It’s Coarse and Rough...and It Gets Everywhere

Story by Nicole

We went with a group of friends to the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve for the full moon in September. The sand dunes are a pretty amazing natural feature of Colorado. They are large and dramatic and surrounded by mountains. Even though Jason has a great dislike of sand, he was lured by the friends, camping, and promise of pretty photos. 

On Friday night, we camped at Valley View Hot Springs, which is a secluded, beautiful hot springs nestled against the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. We spent the evening soaking in the warm water and explored the area a little more in the daylight before setting off for the sand dunes.The view from our campsite (Photo/Jason Rafal)Exploring the Orient Land Trust area (Photo/Jason Rafal)

The sand dunes are visible from a distance as you drive along the highway, but you don’t really have a good sense of their massive scale until you get much closer. We stopped at the dunes to try to get a campsite (in a stroke of luck, we actually got the last campsite available within the park) before heading to Alamosa for lunch.

On the way back from lunch, we stopped to hike at the Zapata Falls area to do some hiking. We had fun doing some mild off-roading to the trailhead (the people in the backseat were less amused) so we could explore the creek and get some nice views of the sand dunes.Looking up the canyon (Photo/Jason Rafal)Contemplating the creek (Photo/Jason Rafal)The dunes in the distance (Photo/Jason Rafal)

After hiking, we headed to the dunes to set up camp. Most of Colorado has had a fire ban this fall because it’s been so windy and dry, but thankfully we were still allowed to have fire in a an established campsite grill. After cooking, eating, and warming up by the fire, we headed out into the darkness to hike the dunes.Sunset creeps closer (Photo/Jason Rafal)The beautiful shadows of the dunes at dusk (Photo/Jason Rafal)

I’m going to disappoint you right now and tell you that we don’t have any fantastic dune pictures from our hike. The full moon allowed us to see fairly well, but it wasn’t quite bright enough for Jason to justify bringing his camera. I will tell you, though, that hiking on the dunes in the moonlight is amazing. The shadows are disorienting, and it’s impossible to tell how steep or high each dune is. It’s like being on another planet.

After we got back, Jason and Eric took some photos with a tripod, which turned out pretty cool.A plane crosses the starry sky (Photo/Jason Rafal)Eric is dramatic in the moonlight (Photo/Jason Rafal)

On Sunday morning, Eric and I took a hike on the dunes before we headed back to Denver (Jason was done with the sand at that point). The dunes are totally different during the day—much less mysterious and unnerving, but still very impressive. After spending some time hiking up and sitting on the vast ridges of sand, we went back to camp to pack up and head back to civilization.Footsteps in the sand dunes (Photo/Nicole Harrison)

On the way back to Denver, we stopped at Kenosha Pass to take some pictures of the fall colors. I would highly recommend visiting Kenosha in mid to late September. There are huge aspen groves that turn from bright green to yellow and deep orange. It was a beautiful day, and it definitely felt like fall. I hope the lovely season doesn’t pass too quickly.A variety of fall colors (Photo/Jason Rafal)More mountain colors (Photo/Jason Rafal)

All Sorts of Waterfalls

Story by Nicole

For Monica’s birthday, a group of us went to Steamboat Springs for a night. Steamboat is a lovely small town about three hours from Denver, and it is home to the wonderful Strawberry Park Hot Springs.

We arrived in Steamboat on Saturday and spent a few hours at the Yampa River Festival, where we watched people ride over the rapids on rafts, kayaks, boogie boards, and stand-up paddle boards. Many people made it over the rapids successfully, which was an impressive feat, and many more made it over unsuccessfully, which was an amusing feat.

On Saturday night we went to Strawberry Park, which was wonderful. The springs are in a fairly remote location and it gets quite dark at night. It’s a beautiful place, but we don’t have any good pictures, so you’ll have to visit yourself.

On Sunday morning, we got up fairly early, checked out of the hotel, and went to Fish Creek Falls to go for a hike. We walked to the main falls, then hiked a couple of miles to the upper falls as well. It was a really beautiful spring hike, and I would highly recommend it.

