Summer 2008

So this summer, we really tried to get out there and DO things. We got some Jeep trails in, along with a few camping trips and lots of hiking/photography. We even climbed 4 14ers. Since we are attempting to move into the mountains next year, we tried to wrap things up here around Colorado Springs. Of note, the Emerald Valley is AMAZING!! We spent 2 nights camping and hiking this beautiful valley just a few miles away from the city. The timing was right for some beautiful wildflowers. We saw two very rare ones: the Lady Slipper Orchid, and the Wood Lilly. Early in the summer, we spent a few days over at the Sand Dunes National Park. We drove over Medano Pass, a jeep trail, on the way there. There were a few water crossings that kind of freaked us out a little, but the good ole' FJ charged right on through! The Sand Dunes were beautiful and we had a great campsite, but the wind was crazy!! Another jeep trail we took, Hayden Pass, was still blocked by snow, so we had to turn around. We had some visitors after that, Ben and Sarah (brother and future sister-in-law) and they had fun experimenting on the jeep trails with our FJ. We also spent some time in Cripple Creek and in Denver for a Rockies game and Bar-hopping. From what I remember, it was a great time:) In July, Bruce and I headed to Crested Butte, the CO capital of wildflowers. They had gotten so much snow last winter that the flowers were a little late, and the jeep trails were still drifted over. We still managed to get our fill of it anyways, and some beautiful pictures. Now we just need to go back in the winter for the epic skiing they have there! The 14,000 foot mountains we climbed this summer were Quandary Peak, Gray's and Torrey's (combo), and Princeton. We actually camped near Mt. Princeton and had a wonderful time. They have a hot springs nearby that is pretty nice, and we found more than enough jeep trails to keep us busy when not hiking. Other things we did this summer: Deb and Keenan's (friends) wedding, softball on thursdays (Bruce) and drinking beer, grew a vegetable garden, tried to make time for scrapbooking, Waterworld with Jesse and Janelle (friends), keg party at our house-Beer Pong tournament!- and tried to get in shape for our ski trip in beginning of Sept. to Chile. See next Post for Portillo, Chile details!!