Colorado Trip!

At the beginning of August Jay and I went on a week-long camping, mountain experience in Colorado. I got to see many places in Colorado that I didn’t know existed and go to places that I have always wanted to go. The trip began outside Keystone/Montezuma area and ended in Estes Park. We traveled over high mountain passes, ritz towns, wedding, hotsprings, multiple Starbuck trips, mine/mill adventures and other wonders in Colorado.

I think the highest we gotten was like 13110 in a vehicle and then hiked to about 13200 (got to see mountain goats)… And a day of off-road rough driving we did some fishing and hung out in Breckenridge.

After Breckenridge, then through Fairplay over Weston pass and ended up in Leadville, after spending 2 days in the Leadville area at Turquoise Lake and another day camping at the base of Mt Elbert (Highest Peak in Colorado). We were going to hike a 14er but I didn’t think was in good enough shape. Experiencing the Champion Mill on Colorado... which is one of the largest mines in Colorado that operated up to 1940s.

We then decided that camping every night and sleeping on an air mattress was getting tiring so we decided to go to Glenwood Springs before my cousins wedding. After a long drive over Independence pass and dodging the hundreds of bicyclists that though it was a great idea to drive up the narrow, windy road with vehicles up the pass. After a quick lunch in Aspen (still like I remembered when I was younger) we were on the way to the Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs where we got to soak in the hot springs. And were able to take a shower in!!

The next morning, we decided to hike the Hanging Lake Trail. I have always wanted to hike up to this lake and since we were in the area it was good plan. EXCEPT it was the most popular trail I have ever hiked there were people everywhere and there was lots of stopping to let people by. This trail was pretty rough with rocks and large steps and there were lots of people there with little babies that made me a little concerned. Once we actually gotten to the top the small lake was beautiful, I only wished that we were the only ones there not the other 40 people standing around the lake.

Next was my cousins wedding for 2 days that was a fun time spending with my family and seeing people I normally don’t get to see. The wedding was beautiful and was great to spend time with my family J

Afterwards we decided to start to head north and ended up going to Rocky Mountain National Park, in Estes Park. Where again I felt like cattle being herded through out the park. Now it is beautiful…. but it looked just like everywhere else in Colorado. I could understand how people who don’t normally see mountains and the majestic views could find it beautiful but I just didn’t like all the people. Next, we though it would be good to try and stay at the Stanley Hotel, but without making reservations it was booked and a $250 a night rate, hopefully in the future... It must have been a popular weekend because we ended up staying at some dinking hotel that I was afraid was going to give me bedbugs for $110 a night which was totally NOT worth it. The next morning we went back to the Stanley and walked around and took pictures.

Both exhausted from our Colorado trip we decided to go home and rest. Over all I had a great experience and being able to camp and be outside was wonderful. I have learned that Colorado is just too populated especially after living in Wyoming where you can go anywhere and be like the only people around. I also got to get to know Jay more about how he is away from our comforts of home and were able to work out some kinks, which has made me love and care for him much more. J