Starting off down the trail (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Leaking water impedes our progress (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Cameron doing…something (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Climbing through the Aspen grove (Photo/Jason Rafal)

The mountainside (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Nicole and Monica pose on a bridge (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Jason and Nicole at the upper falls (Photo/Someone Else)

Photogenic waterfalls (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Eric at the upper falls (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Nicole, Monica, Eric, and Cameron near the top of the falls (Photo/Jason Rafal)

View of Steamboat (as well as Cameron and his absurd swim trunks) (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Aspen grove (Photo/Jason Rafal)

An Abundance of Vastness

For the first time in three years, we did not go to the Pacific Northwest for the 4th of July. Instead, we went to Gunnison to see Nicole’s family. Jason had never been to Gunnison for on-season, and he found the crowds rather surprising.

On the morning of the 4th of July, we (Nicole, Jason, and Maia) got up at 6:30 and drove to Schofield Pass. Britt (Nicole’s Dad) informed us on Friday night that there’s an annual 1/3 marathon run from Gothic to Crested Butte, which is why we left so early. When we got up to Gothic at 7:30, the race organizers let us know that the road would shortly be closed until 9, so we had excellent timing.

From Gothic, we drove over the very narrow and dramatic Schofield Pass. We took Maia’s Toyota Highlander for the higher clearance, which was a good choice. The dirt road was sometimes fine, but sometimes very rough. We reached the summit at 10,707 feet and stopped to look at the two sticker-covered summit signs. From there, we dropped down into a meadow and parked at the West Maroon trailhead.

One of the signs marking Schofield Pass (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Starting off on the trail (Photo/Jason Rafal)

I had decided that we were going to hike Hasley Pass, which starts on the same trail as the West Maroon trail to Aspen. Part way up the trail, we took a fork to the left toward Hasley Pass.

We hiked along a very full creek for the first part of the trail (Photo/Jason Rafal)

There were lots of flowering plants (Photo/Jason Rafal)

There’s something truly remarkable about being surrounded by mountains and completely alone. After walking past a couple of people camping near the trailhead, we saw no one. When Jason and Maia split up from me so we could all hunt for the trail, it started reminding me of the epic landscape scenes in the Lord of the Rings. Just a couple of tiny dots of people against the massive mountains and the blue sky. I have never experienced that kind of vastness, and it was sublime, humbling, and completely gorgeous.

Snow near the top of the pass (Photo/Rafal)

Vastness (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Despite our best efforts, we did not find the return loop trail. We thought we had at one point, but it abruptly went off a cliff. Not sure what else to do, we picked our way down through the rocks and the skunk cabbage until we reached the lower trail we had come in on. As started back to the car, we started seeing groups of people just heading out for a hike. Getting up at 6 had been worth it for the solitude.

Starting down the steep mountainside (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Nicole and Maia pick their way through the skunk cabbage (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Columbine flowers against a skyline of mountains (Photo/Nicole Harrison)

Emerald Lake below Schofield Pass (Photo/Jason Rafal)

We spent the rest of the day eating, walking the dogs, and discussing Maia’s final cake decorating submission for the county competition. She was making a three-tiered cake, wedding style, with flowers and other intricacies. Inspired by our hike, we all decided that she should try to make columbines out of royal icing and put them on the cake. It’s a testament to her talent that this was possible (after searching google, we only found one other person who had done it).

Our other afternoon activity was making challah. Surprisingly, the final loaf was huge. Less surprising was that it was delicious.

Maia provides scale for the giant challah loaf (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Instead of going to the fireworks, we stayed inside and watched the Fellowship of the Ring (we still had the music stuck in our heads).

On Sunday morning, we went up Taylor Canyon for one more hike. This was a heavily forested trail along a very full creek. The dogs were very excited to get out and run.

The dogs enjoy freedom (Photo/Jason Rafal)

A fallen tree reflected in a beaver pond (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Tilly drinks water as if she was trying to catch fish in her mouth (Photo/Jason Rafal)

The forrested trail (Photo/Nicole Harrison)

A heart left behind by a beaver (Photo/Jason Rafal)

The trip was great, but the drive home was pretty rough. Maybe we shouldn’t drive to the mountains for 4th of July weekend.

