Rocky Mountain National Park

The one and only true, authentic hike that we did make on this trip was our hike in RMNP. It was planned as a "get-out-of-the-car-so-we-dont-go-insane" break and suited its role nicely. Unlike Florissant Fossils this park was not out of the way. However like Florissiant Fossil Beds you need to know where to go in order to find it. At first we went to a gate that was closed in the winter and didn't have any of the nice park maps around only newsletters with a rudementary map that might be well understood by frequent park guests but did little to hep us. We did eventually figure out the newsletter map with the assistance of my Verizon Wirelless Navigator (a shout out to all modern technology here). We arrived at a park gate and were furnished with a proper map and offically within park boarders.

The one thing I walked away from this trip was the overwhelming understanding that I have been cured of my city ways, and have realized that I forever belong in a small and simple town on the edge of the wild. The city was nerve racking and loud. It stunk and had me worried for the few feet of space that I let grow between me and my kids. I had a contstant death grip on at least one child (Gak) and usually reaching for another. It was terrifying. Once again in a National Park, surrounded by trees, snow and wind I felt a sigh release from me that I hadn't known I'd been holding for days.

 I had known that  Rocky Mountain National Park would be different than our span of the Rocky Chain here in Wyoming, and it was oddly familiar and yet unique. RMNP is softer and more lush, It has a soft facade and gently slopes compared to the sheer and jagged edge of the Tetons. However the roads here lead into the mountains winding to the tops of snow blanketed peaks. We decided to take a road that closed in the winter and hike from there. It assured a nice clear path and a set way back to the car. We didnt plan on going off trail here or making a campfire as signs stated that both activities were prohibited.

We stoped at Many Curves Road Parking area where they close the gate in the winter, then we all bundled up and set out for our hike. It was very windy and there was about 4 inches of snow on the ground. I was a bit concerned that the cold was going to be to much and had a moment of doubt. But I settled on the idea of a hike and I couldnt let our first opportunity be wasted so we set out and bared down. The road is easy, with a mild ascent as it leads to the first bend. There a simple stone wall marks the edge of the road in a sharpe curve, it took us about 15 minutes to reach the small wall. Up to this point we had been followed by a group of three young men apparently on a little tourist trip of their own. At the wall however they turned back and we kept on, which was nice as we couldnt set a dteady pace with the kids and they often stopped to take pictures so we were often passing each other. It was obvious that many people walked to that wall for a panoramic view of the mountain from such an advantagous overlook, few kept on. After we made the first bend there were only two lines of tracks in the snow, and understandably so. As we turned the corner and broke through the protection of the trees we were meet by an icy and fericous wind. We kept on hiking for another 20 minutes untill we came to a spot on the road that wind and trees protected enough to leave bare. We rested here and had some water before we headed back.

The return trip was delightfully less frigid as we were now walking with the wind to our backs. as bundled as we were the cold was not a bother, unless the wind lashed us with it. On the way back, as is his fashion Kevin made up a game for the kids to keep their spirits up and their feet moving. This time it was a game of white-out, the basic purpose was to see if you could knock anyone in the snow. However as Lulu and I both seemed to understand the discomfort awaiting those being shoved into snow that blankets pavement, we opted out and settled with each others hand to hold.  Kevin, Emma and Jack spent the half hour walk back to the car running, sliding, shoving and ocassionally falling into the icy powder. None complained and the walk back was more enjoyable than the hike in.







We made it to the car and survived the long car ride home. since we've been back we went on a quick welcome home/ welcome to winter hike. I will post that adventure here in the next day or so and then we will be all caught up! Until Then!

 

Downtown Denver

Most people wouldn't consider a day in downtown Denver a hike. Unless of course you turn it into one. Growing up in Denver I have seen many things the city has to offer and know a few places of interest. One of my favorite places to visit is Civic Center Park and the surrounding area. I am a fan of architecture and pretty buildings and Downtown Denver is a great place to see what beauties mankind has to offer. Kevin and I figured this would be a fun change of pace for the kids as they don't live in a big city, let alone one with such old and grand buildings.

Sunday the 14th of November we left the hotel around 9 am and went to Civic Center Park. If you can find and stay on Colfax Avenue you will eventually hit the square in the middle of Denver. I suggest going on a Sunday or Holiday as all parking meters are exempt on these days; the down side being most buildings are closed and there are no tours! We parked in front of the Colorado Congressional Building, which had many of its displays up for the Parade of Lights. We spent a few minutes running up and down the stairs and trying to see if we could find all the holiday decorations. Then we crossed the street and went into the park. There isnt a playground here so don't expect one but there are still many places to explore and play. The summer is when the park is at its grandest, with big square lawns of green grass bordered by beds of flowers. Even in fall however it is still a place full of architecture and grandure. As we headed into the park we took the path to our right that lead to an ampitheatre. The kids loved running down the staris and through the back enterances and hallways.

