Four.Twenty.Eight

My Colorado - The Recap, Day 4, 5 & Heading Home

As we continued our time in Colorado, we played hard.  Actually, Sammy and I were discussing the other day that we might have done too much this year!  We rode the ATVs every day, and we think that if we make it up there next year, we will definitely schedule at least one day that we just do nothing.  It is a vacation, after all!

But continuing on our do-everything vacation, on day 4, we decided to do a big ride.  It involved loading up the ATVs on the trailers and traveling 2 hours by vehicle to Lake City, Colorado.  Lake City is right at the trail heads for Cinnamon Pass and Engineer Pass, part of the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway.  The views over Cinnamon and Engineer, as many would argue, are not rivaled.  Engineer and Cinnamon were possibly the first trails I ever rode with Sammy back in **ahem** summer of 1999.

On our last day in Pitkin this year, day 5, we did another trip over the river and through the woods to Tincup, Colorado.  We rode an easier trail called Cumberland Pass.  Cumberland is North America's highest elevation TWO-wheel drive road, and on the other side will drop you directly into Tincup, Colorado and right at the front of Frenchy's Cafe for burgers, pie and ice cream.  What more could an adventuresome group want?

Last but not least, we got one last photo opportunity on our way out of Colorado.  Early in the morning on our trip home, we drove back by an area between Westcliffe, Colorado and Salida, Colorado.  It is called Wolf Springs Ranch and it is an enormous bison ranch.  The morning of our drive home, the herd was on the move and we (among other early travelers) stopped to watch.  It was pretty fascinating.  They had lots of babies, too.

The start of the big ride - The ATV staging area at the trailhead to Engineer Pass

 

A view from the trail - Engineer Pass

 

Another view from the trail up Engineer - Yes, this is July.  Snow in the highest elevations is very common in the summer, and a lot of it never melts year-round.

 

Signage at the top of Engineer Pass

 

Our usual obligatory pic at the top!  Do you think we look a little different than this:

For comparison: 1999.  Yes.  Believe it.  It scares me, too.

 

Two views from the top of Engineer Pass.

 

At the crossroads of the Alpine Loop lies one of the most intact ghost towns around - Animas Forks.

 

This is the "Gustavson House" - it is like stepping back in time.  It is hard to believe these homes stayed intact for so many years.  The sign inside says it was built circa 1906-07.

 

Probably the most iconic Animas Forks photo - this is the Boarding House a.k.a. The Hotel (you can still walk upstairs)

 

We didn't take as many photos on Cinnamon Pass, but we did get our obligatory summit sign photo!

 

This was a stroke of luck on the 2-hour journey back to Pitkin - a beautiful mountain rainbow.

 

From day 5, the very interesting Tincup entry sign.

 

The infamous Frenchy's Cafe - you can easily find it by the large line of ATVs parked outside.  Pie.  Ice Cream.  Need I say more??

 

This is the Tincup Town Hall that doubles as the church on Sundays.  Sammy's dad has preached as guest preacher at the church before.

 

Last but not least, we headed up and back on Tincup Pass, another shot over the Continental Divide.

 

This is a typical after-ride snack.  Good and cold.  How, you say?  By soaking it in the creek, of course!  The traditional Colorado method for chilling a watermelon is hanging it by a sturdy branch in a mesh laundry bag in the creek.  The water is so cold, even in the summer, that the watermelon comes out nice and cold after a day's soak.

 

The Colorado Bison

My Colorado - The Recap, Day 3

On our third day in Colorado this year, we decided to do something out of the realm of our normal ATV riding.  It all came from noticing a t-shirt in the local Pitkin General Store, The Silver Plume.  They had a t-shirt for something called "Fairview."  It said "North America's Highest Fire Lookout."  I would be lying if I didn't tell you that our original intention of finding Fairview came from our desire to buy the t-shirt.  Hey, it was a cool shirt... but I wasn't going to buy it without going there!  So, we asked the store owner (who, in the small town, does just about everything) about it and he told us all about it and how to get there.

