Buena Vista, Colorado

Steve & I decided (very last minute) to go over to Buena Vista for a "very short break" from his very busy tax season schedule.  The weather was SO nice that we decided to try out our "new" Toyota 4 Runner camper.  Steve built a platform in the back of the 4 Runner and we thought we would test it out.  We drove over to Buena Vista on Friday, March 27th and came home the next day,  It is only about a 2 3/4 hour drive from Longmont to Buena Vista. We have been going over to Buena Vista and Salida for many years.  At one point, we even owned some property in Mesa Antero and thought we woud build a house there and retire.  Now that we have decided that we like to travel so much in the Lazy Daze and camp and backpack, we have changed our minds about retiring to another town in Colorado. 

Our 36 hour getaway was wonderful!  We arrived in Buena Vista about noon on Friday and ate a picnic lunch and then hiked up the Midland trail from town.  This trail is one that we have done on our mountain bikes several times. Since we were hiking, we didn't take the bike trail, but ended up hiking straight up from the Arkansas river.  We went to the "top" and then had amazing views to the west looking down on BV and at all the Collegiate Peaks.  It was a beautiful, warm, Spring day.  That afternoon/evening we soaked at the Cottonwood Hot Springs.  We have gone there several times before.  We decided that it is much quieter if you go there during the week and not during Spring break. We ate dinner at the Eddyline Restaurant at South Main. The food and the beer were great!  We will definitely go back there!  Our biggest surprise of the day was driving down to Hecla Junction to camp and the campground was closed!  We always camp there. I guess they are renovating the campground.  We ended up driving back to Ruby Mountain campground.  SO..... the consensus on sleeping in the back of the 4 Runner is that we HAVE to get a softer pad.  Steve bought a gymnastics/wrestling mat and it is way too hard!  Well, at least we only had to sleep on it one night!  We have several camping trips planned for this summer when we will be sleeping in it many nights. 

On Saturday, we woke up and hiked right from the campground.  We did a loop hike in the Brown's Canyon Wilderness study area.  It was another beautiful hike.  We ate lunch at the Arkansas river and watched lots of fishermen and kayakers and rafters.  

All in all, a very relaxing, busy two days "away" from home.  It was a nice break for Steve.  We are looking forward to April 12th when we head back down to Arizona and pick up our Lazy Daze and take two weeks to come home.  We have lots of hiking and mountain biking and camping planned for that trip!

Rabbit Mountain, Lyons, Colorado

Hall Ranch, Lyons, Colorado

Colorado snowshoe hikes

We do have the best of both worlds.  When we are in Arizona in the Lazy Daze, we get to hike and mountain bike in the desert.  When we are back home in Colorado, we hike and mountain bike in the summer and snowshoe in the winter.  We get to see so many new and diifferent places and sometimes we go back to our favorite places over and over again.  Living in Estes Park for 25 years, we hiked many miles in Rocky Mountain National Park and in Indian Peaks Wilderness.  Now that we live in the "valley" in Longmont, we still spend time in both RMNP and Indian Peaks, but we now also hike closer to home.  We spend quite alot of time hiking around Lyons and Boulder.  

Last weekend, we snowshoed at Hall Ranch in Lyons.  It had snowed quite a lot, so we defintiely needed our snowshoes.  We parked at the Antelope Road trailhead and snowshoed about 6 miles round trip.  It was SO pretty, peacefull, quiet and no other people were out there. We shared the quiet with the deer.  We always see deer when we are at Hall Ranch.  

Today I went to Rabbit Mountain in Lyons.  We enjoy hiking and snowshoeing at Rabbit Mountain.  It is close to our house, easy to get there, lots of parking, beautiful views.  Lots of people go there with their dogs.  Today I hiked out to the Little Thompson overlook.  That trail doesn't seem to be as well used as the other trails.  I was the only one at the overlook. It was another quiet, peaceful, beautiful hike.  

As much as I wish I could be in Arizona these next two months to see all the flowers and cactus blooming, I have to be content to be in beautiful, wintry, Colorado until April 15th.  One of these days we will have the ability to be gone from home more, but until then I will have to be content to spend time being outside wherever we are.....  For now, Colorado is where we will be in the winter.  

Picket Post Mountain

Picket Post Mountain

Steve & I hiked to the top of Picket Post Mountain today - Wednesday, February 11th.  This was our "break" day. A relaxing day in the desert!  The book - 60 Hikes within 60 Miles of Phoenix- describes this hike as " difficult".  4.3 miles (total), 1,990 feet elevation gain.  The first part of the hike was easy. Then things get a little harder, steeper, and some scrambling.  It probably isn't a good hike for anyone afraid of heights or slippery slopes!  We were rewarded with great views of Phoenix, Superior, Weavers Needle, etc.  At the  top is a mailbox and a 2 person metal frame bench.  The bench was perfect for a picnic lunch!  

Aravaipa Canyon

Steve & I hiked in Aravaipa Canyon on Monday, February 9th.  We hiked in ankle deep water. Lots of very green vegetation.  We had hiked this canyon before.  You must have a permit to hike in the canyon.  Next time we are going to get a backpacking permit, so we can spend more time in the canyon and have more time to explore some of the side canyons.