Some Days Are for Exploring Mountains and Some Aren't (but they should be)

- July 29, 2013

We have been busy bees. Here's a June re-cap.

In early June we headed to Colorado Springs for a friend's wedding. We took the 'back way' over Independence Pass after work so we were there at sunset. It was breathtaking.

For Father's Day, we met my parents in Steamboat Springs for the annual Mustang Rally. We had beautiful weather and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the Mustangs (despite my envy for every single one from the 60's). We finished the weekend with a nice brunch on the mountain. All you can eat and all the views you can see. It was very nice! This was the weekend after the Black Forest fire devastated parts of Colorado Springs. I had spent the week constantly checking the evacuation map and my parents had unwanted front-row seats. I'm sure they appreciated a break and some fresh air.

The next weekend Glenwood Springs hosted their annual Strawberry Days festival. It's a big deal around here and because we work in the same building with the Glenwood Springs Chamber/Visitor Center, we were given a complimentary beer garden ticket. Some co-workers weren't going so they gave us their tickets and before we knew it, we had 10 tickets! It worked out perfectly and we were able to have a drink (or 2) with every meal. Just the way Stoesses like their alcohol. FREE. We enjoyed the vendors and the bands, but mostly we enjoyed being so close we could ride our bikes to and from as much as we wanted.

We finished the month with a trip to Leadville to camp with my parents at Turquoise Lake. We had a nice camp site and enjoyed a great hike and some cooler, rainy weather. The hike we did was the path the old railroad used to take up to Hagerman Tunnel. The rail was built in 1877 with the purpose to cross the continental divide. It really only ran for few years or so and then was abandoned when another rail system was built.

I really, really enjoyed the hike. You follow the path of the train so most of it is flat, or on a very gradual incline, with amazing views all around you. You even pass through the remnants of an old town where the Italian immigrants, who were building the railroad, lived. I loved getting to mix history with hiking. And again, the views were phenomenal. Come visit me, I'll take you there.