Here's some information about the Fairview Fire Lookout:

• There is not a lot of information about Fairview.  The lookout is listed on the National Historic Lookout Register.  I did find this website with some interesting pictures and ran across this blog from someone who helped with one of the restoration projects.
• Fairview Fire Lookout sits at 13,214 feet above sea level.  In hiker/mountaineer speak, that puts Fairview Peak in the rankings of being a "thirteener."
• The lookout was used as a watch for forest fires.  As we discovered at the end of day three, in this day and age, towns like Pitkin sound a siren for fires like we do in North Texas for tornadoes.  It's a major emergency and treated seriously enough to put a lookout above everything in the area in an era when there was no other way to keep an eye on such things.
• Built in 1907.  Built with a "pioneer" design with local materials. The fire lookout was said to be staffed for only one year (I didn't find fact on this) and that someone would go up the mountain for 10 days at a time.  Information online says that it was abandonded because watchers reported near-death experiences with lightning.
• Fairview Fire Lookout lies in the Gunnison National Forest, Gunnison County, Colorado and in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains.
• The lookout is being restored, little by little.  There is actually a team going up the mountain on July 25 for an attempt at another piece of the restoration.

So, with all that said, here are pictures of the fun we had on Fairview Peak! Click the photos for a larger view.

The views off the trail and the peak were breathtaking.  God definitely blessed us with a morning perfectly suited to the trip.

 

This is the trail.  Pure rock, steep with switchbacks.  Overall, the hike from parking the ATVs to the top was about a 700 foot vertical climb, not major, but difficult enough for a first big hike.

On the trail.  Already above a lot of the clouds.

 

I decided to add the arrow so you could see our ATVs in the "parking lot."

 

We finally had the building in sight!

 

 

Sammy's parents, sister, and us at the top.  Thanks to the guy from Missouri who was hiking his fifth thirteener for taking the shot!

 

 

 

The little cabin's interior still had a block of snow not yet melted.  I am sure the lookout is nearly engulfed in snow in the winter.  It would be interesting to see, but impossible to get to in the winter.

 

There was an old metal army box in the cabin with an old notepad.  You could sign the register to show your accomplishment.

 

 

Last but not least, to put it all in perspective, this photo is a view of Fairview Peak from another pass road known as Cumberland Pass.  The arrow is to help you see the little cabin at the top.  The world is pretty small, ain't it?  By the way, we both bought the t-shirt.  It was worth it.

My Colorado - The Recap, Day 1 & 2

Yes, I would like to consider Colorado "mine."  When you are there, especially on a ride or a hike or even sitting by a campfire, you have moments when you feel like it is just you and the world.  You feel as though God put it there just for you to revel in.  The mountains, the river rushing by, the snow-capped peaks, the clear, crisp air and the intoxicating smell are all mine.  There is something about the mountains that embeds itself in my soul.  I guess some people can say that about the beach, or even the city, but for me, the mountains of Colorado are mine.

On this year's trip, we had another incredible ride, figuratively and literally.  On our first day, we did an easy ride to a place called Campbell Town.  It is an old, old mining ghost town, mostly very spare remnants of cabins, but one cabin still stands strong.  It even has a toilet, but I would say it is in need of an upgrade to make it move-in ready.

The Campbell Town "Main House"

Notes Left in the Cabin

 

Ragged Screen Door

 

Examining the "Facilities"

 

The Town Signage (Those 44 people had a hard, far-from-luxurious life!)

 

On our second day in the mountains, we did a longer ride.  Last year, the road to St. Elmo, Colorado (another old, but still open mining town) was washed out and we were not able to visit.  This year, the road was rebuilt and the passes were open.  So, we hopped on our ATVs and headed over Hancock Pass to the town of St. Elmo.  On the return, we did an up-and-back trip on Tomichi Pass.  The last bit of Tomichi was impassable due to snow, so to reach the summit we had to hike a bit.  All in all, the two trails make for a great day and definitely give you a sense of accomplishment traveling over very harsh 4x4 terrain.

Pass Signage - the "recommended" part is really mislabeled.  Everyone knows it should be "required."

 

The summit of Hancock Pass - trip number one over the Continental Divide.  We decided to wear our Mavs Championship shirts at the top of the world - GO MAVS!

I was in good hands for the ride down!  I like that guy.

 

Snow still around in July!  Hard to believe it's possible when you're in DFW and your toenails are sweating.

 

The Miner's Exchange - the only store in St. Elmo, Colorado.  This town is about 99.9% inaccessible in the winter.  As you can see below, the store had a lot of interesting junk for sale.

