Wolfcreek Pass

The blog has been a bit silent lately. I’ve been busy with a house, and I haven’t had anything I wanted to put in the blog. The good news is that I just got back from a vacation, and I have something to post. My parents and my brother’s family were vacationing in Arizona and Colorado. I met up with them in Pagosa Springs, Colorado on June 29th. On June 30th, some drove up to Wolf Creek Pass and messed around. Here are the pictures from that day.

View from Lobo Overlook above Wolf Creek Pass

Hiking along the Continental Divide Trail

Carter and Cara in the snow

Hiking in snow

Stacy, Cara, Carter, & Jim

Where's the Family Truckster?

Carter below Treasure Falls

Oh Daddy

For Father's Day I thought I would share a picture of Longs Peak that I took last month from an airplane.

Longs Peak - May 18, 2014

Of course while I was wandering my house this evening, I discovered somebody had left an appropriate message for "Pops".

The Wall

I discovered a message on a wall in my house today. It seems appropriate.

The Shape Of Things To Come

Centennial 38, the supporters group for the Colorado Rapids in which I am a member, had their kickoff party on Saturday. The Colorado Rapids Front Office used our party to announce the new head coach. With the season set to start next Saturday, the Front Office finally decided it might be a good idea to name a coach. Former Captain and Rapids legend, Pablo Mastroeni signed his contract in front of the fans. Pablo is certainly an unproven as a coach (just retired from playing last year), but he definitely bleeds burgundy. That can't be said of the last coach.

Pablo Mastroeni signing a contract to become the head coach of the Colorado Rapids

Since it is was "Pops" birthday today, here is a picture of some Colorado scenery from a few weeks ago since I know "Pops" doesn't care about the soccer stuff.

Arkansas River

Temple and Spring

On Saturday, I visited The Temple in Temple Canyon Park with Charles and Tina. The Temple is a hidden gem located in one of Cañon City’s mountain parks. According to the sign at the trailhead, it is 7/8 of a mile to The Temple. So it is not a long hike, but it was a beautiful one. The day was extra special because it was Charles’ B-day, plus the weather was spring like.

Grape Creek & Temple Canyon

Tina and Charles getting across Grape Creek

Tina and Charles on the way to The Temple

Charles, cliffs, and tree

The way to The Temple

The Temple (Tina below)

Inside The Temple.  Small cave on the right.

Charles.  Picture taken from the cave

Looking back at The Temple. (on the right)

Foot Prints

With the Super Bowl being a Super Dud, I decided I would do an update. I had an interesting hike today. I went hiking in the hogbacks. It is a hike I do all the time just to get a little exercise. It snowed the day before. So I took a camera with me with the idea that I might find something interesting to put on my blog since I haven't posted in a while. When I reached the top of the hogback, I noticed a set of animal tracks in the snow. The tracks came up the steep slope on the Highway 50 side of the hogback. Then they went along to top of the hogback. Judging by the lack of claws and the path it took, I would say that they were mountain lion tracks. Here are some pictures.

Foot print or should I saw paw print

The tracks follow along the top of the hogback.

US 50 below the hogback

Town not far below

Another print

The path it took up the hogback.

Even Flow

The pictures in this post are almost 2 months old. So the first post of this year is a post that should have been done last year. Anyway, I had a road trip in mid-November that took me through northeast New Mexico. I stopped off at Capulin Volcano National Monument. I had been there before as a kid. I found the area more beautiful than I remember. I hiked the Crater Rim Trail and the Boca Trail. Here are the pictures of the area.

View from the Crater Rim Trail

Sierra Grande - a shield volcano

View of the crater and parking lot from the rim.

Sierra Grande (8723 ft.)

Looking towards Folsom.  Baby Capulin is also visible

Robinson Peak

Robinson Peak from the Boca Trail

Capulin Volcano (8,182 ft.) is a Cinder Cone

Capulin Volcano from the Highway.  FYI, there are cows out there

Baba O’Riley

Happy Birthday Carter!!! I haven’t spoken to Landon or Dale in a while, I’m sure they wish you a Happy Birthday too.

Climb That Hill Again

My Thanksgiving hike was a repeat this year. I hiked up Midland Hill (9,556 ft.) which is located outside of Buena Vista. I did this hike 2 years ago. There was a bit more snow this time. It was quite beautiful. The weather was perfect. No wind! Here are the pictures.

Mt. Antero and Mt. Princeton

Mt. Columbia

Mt. Yale & Buena Vista

The trail

Soccer fields with views of Mt. Yale & Mt Columbia

For All The Cows

Apparently, there is an interest for more pictures of cows. Here are a few pictures of cows that didn’t make the cut for my last post.

City Slickers

Two weeks ago, I ventured into southeast Colorado. A friend of mine from Denver was down there looking after his parent’s cattle ranch while they were away. Since it was a place I have never been, I took the opportunity to go down there and check the area out. The Ranch was in the middle of nowhere between La Junta and Trinidad. There was hardly any traffic on the highway there. Once upon a time though, this was a “major” transportation route. The Santa Fe Trail went through the area. I made rounds with my friend Geoff on both Saturday and Sunday. Our rounds basically consisted of driving around the ranch and making sure the cows are alright. Thankfully, they were. I am not sure what we would have done if something was wrong. Even though Geoff grew up down there, he is very much a city slicker.

Geoff on top of a mesa on the edge of the property

Looking towards Fisher's Peak

Geoff

View of the ranch

Anybody seen Norman?

A windmill that has seen better days

Dry wash

Watering hole - The Spanish Peaks are barely visible on the right

The Santa Fe Trail

Along the Santa Fe Trail - The Spanish Peaks on the left, Mt Greenhorn on the right.

US 50 & a train