in the cavities in the claustic flow that is all over in the area. Who knows? Anyway hope we never meet up with one face to face.

Still hottish down here but cooling a bit now. Leaves are starting to turn, even down at the river.

Granny

My sentiments exactly.

Something Good

Date: Sunday, September 25, 2011, 10:23 "This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; in its place is something that you have left behind... let it be something good." __._,_.___

Another day at the river.

Wading down the river on a lovely afternoon. Actually it was just before noon. We waded down to the bridge and after going under we crossed the fence the rancher had put there to keep the cows from going upstream. Phillip took this pic not far from the fence and we continued on our way downstream.
Lots of watercress decorates the stream bed all along here. A few side streams where there are small ponds where cattails grow, cows have munched on them in places. We haven't seen any cows but can hear them calling each other down river.

When the river was high it dug a deep trench here at the base of the cliffs. There are small fish in these pools . About 2 to 3 inches long and look a lot like suckers. Biggest fish we have seen here are about 4 inches long. I don't think they ever get any bigger.

Lots of wild grapes grow along the river banks. They completely cover the trees and cliffs. They hang down over the rive in lots of places. They will be getting ripe soon, then the birds will have a hayday. There are all different kinds of birds here along the river. The squirrels and chipmunks will get their share too I bet.

This is where we turned around to go back. It's about a quarter mile from where we soak our feet. Time to head back and move up into the shade by the car. Our feet have been in the water for the best part of a hour now with this wade downstream. We took our time because there are lots of cool things to see along the way. Too bad you couldn't have joined us.



Granny

State of the union message.

Now why is it the birds on the last rung on the totem pole don't have smiling faces?

A day at the river.

This is the mighty Hassyampa river. Down here it is just a stream and this is a long long way yet from the headwaters. This is where we head to when it's too hot at the house to stay. We usually set our chairs in the water where i'm standing and just cool off a while. This spot is just upstream from where the road crosses the river.

Here I'm sitting upstream from the crossing, when a heron came up from downstream and checked us out. I leaned back so Phillip could take this picture of him at the edge of the crossing. Maybe trying to make up his mind if he wanted to continue upstream or not.

He's made up his mind and starts to cross the road and come our way. He's going slow and sneaky, all the time watching up close.

He went to the edge of the crossing and starts toward us. Still moving slow and wary. He crosses the road and starts to pass us not 6 feet away.

Still moving slow and sneaky he moves on past. He keeps us in his beady eyesight all the time. Looks over at us a few times as he passes.

Now he is going under the fence that is just behind us. Not 4 feet away at this point. Still moving slow and sneaky.

He's under the fence and thinks he is so cool. He gave us a few backward glances as if to say," see, I'm not the least bit afraid of you".

Now he slowly goes up the river just like it is an everyday occurrence. One real cool dude he is.

Just after Phillip took this shot he began to eat tiny fish and frogs again just like we weren't there at all. His beak clacked when he hit rocks while catching fish and flipped them up just to catch them a swallow them whole.

You never know what you will see and who you will meet on a day down at the river.

Fat guy on the mountain

Okay Dave as promised the wood! This is a tamarack on the bunco, a peckerpole dougfir and a couple of loads. Tell me the truth, does that chainsaw make me look fat? Perhaps it's me that makes the trees look small.

The biggest tree I ever cut was a doug fir on 4th of July pass, 48 inches on the stump, 3 1/2 cords, with about a cord left in the woods, wouldn't fit on the truck. The biggest Tamarack I ever cut was 38 inches on the stump, that was with Ryan up at the cabin, back side of Nakarna Mt. 3 cords, and the dipshit we delivered it to, complained because we blocked his driveway with huge ass bolts of of cold winter BTUs Total douchbag, didn't deserve the wood, I hope he dropped his sack splitting that stuff!!