 

One of the few highlights of St. Elmo were the chimpmunks.  Tame as can be, and really fun to watch... and feed! 

 

After St. Elmo, we took a detour and rode up Tomichi Pass.  If you look close, you can see the winding, rocky road that is Hancock Pass.

 

Tomichi Pass - A View Looking Out

 

As I said above, we hiked the remaining distance after being stopped short at the snow.  It wasn't a walk in the park... **huff, puff - huff, huff, puff**  The altitude is deceiving.

 

This is all that we could determine the Tomichi Pass Summit to be.  A stick.  We couldn't find a sign, I hope it wasn't just a bit more down the road and around the bend.  Ah, well, a stick will do for a photo op.

 

That concludes a recap of our first two days in Colorado this year.  I'll be back in a day or two with a recap of at least day 3.  Next stop: my favorite accomplishment and favorite day of the trip: Fairview.

This Week... By the Numbers

6: 4x4 trails traveled this week

700+: Vertical feet hiked to the top of North America's highest fire lookout

13,214: Feet above sea level at the summit of Fairview Fire Lookout

221.8: Total miles covered on our ATV over the last 5 days

172: Photos taken

2: Trips over the Continental Divide

2: Ghost Towns visited

1: Meal at Frenchy's Cafe, Tincup, Colorado

Crested Butte - Part II

Enjoy the rest of the shots from our annual ski vacation!  We even got some action shots this year.  I got the nerve to carry the Digital SLR camera backpack with me on the last day and take some "real" pictures.  I think they came out pretty well.

 

Two ice sculptures at Mt. Crested Butte 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The gang with the gear

 I know why the Colts lost the Super Bowl!  Check out what Manning was doing on Saturday afternoon...

For the Love of Snow

I think I married a crazy man.

 

 

 

 
 

 

Hill Country Christmas

You might have noticed the radio silence on the blog (both of you out there).  Sorry.  Stressed.  More about that in a future post, possibly.

For now, however, it's the Hill Country Christmas Edition!  What do we do when we head for the hills for Christmas?  Why what everyone does, right?  Burn things, hang out with livestock, and wear camouflage!  Enjoy the pics, it might be all you get for a while the way my posting is going!

Burning cactus

For some reason, the cattle LOVE this.  When Sammy starts burning the cactus, they RUN toward the fire and dig in.  They eat and eat.  It is a good thing because it is any easy way to get rid of the cactus.  The cattle usually eat it completely up, even ripping it out of the ground roots and all.  It is hilarious to see them running full gait toward the fire.  Sammy just has to let them or just get out of the way!

Nom, nom, nom, nom...

Nom, nom, nom...

I think she's enjoying the Christmas feast, no?

This is Dessie and Princess, the mother-daughter duo, and the most friendly of all.  Since they are so friendly, they get special Christmas tasty treats - pellets.

Nom, nom, nom... nom, nom...

And this is the new grand baby, Princess's little calf.  Only one week old!

Our Christmas is pretty simple.  Sure, we eat lots and open gifts.  We do the advent wreath and play board games.  But it sure is fun in the country. 

 
 
 

Vacation: Day 4 - The Kennedy Space Center

On the last day of our trip, we had planned to stay an extra night upon returning to Orlando.  We thought while we were in the area we should head out to Cape Canaveral and tour the Kennedy Space Center.  It was a very cool place to check out, and I got a few good photos.

It was interesting that we happened to be in the area at that particular time.  The space shuttle launch had been delayed and was rescheduled for the day after we were scheduled to fly out.  Sammy and I almost extended our vacation one extra day so we could see the launch (how many times do you get to see that in person in your lifetime?).  We decided against it, though, since it would have cost us even more money.  Turns out, the launch was scrapped yet again, and our extra night's stay and the extra money spent would have been for nothing.  I guess it all worked out in the end.  But it was a good idea and is something I still want to see someday.

This building can be seen for miles.  It can hold 3.5 Empire State Buildings and the Statue of Liberty can exit the big doors without having to duck.  See the flag?  A greyhound bus can drive down one of the stripes.  This is a massive building!




