Trinidad, Colorado

Trinidad, just across the state line from New Mexico, is one of the older towns in Colorado. A prosperous settlement grew up in this mountain gap when the Santa Fe Trail carried people and trade across the Southwest. Cattle, coal, and brick were early mainstays of the economy. The town is old and sleepy now, with beautiful but empty early 20th-century brick buildings and a budding artist community. At an elevation of 6,000 feet, Trinidad’s air is pleasantly cool and dry.

When I entered Colorado at Trinidad, the sight of the Spanish Peaks to the west took my breath away.

Trip to Topsy

The dog and I had to get out of town, so we headed to the BLM recreation areas along the Klamath River between Keno and Ashland, Oregon. Nice little hike.

On the Topsy Grade Road in Southern Oregon, near the Klamath River.

Geroge checking out the ice.

A Bureau of Land Management sign

Topsy Recreation Area. In the summer, people fish and camp here.

Are these beaver prints?

The Applegate Trail.

View of Stukel Mountain from Keno, Oregon.

Sugarloaf Mountain, Boulder County Colorado

A view from Sugarloaf Mountain near Boulder. There’s a storm approaching.

It’s a rainbow.

Old dead tree. I don’t want to be dead from lightning, so I’m heading back down.

The hike to the top of this peak is easy and offers great views. I took all these photos with my iPhone. June 2015.

Frozen waterfall

Admission was free to all national parks on January 19, 2015. So I decided to check out Rocky Mountain National Park, about two hours from Boulder. I ended up on the far side of Bear Lake, a glacial lake at 9,500 feet. This was the first time I had ever walked on a frozen lake. I hope to get back to Rocky Mountain in the summertime.

Frozen waterfall at Bear Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park. January 2015.

On the trail to Emerald Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, January 2015. Cold and snowy at 9,500 feet.

Shoshone Falls on the Snake River in Idaho

Shoshone Falls, near Twin Falls, Idaho, is known as the Niagara of the West. I read that it had a much higher flow before hydroelectric projects and irrigation. I drove past miles and miles of irrigated farmland. They have some serious agriculture going on in Idaho.

The falls are a few miles outside of city of Twin Falls, which owns the viewing area and has made a very pleasant park surrounding it. Definitely worth a stop.

Shoshone Falls, on the Snake River in Idaho

The Snake River below Shoshone Falls

Cold and high near Denver

A Colorado mountain camping trip at Golden Gate Canyon State Park. Cold – down to 16 F. High – 9,000 feet. Reverend’s Ridge Campground is one of the few campgrounds in the mountains open before May, so it is quite popular. It was full both weekends I was there (early April, 2015).

Thorodin Mountain, visible from Reverend’s Ridge Campground.

Tall trees on the trail to Panorama Point.

A snowy morning at Reverend’s Ridge Campground.

Snow on the camp kitchen

Frozen olive oil

Snow fog. Snog?

Aspen blooming

Boulder Falls is closed

The falls are not visible from the road. No, I did not go beyond these signs to hike to the falls. It was a cold and windy day, and I got a pretty serious vibe from these notices.

On the drive to St. Mary’s, Colorado

On the way down from St. Mary’s I stopped to photograph this little waterfall on Silver Creek. You can see it from the road if you’re paying attention.

I recently drove to Idaho Springs, Colorado, to look at a condo for sale. When I got there, I realized the condo was actually in St. Mary’s, which on the map looks to be just up the road from Idaho Springs. Well it is — UP the road. The drive was long and beautiful and a little scary in a few spots. Upon arrival I learned that the town is at 10,000 feet elevation, and there is a glacier just around the corner.  On the way down I stopped to photograph this little waterfall just off the road. I plan to return to St. Mary’s in June and hike to the glacier. I’ve never seen one in person.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keeping toasty at 9,000 feet

Thank you, Melody and Tim, for the firewood.

 

Rainbow Falls, Manitou Springs, Colorado

Exuberant grafitti lines the trail leading to Rainbow Falls outside Manitou Springs, Colorado. Spray paint covers every rock a person could reach, as well as the bridge supports of the highway as it crosses the creek.

Apparently this was a hangout for artistic rule-breaking types until the city of Manitou Springs bought the land to make a park. Sorry kids, that means no more rock painting.

A heart.

The red sign warns against any further defacement of public property.

I don’t know who these gals are, but they help to show the height of the falls.