As we headed out the front of the ampitheater we head striaght across the lawns to the left hand side of the park where there was an empty fountain. The kids again dove right in and started playing on the statues of seals and cherubs. then we headed up to the capitol building.  We didnt get to go inside but we did explore around the building and the steps. In the square are plenty of statues and memorials and you could spend a day winding in and out of streets never knowing what kind of historic places you will find embedded among the newer bigger buildings of the city.

We even walked up the Capitol Steeps and saw the two mile-high markers on the steps!

The most exciting part of the downtown hike was finding an unlocked empty building. On our way back to the car we decided to check if we could get into any of the buildings and look around. Most buildings were locked, however we found one, It was originally the Colorado Museum, the intended purpose still etched deep into the marble above the entryway. Now its function was something less exciting I think having something to do with the Legistlave process, but dont fully recall. Anyway it was an extradionary building with marble floors and glod stair cases. Open echoing hallways and large soild wooden and brass doors. We spent a while going up and down the stair cases and looking out windows. Then took the elevator down to the basement area where we found a way out through a tunnel.

Florissant Fossil Beds

So as you all may be aware last weekend the family and I went to Denver to celebrate Emma's birthday. We had an absolute blast and enjoyed the vacation very much. Most of our activities were not what we would typically call hiking, but still were long days on our feet. We went to the Denver Zoo which was supremely exciting as all the babies were out on display and very playful and fun to watch. Saturday we went to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science which was also great fun and exhausting as well. Anyways that's not what this blog is about so shall we get on with it then?

Last Saturday the 13th of November we went to Florissant Fossil Beds National Park near Colorado Springs, Colorado. It was a long drive to get there from Denver about two and a half hours, if your not a local I would suggest having a GPS or printed out directions as until you are on the back roads and nearly to the park there are no directional signs. We got to the parking lot of the visitor center about 4:30 and got out of the car to get all bundled up when a park ranger came out and told us that the park was closing in about half an hour. Most park entrance's do close at some point but the park it self stays open so this took me as a bit odd that the whole park would close at 5 and we wouldn't really be able to get a good hike in. But we had driven for over two hours so we were at least going to see what we could.

 

Right behind the visitors center is a wide sidewalk with the typical park "information stations" those boards that tell you about the local landscape and why it is important. So we followed the winding path till it curved around to another sign and a very interesting artifact. There in a big hole in the ground was a petrified red wood tree. Colorado is a state littered in prehistoric history, a place where the dinosaurs and the hidden treasures buried deep in the Earth are rich and a primary focus of preservation. Even though we only spent about 20 minutes on the sidewalk looking around I could tell that getting off the beaten path and exploring this park further would be a real spectacular treat. Though as it was we didn't get off the path and we only got to see the 5 or so trees right on the visitors center path. 

My advice to anyone visiting this park is to get there earlier in the day to give your self some time to explore and get off the path. Also take a second to read the boards, there are some really interesting facts to be learned, not only in how old the trees are, but how the are made. I learned that redwood trees will sprout from their roots if the main tree dies. That way the ding tree can serve as a support system for the new tree.  Also on some of the trees it is hard to see but one the last one ( in the pic with the kids and I) if you look closely you can still see the grains of the wood.

No Hike This Sunday

Hey All,
 So we went for a small 30 minute hike on Thursday, just to get out of the house. Not really worth mentioning except that today we stayed home. No we arent getting lazy, or down by the weather (actually its pretty nice out), it just this weekend we are having Emma's birthday celebration. Her actual birthday is on Tuesday, but we are having our family party today as next weekend none of us will be in town. The Grandparents are headed to Ohio next week and we will be going to Colorado.

 A little back story on the trip to Colorado. This Summer we went to Washington for a week to celebrate Lulu's birthday. It was an excellent trip even though we had to leave one of our own in the loving hands of Grammy and Grandpa. We didn't feel that Jack was quite ready for a 17 hour road trip, the hiking he could of handled, the car trip well that would of destroyed Kevin and I. So when it came time to plan Emma's birthday we assumed that she would want her traditional lavish birthday party with all her friends and class in attendance. When we started talking to her about it she asked if we could go to Washington with Jack, we told her that was a little much for this time of year, so she settled on Colorado (with the promise of Chuck E. Cheese). So this year Emma decided to forgo the her traditional party and instead we are going to
Colorado. As promised all family vacations will be National Park centered, so we will be visiting Florissant Fossil Beds National Park, as well as Rocky Mountain National Park. We are also going to squeeze in the Denver Zoo and the Denver Meusem of Nature and Science. It going to be a quick three day trip (no school Friday) sometime next week I will post it all here. Wish us Luck and of course a special Happy Birthday to our 5  going on 14 year old Emma!

Emma 12/04