The Tamarack that was next to outhouse at the cabin, was one that grandma wouldn't let grandpa cut down, because it had an extensive lean toward the cabin. Ryan and I took it down, cut it, split it in an afternoon, just over a cord. We left it at the cabin, but found out later that the morons burnt it up outside at the fire pit. What a waste!

Am I a poet and didn't know it?

Obama Economics

1. When Obama was elected, he vowed he would erase.
The debt and beat inflation, income tax cut set the pace.
"We'll lick this thing together, " the people heard him say.
He just forgot to tell us, the working man would pay.

2. Obama touts a great plan, new changes we would see.
Now here's how we can do it, it's simple as can be.
He has a brand new method, to make this country rich.
Just stimulate economy, with a Robin Hood switch.

3. It's bound to stop inflation, get the nation back on course.
Just UP all social programs, with a special show of force.
It's a plan to keep the masses, under thumb and being poor.
He's hoping they'll feel better, than the working man next door.

4. Too bad so many workers, have a job no longer.
We've got to have incentive, to make this country stronger.
Need for money is incentive, the very best indeed.
If you're rich it's called incentive, if you're poor they call it greed.

5. Our country is the greatest, it flows with milk and honey.
We know it flows much smoother, if you're burdened with some money.
Congress finds life most expensive, Senate palms begin to itch.
So they rush and pass a new bill, for the Robin Hood switch.

6. Hold the line with Obama-nomics, we've got the course to stay.
Two -O- twelve close upon us, record debits we must pay.
The congressmen are asking, "can we try to tax the rich."
"Hell no" Obama tells them, " use the Robin Hood switch."

7. Obama-nomics isn't working, inflation can't come down.
Gas prices means the working man, can't even get to town.
All he can do if lucky, is sit around and bitch.
About politicians using, the Robin Hood switch.

8. I know I've said a lot about, the way this country's ran.
I've another thing to tell you, believe it if you can.
The working man is paying , all the taxes for the switch.
He's the one who gives up wages, for the poor and for the rich.

9.The time is fast approaching, when the working man will beg.
Obama-nomics will have killed, the goose that lays the golden egg.
You can blame it on recession , or blame it on inflation.
I say Obama is the worst thing, to happen to this nation.


Now I've went and said it. Tried to make comments on your posts but keep getting a dumb
can't show the page crap. Can't figure that one out.

Granny

Pictures of a hike in the foothills

The water is running high in Clear Creek so I haven't pulled out my gold panning stuff yet. I'll wait for the water to subside a bit. Until then though I've been putting some miles on my hiking shoes and hopefully in the process some pounds off of the midsection. Last Sunday and today I went for a hike on a trail called Beaver Brook that runs roughly parallel to Hwy 6 and I-70. I've driven both routes and looked up into the hills and thought "hmm... I wonder what's up on top of the ridge over there..." After hiking around over these past two weekends I have a better idea of the area.

The atmospheric conditions were not the best for taking pictures due to the smoke blowing into Colorado from the wildfires in AZ and NM, but I was able to get a few pictures like this one looking down into Clear Creek canyon.

Most of trail was nice and mellow like this stretch. A person can walk at a pretty good clip when the trail is clear of brush & weeds and fairly level.

However there were some places where you had to watch yourself. If a person were not paying attention they would be taking a fast trip down a 50 foot drop.

There were also some places with rock slides. At least this isn't like it is back home where rock slides also usually places where you find those shrub/tree plants (alder?). Aww man those things suck. It's bad when you have to watch out for loose rock but then you have to crawl through those branches without slipping off. Then again, back in Idaho if you fall down you won't land on cactus, so I guess it's a wash.

What makes a hike fun for me is if I can see some cool stuff and/or cool views. I like this vantage point looking down on Clear Creek.

If your driving through this area you may come to the conclusion that it is almost 'desert-like' but tucked away in some of the gulches are little creeks. These places are kinda neat for me because the plants that grow in these areas are more similar to those found back home.

Along the trail were places that you could climb up to and get a birds eye view of the area.

