The park contains some of the southernmost permanent glaciers in the US.
Nice Marmot.
Oh, New York. Why do I have to call you home?
Ah, that's right. My job pays me enough money to keep me around.
Showing posts with label Colorado. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Colorado. Show all posts
Wednesday, 24 August 2011
Indian Peaks Wilderness
Just South of Rocky Mountain National Park is a stretch of National Forest called Indian Peaks. It's a really wild place.
The park contains some of the southernmost permanent glaciers in the US.
Nice Marmot.
Oh, New York. Why do I have to call you home?
Ah, that's right. My job pays me enough money to keep me around.
The park contains some of the southernmost permanent glaciers in the US.
Nice Marmot.
Oh, New York. Why do I have to call you home?
Ah, that's right. My job pays me enough money to keep me around.
Tuesday, 23 August 2011
More Foothills and Mucho Suds
Another day, another hike. This time in the South Foothills of the city. I was tickled to death that there were prairie dogs everywhere.
The one sentry would give a chirp and suddenly the ground was crawling with furry fat rodents as they darted back to the dens for safety. It kind of reminded me of the rat colonies in Thompson Square Park, but these were much cuter.
It was a nice morning for a quick hike- after our previous mountain adventures, hills were a cakewalk. It was overcast and a little cooler. Pretty soon, it started to rain and thunder, so we took off for town.
Colorado is a beery kind of place. There are lots of independent breweries and there seemed to be a high concentration of home brewers. We checked out the Avery brewery because they had free tours.
The guide was knowledgeable about the whole process and he seemed to really enjoy himself. It's a pretty complex operation.
I liked how they have a warning label that we shouldn't be diving head first into the beer tank:
Afterwards, it was fun to sample all the goods. My disclaimer being that I don't particularly care for beer still rings true, but I do still sample everything that is handed to me. I guess I'm trying to develop my palate, or hoping one day it will all click and I'll start appreciate what I'm tasting. It all, uh, tastes like beer to me. Some offend me more than others.
It's a convivial kind of place- it looks like a German beer hall. There were lots of people hanging out and playing board games.
Oddly enough, the brewery was in an industrial park, so you really had to be committed to your beer drinking as there was nothing else in that particular area.
The one sentry would give a chirp and suddenly the ground was crawling with furry fat rodents as they darted back to the dens for safety. It kind of reminded me of the rat colonies in Thompson Square Park, but these were much cuter.
It was a nice morning for a quick hike- after our previous mountain adventures, hills were a cakewalk. It was overcast and a little cooler. Pretty soon, it started to rain and thunder, so we took off for town.
Colorado is a beery kind of place. There are lots of independent breweries and there seemed to be a high concentration of home brewers. We checked out the Avery brewery because they had free tours.
The guide was knowledgeable about the whole process and he seemed to really enjoy himself. It's a pretty complex operation.
I liked how they have a warning label that we shouldn't be diving head first into the beer tank:
Afterwards, it was fun to sample all the goods. My disclaimer being that I don't particularly care for beer still rings true, but I do still sample everything that is handed to me. I guess I'm trying to develop my palate, or hoping one day it will all click and I'll start appreciate what I'm tasting. It all, uh, tastes like beer to me. Some offend me more than others.
It's a convivial kind of place- it looks like a German beer hall. There were lots of people hanging out and playing board games.
Oddly enough, the brewery was in an industrial park, so you really had to be committed to your beer drinking as there was nothing else in that particular area.
Monday, 22 August 2011
Flatirons and Boulder Falls
High above the city, Boulder Creek twist and turns and cuts its way through some lofty canyons. There are some really pretty scenic areas along the creek, but none as much as Boulder Falls.
I was completely mesmerized. I love the sound of rushing water. It puts me in a very quiet trance and I can't pull myself away from it.
There were rock climbers scaling a cliff across from the falls. I enjoy having earth beneath my feet. It's just one of those things that I'll never have the urge to do, and I'm okay with it. Still, those spider-people are amazing.
Further up the Canyon, you start to get gorgeous views of the Rockies again.
We decided to go for a hike in the Flatirons, directly West of Boulder. It's an enormously popular recreation area. There are tons of people out walking their dogs, hiking, running and climbing.
It's a mountain with distinctive wedge-shaped sheer rock slabs on one side. The mountain is the city's iconic symbol and mascot.
We choose a rather strenuousness hike to the Royal Arch. It was only two miles to get there, but it gained 1,400 feet of elevation. Gah.
Did I mention that we did a pretty intense yoga class earlier in the day? My legs were letting me know.
It's a good place to be if you are the type of person that feels the need to justify a burger for dinner. You've earned it.
I was completely mesmerized. I love the sound of rushing water. It puts me in a very quiet trance and I can't pull myself away from it.
There were rock climbers scaling a cliff across from the falls. I enjoy having earth beneath my feet. It's just one of those things that I'll never have the urge to do, and I'm okay with it. Still, those spider-people are amazing.
Further up the Canyon, you start to get gorgeous views of the Rockies again.
We decided to go for a hike in the Flatirons, directly West of Boulder. It's an enormously popular recreation area. There are tons of people out walking their dogs, hiking, running and climbing.
It's a mountain with distinctive wedge-shaped sheer rock slabs on one side. The mountain is the city's iconic symbol and mascot.
We choose a rather strenuousness hike to the Royal Arch. It was only two miles to get there, but it gained 1,400 feet of elevation. Gah.
Did I mention that we did a pretty intense yoga class earlier in the day? My legs were letting me know.
It's a good place to be if you are the type of person that feels the need to justify a burger for dinner. You've earned it.
Friday, 19 August 2011
More Rockies
I'm not saying that we should be practicing graffiti in our National Parks, but this made me smile.
But a lot of things I saw made me smile that day.
Lake Haiyaha
Mills Lake
Bear Lake
I spotted a Pinion Jay, which are large, shy blue birds.
Two Sisters
Long's Peak, one of the 53(!) mountains over 14,000 feet in the state. From what I hear, it's not a technical climb in summer, but you have to allow yourself at least 13 hours round trip.
Lilly Lake
The most gratifying thing about hiking (aside from the view from the top) is peeling off your shoes and socks at the end of the day and wading around in an ice-cold creek. It's one of my favorite moments in life.
But a lot of things I saw made me smile that day.
Lake Haiyaha
Mills Lake
Bear Lake
I spotted a Pinion Jay, which are large, shy blue birds.
Two Sisters
Long's Peak, one of the 53(!) mountains over 14,000 feet in the state. From what I hear, it's not a technical climb in summer, but you have to allow yourself at least 13 hours round trip.
Lilly Lake
The most gratifying thing about hiking (aside from the view from the top) is peeling off your shoes and socks at the end of the day and wading around in an ice-cold creek. It's one of my favorite moments in life.
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