This is called a Crawler Transporter (named appropriately).  This contraption is what moves the space shuttle to the launch pad (full view top photo).  It moves at the astounding rate of speed of 1/2 mile per hour when the shuttle is on top.  When it comes back to this spot after dropping the shuttle off, it can speed up and go 1 mile per hour.  See the plates that make up the track?  Each one weighs 2,000 pounds (better known as one ton).  Last but not least, do you see the road it travels on?  As you can see, there is one path for each of the crawler's tracks.  If you look at my first photo in the bottom left corner, you can see a typical two-lane road.  One of the paths for the crawler is the size of the two-lane road.


The shuttle launch pad from a viewing area.  Didn't get the greatest photo, but it was a bit hazy that day.





The second tour stop (The Apollo/Saturn V Center) had a complete simulation of the mission control room used in the Apollo Missions (some of which include the moon landing).  They simulated a rocket launch and what all the computers and machines did in the course of the countdown.  The simulation even opened vents on the windows that created heavy vibration to make you "feel" the take-off.  It was pretty cool!  After stepping out of the simulation room, there was a large bay with rockets galore.  Photos of the rest of the Apollo/Saturn V Center are below.  The pictures can't begin to explain the size of the rockets.  It's pretty amazing!













That wraps up our little summer vacation.  It was fun and I hope you enjoyed the pictures!

Vacation: The "Entertainment"

One of the fascinating parts of vacation (at least in my opinion) can be the people watching.  It's always great entertainment, but there were some passengers on our boat that were a spectacle.  Every day the entire boat was up for a new show.

Turns out, we had a large group of guys who decided to go on this cruise for a bachelor party.  They not only went on a cruise, they played the part.  Every day.  I wish I had gotten more photos, but our first glimpse at the guys was, um, interesting.  In the terminal where you board the boat we noticed some guys in the most puzzling get ups.  They looked like they belonged on the Love Boat.  Short shorts, pink polo shirts, knee-high socks, converse sneakers, fake mustaches, wigs, and captain-style hats.  We never figured out the reason why they were around until much later in the cruise.  At this time, we thought they might work for Royal Caribbean and dressed in these ensembles to entertain the guests.  Little did we know that they were guests themselves!

A first glimpse.  Who are these guys??

The second day, we caught them at the bar near the water at the Atlantis Resort.

Last but not least, we came upon them all on the last night posing on the stairs for everyone to photograph and it was a sight.  Tacky, tacky 70s gear (complete with authentic platform shoes) and they played their parts well!  I only wish I could have caught better photos - the lighting in the area was not very good, and I had to work quickly to avoid missing the "event" all together!












I can tell you one thing, these guys were having a blast!  What a fun time.

Vacation: Day 3 - Cococay, Bahamas

On the third day of our cruise, the official stop on the itinerary was Cococay, Bahamas.  Turns out, Cococay is a private island owned by Royal Caribbean.  It is very small.  Everyone gets off the boat by tender and gets to roam the island as they please.  Lunch was served b-b-q style on the island, and there is a plethora of chairs to just sit back and relax on the beach.

See, this is a tiny island.  It's just that little one.  Compare its size to the island where Nassau lies.

I am very irritated at myself because the one activity (snorkeling) we actually paid money to do on Cococay I took no photos of.  If you weren't aware, I am not a good swimmer, and deep water makes me nervous.  Sammy had reason to brag on me, though, because with the snorkeling gear, I was swimming all the way out to the edge of the snorkeling area in deep water!  Far away from him, too!  I was a little surprised at myself.

You know, by the third day I guess I might have been tired of playing photographer.  You have to be careful on the beach with the camera, protect it from water and sand, and it kind of keeps you from just relaxing.  I did get some shots, though.  I didn't come away empty handed.

Cococay, Bahamas from the tender boat.


Waiting for the ride over.




A couple more shots of the island from the tender boat.





Possibly my two favorite photographs of the whole trip.





Meeting the island wildlife, Mr. Iguana.


The private island was fun.  We didn't really leave our chairs except to snorkel, eat, and visit the restroom.  It was a hot one, though!  I was trying very hard to not get sunburned.  At one point I had my towel over my legs and torso and Sammy's extra t-shirt over my head and shoulders.  Plus the SPF 60 I had smeared all over me.

Tomorrow: Day 4 and back on shore in Port Canaveral, Florida.  More pictures to come!