An Abundance of Vastness

July 10, 2015 by Nicole Harrison in United States

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

May 23, 2015 by Nicole Harrison in United States

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)

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)

An Overabundance of Green

June 18, 2014 by Nicole Harrison in United States

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.