Photos from the Frisco 5

Highlights include a 9th birthday, camping on the deck, pom poms, gondolas and more...I'm not sure about them but I know that campchaos was exhausted after a weekend of fun.

the frisco five hits Telluride

Last night the Frisco 5 hit Telluride and campchaos in force.. (you can relieve their first visit here...).  They settled into life at campchaos quickly and were soon covered with dog fur and engrossed in fiberarts. I've picked up a few pop-pop makers during my forays to Needlerock and the girls had fun learning to make poms. Today the girls helped with the morning dog walk and after some bacon and pancakes we loaded into the 4Runner and hit Bridal Veil Falls. The road to the falls is uphill and touchy in spots. Dave and I tend to view it as a nice leisurely drive compared to Imogene Pass that we did with Kendra and other roads but we clearly made some nervous and other excited by the trek.

Today was H2's 9th birthday and she enjoyed her day of waterfalls, shopping downtown and laughing with H1 & H3. She also rocked a sweet winter hat that I knitted and she had made the pom pom for. H1 also received his birthday hat and H3 had gotten hers via mail in July.

Rock of Ages Trail to Wilson Peak

Last Monday, Dave, Dave and Charlie headed up over 4,000 feet to Wilson Peak at 14,017. The newly opened trail is a mere 4.5 miles each way but it's still not to be taken lightly. The top is crazy loose rocks and the boys were sure to pack helmets for the trek as the local newspaper has revealed a number of accidents on this iconic Telluride Peak. They also had purchased their search and rescue cards in case of emergency as there's been a few very expensive helicopter evacuations this year.

biking with Mayhem...

Falls Wall

This morning we loaded up the 4Runner and dropped Dave off to meet friends for a climb at Falls Wall. The dogs and I hiked partway in with him but quit at the stream crossing. We had a busy day of porch time and gluten free baking to get on with.
Dave crossed the steam and hiked steeply uphill to where Conrad and Aaron were already climbing. The wall is at the end of Telluride's Box Canyon and features views of Bridal Veil and Ingram Falls in addition to Ajax Peak. 

They had a big day of climbing and enjoyed the sunny weather. We're hoping Telluride's monsoon season is coming to a close but there's no guarantee of that.

East Coast Travels with the Turtle

We hit New England just in time for the biggest heat wave of the summer. Of course with us travel is always entertaining and since we had booked tickets a month out and not 24 hours out it was destined to change at least once.

From July 11 East Coast

Two days before our trip our 6am flight was canceled which shifted our wonderful 3pm arrival time into Boston back to 6pm. A bummer and it put us into rush hour traffic but we could deal with that... but then our new flight was delayed... then canceled. We were sent back out through security of the small Montrose Airport to the desk. I left Dave with our bags and hobbeled back towards the desk.  I was gimpy from an ankle injury I ended up towards the end of the line. Like my fellow passengers, I jumped on the phone with United Airlines customer service in India...and was given new flights that had us leaving Montrose at 8pm and getting to Boston 3 flights later at 8am on Friday morning. I called Dave back out through security and when we got to the desk agent (40 minutes later) she managed to get us on the noontime flight and into Boston at midnight.
We killed some time in Denver and the turtle enjoyed a Fat Tire before getting started on Moyer's Red Sweater.

From July 11 East Coast

Turns out the turtle is quite the knitter and started the project while in DIA.

From July 11 East Coast

And while on the plane he made good progress...

From July 11 East Coast

But took a break when it was time to get the bag after the late arrival into Boston.

From July 11 East Coast

Hope Lake with a touch of camping in the rain

Saturday morning we were up early and packing for a day hike to Hope Lake then camping that night. We stopped on the way to the trail head to claim our favorite spot. We had last camped here in 2008 and had a couple of great nights with friends. We were dismayed to find a few large trees had fallen but hit the spot anyhow.
I had hiked Hope Lake last year with the pups but it was a first for Dave. The day began with sunshine but clouded in as we ascended to the high alpine lake. The pups didn't care and were in the water before Dave and I crested the top.  The sun broke for a bit as we were leaving the lake and descended the 2.5 miles back to the 4Runner.

Big Dave skipped out on the hike due to a leg injury but came up for the camping... sans tent. He's got a Tacoma now and is discovering the joy of truck camping in the back bed under the camper shell.
We finished setting up camp and the sunshade rainshade just in time before the first drops hit. Eventually the rain let up a bit and fueled by a bit of beer and a chill we couldn't shake, we got to work on the campsite. (Click here for photos...) We had two Gerber hatchets and a fold-able saw and hacked the smaller of the two trees. The boys made benches for the firepit and while I debranched the larger tree that won't be moved without a chainsaw.  Yup, that's what happens when you give a bunch of Mainer's some hand tools, time and beer in the woods.

Mill Creek Hike

This spring while searching for non-muddy places to walk the pups we ended up on the Mill Creek Road just outside of Telluride. We returned last weekend to hike on the trail and had a great walk in the woods (despite my tweaky ankle from a climbing mishap the week before) with the dogs. Photos are here...