Summer Escapades in the Rockies: A Photo Essay

Let's see what I can do about getting current - more photos and less chat.  

May 31, 2014: Season opening of Frisco Bay Marina.

A friend is visiting from the Denver area.  We make the couple of minute drive to the marina to check out the grand opening for the summer season.

Kayaks and canoes at the ready.

A little instruction before this family heads out in their kayaks.

More kayaks for rent.

A walk with Player before making the trip back to his own house.  The “mud season” is about at its end.

June 7, 2014: Air Show over Lake Dillon.

Cross country with the stroller.  Our oldest son is bound for the lake for some really important rock throwing.

Air show?  What air show?  Today, rock throwing takes precedence over watching planes in the sky for our little grandson.

 What a beautiful sight!  Planes over the Rockies.

June 9, 2014: A bike ride through Charming Frisco.

It's a lovely day for a bike ride through this charming little community.  Pedaling past the wetlands.  There's still lots of snow higher in the mountains.

Jack taking a break above the lake.

 Ten Mile Creek rushing through town.

Man playing with his dogs in the park.

The runoff is not limited to the creeks.

June 10, 2014: Out and about around Lake Dillon.

The wetlands that lead to Lake Dillon are literally steps from our front door.

A morning walk takes us into the dried mud beds of Lake Dillon that will soon be submerged in water from the snow melt.

Meadow Creek winds its way through the dried and cracked mud as it flows toward Lake Dillon.  Mud season is over and the perimeter of the lake has dried up allowing us to walk to the springtime lake edge.  A few weeks from now all of this will be covered in water from the spring runoff.

A look back toward the town of Frisco.  Over the next month the water line will rise and reach the green grass in the background.

June 22, 2014: Swan Center Outreach – Animals as Teachers, Healers & Friends.

Nostrils - big nostrils!  As I prepared to take a picture, this beautiful horse moved in for a real closeup shot!

Swan Center Outreach is a ranch located several miles north of Silverthorne, CO on SH9.

The ranch has over 30 horses and a variety of smaller animals - sheep, miniature horses and a mini burro, llamas and an alpaca - all rescue animals.

The outreach provides programs for a wide range of people – everyone from at-risk youth, underprivileged children, and special needs individuals, Boy and Girl Scout badge programs, and 4H groups.  They also offer leadership and self-awareness programs to individuals, families and groups.

It’s an absolutely beautiful setting next to the Blue River nestled between the Williams Fork Mountains to the east, and the Gore Range to the west.

Blue River from the deck of the house.  River rafters float by as we enjoy lunch.

View of the Gore Range from the horse corral.

Jack getting friendly with one of the rescue horses.

Jack has attended their volunteer training program and spends time on the ranch assisting in many aspects of animal care and helping harness animals for programs.

Today we’re here for a birthday party for the new filly, Irish Rose.  They're holding a barbeque for volunteers and their families.

Williams Fork Range with Irish Rose getting playful in the foreground.

Check out the Swan Center Outreach website.  They offer wonderful programs that have positive effects on the local community and far beyond. 

June 25, 2014: A hike to St. Mary’s Glacier.

Rafters hitting the rapids in Clear Creek near Idaho Springs. 

We’re on our way to meet up with our middle son and his wife who are visiting from Minneapolis.  They’ve invited us to rendezvous at the trailhead to St. Mary’s Glacier for a ¾ mile hike up to the lake and glacier.  How hard can that be?

We get off I-70 at the St. Mary Glacier exit about 3 miles west of Idaho Springs.

Nine miles up a winding Fall River Road and we find the kids waiting for us in the parking lot near the trailhead.  Hugs and kisses behind us, we head for the trail.

 The ruins of an old cabin near the trailhead.

The youngsters and their two little pugs take the lead – and just a little side note, they retain the lead for the duration of the hike.

It’s not long before a boulder field becomes the trail.  Really?  This is the trail?  

They’re scampering up through the boulders – or rocks, I guess.  Jack and I trudge upward. In order to extend a short break to catch our breath, I start taking pictures – lots of pictures.

Then suddenly they’re on the move again!

They want to chit chat while we’re climbing the mountain.  I just want to breathe.  They chat – I breathe.

The rocky incline comes to an end just before we reach the lake.

Other hikers are enjoying the beautiful mountain vista.

Those little specks on the glacier are people!  Good luck with that trek.

A close up of the crazy people on the glacier.  They aren't the only nut bags up here.  Across the lake, folks are leaping from cliffs into this frigid water.  Tell me that makes sense. 

Yup!  A little ¾ mile hike up to the glacier?  How hard can that be?

Back down through the forest, maneuvering through dirty snowbanks along the way.

We peck our way back down through the rocky terrain (boulders!) to the safety of level ground.  This was a fun hike.  A bit of an aggressive pace for 60-somethings to keep up with the kids and dogs, but still fun.  It’s very hard not to have fun when time is spent with your children.

We all head back down Fall River Road and then to Idaho Springs. 

Dinner at a BBQ joint on the patio overlooking Clear Creek is a great way to catch up with the kids.  After dinner we move down to a picnic table along the river’s edge and continue our conversation until it’s time for them to head east to Denver, and us west to Frisco.  It’s been a good day.   

June 30, 2014: Summit County Shooting Range

 Our youngest son and his wife come up for a visit.  We decide to hit the shooting range and check out our accuracy with clay pigeons. 

 Our daughter-in-law has never shot a gun before, so this is a new experience for her.  After a few tries she hits the clay pigeon in flight.  Awesome!

 Our son is a natural.  He hardly ever misses.

Jack takes his turn at the orange pigeons.  He hits his share of pigeons, as I did, when it was my turn.  It was a fun afternoon in the great outdoors.

It's time for all things Mexican - food and train.

We build up quite an appetite spending the day on the mountainside.  Dinner at a nice Mexican food restaurant and a late night playing the domino game, Mexican Train, round out our day.  It's been a fun visit with the kids, catching up with all that's going on in their lives.  The next day they head back down the mountains toward home.  It's been a fun time with the kids.

That makes at least one visit with all three sons and their families this month.  That's the goal of spending time in the Rocky Mountains - time with the family.  Until next time – be safe.