Among the Goats

On May 15th, we took the day off of work. We spent the morning walking around the Denver Botanic Gardens with Nicole’s grandparents, and then we all drove up to Gunnison in the afternoon. Maia’s graduation was not until Sunday, so we planned to have her graduation dinner and party on Saturday night, and then leave for Denver directly after the ceremony.

A bee at the Denver Botanic Gardens (Photo/Jason Rafal)

On Saturday, we went to the goat ranch to help Ann and her 4-Hers deworm and de-lice the goats. We helped catch goats and hold them, and then spent a while wandering around the ranch and hanging out with the animals. Nicole got an arm workout by holding baby goats while we waited for them to get treated, which involved oral deworming medicine and topical pet de-licing stuff.

Kids with kids (Photo/Jason Rafal)

A very vocal kid (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Nicole holds a young buck in line for medication (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Nicole with the weanling does (Photo/Jason Rafal)

(Photo/Jason Rafal)

Rain (and snow) coming over the mountains while the human kids start catching the bucks (Photo/Jason Rafal)

We spent the rest of Saturday helping out in the kitchen while Maia made apple turnovers and cran-raspberry shortbread bars. It kept raining, so there was not a lot to do outside. We went to an early dinner at Garlic Mikes, an Italian place in town, and enjoyed pasta and wine (except for Maia, who got a very fancy Italian soda). Then we headed home to prepare the snacks for Maia’s graduation party.

At 7:30, people started arriving for Maia’s party. We had a feast laid out, with food ranging from cheese and crackers to hummus to baked deserts, and we snacked before heading out to the bonfire.

Although it had been raining all day, the skies miraculously began to clear, and with a little help from some fuel, we were able to get the flames started. The next two hours were spent standing and sitting out by the fire, roasting s'mores and throwing the occasional marshmallow into the fire to watch it burn.

(Photo/Jason Rafal)

(Photo/Jason Rafal)

Watching a marshmallow burn (Photo/Jason Rafal)

On Sunday, Maia’s graduation filled the Western State College gymnasium. After speeches from the class president, valedictorian, and co-salutatorians, which ranged from congratulatory to nerdy, the class of 66 students graduated. See the relieved graduate and the proud family below.

Maia on graduation day (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Maia in line to get her diploma holder (Photo/Jason Rafal)

(Photo/Jason Rafal)

Nicole and Maia after graduation (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Maia and her grandparents (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Eric and Maia (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Britt and Maia (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Maia and her parents (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Maia and the whole family (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Maia and Jason (Photo/Nicole Harrison)

The Backpacking Trip That Wasn’t

6/28/14

Story by Nicole

We’ve wanted to backpack to Herman Lake in the Arapaho National Forest since before we had backpacking equipment. It’s a stunning mountain lake at the top of a ridiculous four and a half mile hike that climbs from 10,000 feet to 12,000 feet. This trail is not for the faint of heart (or lungs), but as soon as we saw the top in the summer of 2013, we knew we would be back. So, in June of 2014, with 40-pound packs, we made our backpacking attempt.

With the starting of Map My Run, our journey begins. (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Nicole heads up the trail. (Photo/Jason Rafal)

One thing we had wondered about was whether the area would be melted out enough to camp. The ground was soaked, with water running down the trail, and we began seeing snow at around 11,000 feet.

The water-glazed path. (Photo/Jason Rafal)

We stopped a couple of times for snacks and pack readjusting. We were not quite fit enough to make it up in one go.

Nicole prepares her pack for the next step of the journey. (Photo/Jason Rafal)

It is fairly difficult to climb the Herman Gulch trail without the Sound of Music starting to play in one’s head. The scenery is starkly beautiful, with green fields full of wildflowers contrasting against white mountain peaks. Avalanches and late snow had pushed the full growth of the meadow, but the trees and mountains remained as stunning as always.

We pause in an avalanche path. (Photo/Jason Rafal)

About a mile from the top, we started running into significant amounts of snow. We put on crampons and followed the faint trail on top of the snowpack.

