This weekend Christian and I joined Collin & Emily and Collin's college roommate for some camping. We got up early Saturday morning, gathered our supplies and headed West.
Think we packed enough??
We passed many ski resorts on Rt 70- Loveland, Copper, A-Basin, Keystone, Breck and Vail. Beaver Creek is just past Vail.
Almost to Vail!
We planned to meet Collin & Emily at the entrance to the "campsite" but they were running a little late so we stopped in Vail for a quick lunch.
The guy on the green lawn is practicing his fly fishing (casting) skills into a black bucket.
It was a very quick stop but nice to check out Vail.
All of the trees were changing and it looked so different from the last time (a few weekends ago) we were out this way. Beautiful!! Camera just doesn't do it justice.
On the way I said, "Hey- those pine trees almost look purple, they're so pretty!" And Christian quickly informed me those were the pines that were attacked by the pine beetles hahaha. OOPS! From afar they looked nice ?
It was a beautiful day!!
We met up with Collin in Homestake (about 30 min past Vail) a little after noon and followed him to find a place to set up shop.
Setting up out tent
Looks nice & cozy!
I decided it was a good idea to move some logs for some extra seating :)
A lovely bench!
Back to the campsite.
Our tents:
Time to chop some wood!
Emily had better luck (yes- it was all luck!)
Aaaaaand we have fire.
Collin's friend arrived with a HUGE trailer. There was a big rock in the entrance to our campsite blocking his way so Collin decided to pull it out of the way with his truck. Made him feel manly I guess.
Collin's friend Jake hooked up the trailer himself. This thing had EVERYTHING! A microwave, flat screen TV, solar panels, a "toilet", sound system, futon, etc. Apparently it can run on anything- vegetable oil, diesel, gas, ethanol, etc.
The wallpaper is Colorado maps.
And I thought WE packed a lot!!
Time for bed! It was a cold one!
The next morning we cooked some breakfast- eggs, bacon, sausage & potatoes.
The stove had one temperature- HOT!!
Collin & Emily were staying another night, but Christian and I packed up and then the four of us headed down the mountain a bit to hike to Whitney Lake.
It was a TOUGH (at least for me!) 5 mile hike (round trip- but steep!!). The elevation change was about 2,000 ft and the elevation at the top was 11,000.
Buddies:
Collin "washing up."
A bone we saw:
After a grueling 2.5 mile hike we finally reached Whitney Lake!! Some horses were resting from the hike at the top....
Whitney Lake
Christian having a well-deserved snack.
Blue skies
Collin fishing for some Trout. There were some big Trout but they weren't falling for it...
And back down we go.... it was COLD up there at the top!!
The drive back home...
We stopped in Minturn, just before Vail for some grub & football (Thank God we missed the Birds game!).
This is the Cowboy Bowl- pulled BBQ Pork, baked beans, mac & cheese, cole slaw. WOW! So much for all that exercise!
Sail boats...
Finally home sweet home :)