Here's a pic from the top of that rock formation looking down the other side.

I love well marked trails, especially when I can see how far I have slugged along.

Last weekend I only made it to the three mile marker. I felt like a chump because I figured I could have pushed myself to walk it a bit further. So this morning I got up early and hit the trail with the intent of walking into the Gudy Gaskill loop which would be a total walking distance of about 13 miles.
The air quality was much better this time around. The white caps of the high country were in clear view this morning.

I saw a lot of elk sign near the area where the GG loop departed from the main trail. About a half mile before this trail marker I jumped an elk. Actually it may have been the combination of my smelly self and a lady jogger that scared the young bull. That elk was movin' though, it definitely didn't want any of me or the fast moving lady. It was weird because in this area the trail was chewed up to a powder in parts. I was thinking "geeze this must be the elk superhighway." Then a few minutes later an elk goes bombing right past me. However that lady was moving at a good clip herself. There are a lot of health nuts in Colorado and a few of these folks really get into trail running. I would have to get into really awesome shape to do that wackiness, plus I would probably get tired and fold/roll my ankle so bad I would be out of commission for weeks.

After departing the main trail onto the GG loop the terrain opened up into some neat meadows.
That's it for this post, I will post some future hikes if I can get some good views. If I get some nice 5lb nuggets gold panning I'll post some images of those, but don't count it as most of my stuff you need a magnifying lens to see.

Toby the cutie...Toby the irritated!!!!

"Okay, Mom, I will pose for A picture. I ain't got all day, you know. There is sunshine getting wasted here"




"Oh for shit sakes, enough of the pictures already.....I am seriously thinking about crapping on the floor when I get back in the house!"

Crazy damn weather!!

We woke up to a bunch of snow.......but by later this afternoon......it was gone!! Our dang road is never going to dry out if we don't stop getting rain and snow!!

Wow it's been awhile!!

Man, I haven't been on this blog or Facebook for about 8 months. I lost my password to this blog...but found it a couple of days ago. Been trying to read back a few months on this blog. Hope everyone is doing fine. Bruce and I are doing okay....in spite of the very wet spring we are having!! Our road is a disastrous mud hole right now and has been that way for about 2 weeks no!! yuk

Yeah!!

Now here's a good thought for the day.

Winter is not done yet!

Thank goodness for an extended winter in the mountains. Yeah, panning is still a ways down on the calendar but it is nice to be able to squeeze out some more snowboarding before the white stuff melts. I'm a big advocate of getting off the couch whether it be to go panning; taking a hike; tracking the whereabouts of wild canines; or just walking around the block! I'm finding that it is taking more gumption as I get older to get off the couch and get some exercise. It is not easy when it's warm inside and the television is on, "do I want to go outside?, nahhh I'll sit down with these chili cheese chips and watch some more TV." However, when it snows 7 inches in the mountains and the skies are relatively clear, that's enough to motivate me to get my rear in gear and slide down some snow. I uploaded a video that I took with my new helmet cam. It's fun to take video and pictures of your adventures but they never seem to do the experience justice. Butterflies, mountains and flowers always look prettier when you see them with your own eyes (all the more reason to get out there, right). This video is no exception, that run was way more fun than the video makes it look.

So Cool !!

A while back, Phillip and I were heading out rock hunting but first had to stop for gas. This moth was down on the ground by the pump. Phillip picked it up and while I was trying to get the camera out he found another one just like it. He had both of them on his hand. I got the camera out and found the batteries dead. Had to put in new batteries and by that time one had flown. Got this guy. So cool.

Went up in the mountains and did a little panning. Water high. Got some fines and got wet.

Went out yesterday and got some more big smokey quartz crystals out of the hole we got the others from. Time ran out and we still haven't got them all out. Will have to go back another time.

What have you been up to?

TRACK SCHOOLING WITH IVY

HERE ARE SOME TRACKS WE CAME ACROSS ON ANOTHER WINTER HIKE