Footprints through the woods. (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Nicole takes on the final climb. (Photo/Jason Rafal)

At long last, we made it to the top. We instantly decided that it was far too cold, snowy, and wet to camp that night, but we were happy to see the lake again. A random man at the top took some out-of-focus pictures of us. In them, we are blurry, exhausted, accomplished.

We reach the lake at last. (Photo/Random Guy at Herman Lake)

We spent half an hour at the lake, catching our breath and eating a snack. We made friends with a marmot, who could not decide if we were sources of tasty food or danger. He waddled from rock to rock, hopping up to peer at us occasionally. Don’t worry, we did not feed him.

Our marmot friend hides in the rocks. (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Nicole perches on a rock beside Herman Lake. (Photo/Jason Rafal)

In the end, we headed home, promising each other that we would try again later in the summer.

Backpacks at Herman Lake. (Photo/Jason Rafal)

An Overabundance of Green

Story by Nicole

On Father’s Day weekend, we took a trip to Gunnison to see Nicole’s dad. After work on Friday, we drove southwest into the mountains. Gunnison Valley was incredibly green, with verdant rolling hills contrasting against the white-peaked mountains.

On Saturday, we went to see Ann, Nicole’s former 4-H leader. Ann raises cashmere goats in Gunnison and allows local children and teens to lease them. She feeds and houses them, and the 4-H kids care for them, comb their cashmere, train them, and show them at Colorado fairs. Ann’s farm also provides a home for miniature sheep, a llama, and two Great Pyrenees.

Casper bemoans his haircut and hurt nose. (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Ann offers her goats radish greens. (Photo/Jason Rafal)

A spotted kid considers her next move. (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Intense interest. (Photo/Jason Rafal)

The spotted kid decides on a nap in the shade. (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Nicole is attacked by a very small ram. (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Saturday night, the three of us went to the Gunnison Valley Observatory. Along with a roomful of children and parents, we learned basic facts about telescopes and space, then viewed Mars, Saturn and two of its moons, a globular cluster, and two galaxies through the 30” telescope.

The Gunnison Valley Observatory at dusk. (Photo/Jason Rafal)

On Sunday, we took the Silver Queen lift up Mount Crested Butte. We planned to hike to the peak of the mountain, but when we were waiting for the lift, we learned that the peak was still too snowy. We rode the lift up to hike anyway.

Beginning the ascent. (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Our view of the upcoming ride. (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Mount Crested Butte peeks above the trees. (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Scenic descent for an empty chair. (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Britton slides across some snow while fetching a long-lost chinstrap. (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Looking down onto the town of Mount Crested Butte. (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Following the Yellow Brick Road down the mountain. (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Britton making the final steps of the descent with his findings. (Photo/Jason Rafal)

We arrive at the base area. (Photo/Jason Rafal)

After the hike, we treated ourselves to burritos and tamales at Teocali Tamale and then headed out to Peanut Lake, home of the Gronk.

A proclamation of identity. (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Nicole stands in front of the Gronk. (Photo/Jason Rafal)

The Gronk stretches toward the sky. (Photo/Jason Rafal)

The view across Peanut Lake. (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Heading home from the lake. (Photo/Jason Rafal)

Mt. Princeton Hot Springs

Story by Nicole

The Mt. Princeton Hot Springs are nestled in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, near the virtually invisible town of Nathrop. I’ve been here several times; the warm water and stunning views do not disappoint.

(Photo/Nicole Harrison)

It is somewhat of a balancing act, deciding when to come. In the summer, the mid-70s weather makes the 90-105 degree water somewhat unappealing. In the winter, the water feels amazing, but the stinging wind and snow can make you wish for goggles and a snorkel. 

This visit was the second annual trip to the hot springs with Tom. Kayla was the fourth person rounding out our group. When we arrived on Friday night, light snow accompanied us. As we soaked, it became increasingly wet and heavy, making our towels into nothing more than cold, wet, somewhat stiff wind blocks. Snow definitely makes soaking in hot water more interesting, between the stinging sensations when one’s body is out of the water and the fascinating dissipation of snowflakes into the pool.

Overnight, the wind came up, and the morning it was clear enough to see the snow-covered peaks. We soaked until the wind chased us away, then headed home to Denver.