What did you do this summer?

We did a bunch of different camps this summer

(again, bonus to having a stay-at-home dad!)

Tucker got to try out football camp

and I returned this year too

(although mine was a few weeks long this year--

gotta get ready for middle school tackle this fall!)

We also got to tryout Code Ninja's 

Minecraft camp

where we learned about coding

and got to create tools and suits and other things

to use in Minecraft.

We got to play Minecraft too,

so that was a bonus

Dad has been keeping us entertained too--

lots of bike rides and pickleball.

Oh, and a lot of Simpsons and Minecraft

 at home too.

Much to Mom and Dad's dismay,

we just can't give all the screen time up.

A few more mountains to conquer

We headed back into RMNP

to try out some new areas we hadn't seen before.

Skies this blue require the top 

to come off the jeep!

We took the very picturesque 

Trail Ridge Road

There were some gorgeous views

like this one at Forest Canyon Overlook

We drove to the highest point in the park

and also did the quick

Alpine Ridge Trail

(which was a very long climb of stairs).

I attempted to lead us to the Ute Trail

which was supposed to be a really pretty hike

on the northwest side of the park,

but there were 2 of them on the map

and we ended up on the other one.

No matter--

this one headed to Mount Ida

which sounded like an adventure we're up for.

It started at a little lake

but quickly became a climb

going up 1100 feet in about 2 miles.

We blasted past most of the other hikers we came across.

We also stumbled into this friend:

A moose who wasn't thrilled to see us.

She came out of the woods

no more than 6 feet from Aaron.

Then she turned 

and not very happily

followed us up the trail

for longer than we would have like.

I think we ran about a quarter mile 

up the trail after that.

Really REALLY cool.

But really glad she decided we weren't worth keeping up with.

We came out of the timberline

and hiked along the side of the hills for quite a while

before stopping for lunch.

Not a bad stop for lunch.

Although we were very interesting

to a few marmots who got too close

for my taste.

Mount Ida

was still about 2 miles away

and we had other hikes planned

so Aaron led us on a little detour

to see the other side of the peak

we were on

and made a cairn

as proof we were here

and we headed back to the car

so we could check out Lumpy Ridge

and the Twin Owls

It was a bit of a scramble

which was a fun hike

we hadn't done on this trip.

The steps were over 18 inches up in places!

This looked like a place

the boys would have quickly scurried into

We reached Gem Lake

just in time for a celebratory drink

with some very friendly ground squirrels

(one was literally touching my leg!)

before being chased down the trail

by an impending storm

but after we got to a lower elevation,

the clouds had changed direction

and we enjoyed a quiet, calm hike

around the Twin Owls

and settled in for happy hour on the trail

with everyone back home

It was another awesome day of hikes.

We were hungry coming off the trail

and decided to have some chicken and beer

at The Post,

this cool restaurant at The Stanley Hotel

(of the famed The Shining--but the TV version,

not the original as we came to learn!)

And no trip to The Stanley would be complete

without a quick stop in the lobby

and a visit to The Whiskey Bar

for a nightcap

We didn't visit a haunted room

but we were sufficiently scared

since we have to return home to everyone tomorrow

(I kid, I kid)

A few pictures of our "whimsical" cabin

for posterity's sake

and this trip is in the books.

Here's to the last 20 years

and another 60 more!

 

A day off...sorta

After nearly 12 miles yesterday,

we slept in today and took things a bit slower.

That doesn't mean we didn't hike!

We found a trailhead about a mile from our cabin

With the boys' obsession with all things Greek mythology,

we thought climbing Mount Olympus

was a must-do.

And climb we did.

It was only 1.25 miles each way,

but we climbed 1400 feet in that short distance.

It was a heck of a view

with all of Estes Park below us

and RMNP in the background

We were in the clouds!

We made a quick call home

to share Mount Olympus with the boys

but were quickly chased from the top of the mountain

by lightning and thunder.

Guess the Gods wanted us to get off.

We spent the afternoon

on a shopping mission to find

Colorado snap bracelet coozies for the boys

and after hours of searching,

just as we were going to give up,

we found them!

We stopped in at Lumpy Ridge Brewery

for happy hour

(they brewed the beer from last night and 

that's Mount Olympus in the background)

before heading out to Jim & Bird's for another tasty dinner.

Our time is flying by!

 

How far can we hike?

Colorado is my happy place.

The blue skies and beckoning mountains

speak to my soul. 

We booked our Bear Lake entrance ticket

months ago

and were excited to get into RMNP again.

Our goal today--

Sky Pond.

We've hiked this area before

with the boys

but haven't done this particular hike.

We skipped Bear Lake

and headed for Nymph Lake

With all it's lily pads,

it's really pretty.

Rather than continuing to Dream and Emerald Lake

(we've been there before),

we headed for our favorite of the lakes near Bear--

Lake Haiyaha.

There was a family with a very irritated teenager

that stopped for a posed picture here.

He did not participate in the pose.

We thought is was so funny,

we stopped and had them take OUR picture

in the same pose.

Ahhh!

Lake Haiyaha!

We have a lot more hiking to do,

so we only paused for a quick drink and a chill moment

before we were back on the path.

Even with the clouds,

it was gorgeous at every turn.

We made it to The Loch

and were feeling pretty accomplished.

We had heard that there were some snow fields

that people were using crampons to cross

 

We managed to get through them with a bit of grit

We also knew we had to cross Timberline Falls

and were excited to see they weren't a big deal

but then we realized THIS was the snow/ice field

(it's hard to appreciate how long and uphill it is in the picture)

and THIS is Timberline Falls.

We are Reeds.

We perserve.

Up we went!

The view at the top was worth it.

Look how far we've come!

You can't even see our starting point

through all the clouds

The Lake of Glass

was a welcome sight

before we trudged through more snow fields

and finally landed at Sky Pond.

So, so worth it.

We shared some beers with our new couple friend

we followed along the trail.

They didn't think to pack roadies...

novices.

We eventually headed back down

Another view of the Falls from below.

It was a bit treacherous to say the least!

Going down the snow/ice field was waaaay more fun.

We just sat on our butts and slide.

Aaron got a good video of me

we'll have to show you sometime.

This sign about sums up our day.

We feel like we accomplished a lot!

We took the long way home

and stopped by Alberta Falls as the finale to the hike.

Well, that's not totally true.

The finale was the last completely uphill mile

from Glacier Gorge parking lot

to Bear Lake.

Thanks, Mother Nature.

6 hours,

11.5 miles,

2279 foot elevation gain.

We DID that!

Calls for a celebratory meal at 

one of the best restaurants in Estes--

Seasoned.

Maybe we were just starved

(but I don't think so).

It was easily one of the best meals

we'd EVER had.

Scallop pasta and bison filet

topped off with a local beer

brewed just for Seasoned.

The whole day

was perfection.

Oh, and the boys seem to be living it up

with Grandma P