March 2024

March 2024
Over the years, we've always compared our family life to a wagon train heading west. Just as everyone had to do his part to get to Oregon years ago, so everyone in our family must do his/her part to make our journey through life successful. If somebody climbs in the wagon and lets the others do the work, we just don't make any progress. We all have to pull our weight and work together. Along the trail we find lots of pebbles that make for a smooth ride and some bigger rocks that jar us a little; we hit the occasional pothole that can slow us down. But if we purpose to search diligently, there are countless gold nuggets and precious gemstones along the way as well. This journal is an attempt to preserve some of those precious moments for our children, and our children's children, as together we travel this trail called life.

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:11


Thursday, August 30, 2012

8-30-12 The Crater & Coyote Valley

At the trailhead for The Crater hike, we saw these bull elk. As we hiked, we heard them bugling. Pretty neat.

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Steep trail.

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Beautiful views.

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Almost there.

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We made it!

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The Crater.

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We didn’t stay long, as thunderings and lightening were off in the distance, and we didn’t know which way they were moving. And we were on the top of a mountain, not a good place to be in a thunderstorm Confused smile. We never did see a thunderstorm up close, although again we saw some drizzle now and then.

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Lunch at Lake Irene picnic area.

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Then to the Coyote Valley Nature Trail,

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which paralleled the Colorado River.

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Best part of the trail for the boys – the little skidsteer Winking smile.

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The trail was short and level (a little over a mile), and Josh did a great job walking all but the last few feet.

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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

8-29-12 Alluvial Fan

We drove over Trail Ridge Road again, stopping at various overlooks, where we saw this cute little pooch. We thought there were goggles around his neck and wish we could’ve seen him with them on!

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Our goal – Alluvial Fan.

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What exactly is it? Well - - - - -

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Note the big round boulder off to the left, and the dark green evergreen near the center. See Tori’s maroon shirt and Dad partially hid behind the tree. Kate and Ben were with them too, but I couldn’t get them in a picture.

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Same picture, zoomed out. Tori’s shirt is still visible, close to the center of the picture, to the left of the middle tree.

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Zoomed all the way out – they are there but if you can see them, you’re doing pretty good! I could zoom in my camera and find them, so I know they’re in the picture, but they’re pretty tiny!!

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Dad, Jesse, & Katie had a rock fight. Fun fun.

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Jewel’s dam.

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We had lunch at the picnic grounds near the trail and enjoyed the birds and creatures there.

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After lunch, we spent some time at the Fall River Visitor’s Center, and then we did the trek over the mountains on the one-way gravel Old Fall River Road.

First a swing by Sheep Lakes, so called because Bighorn Sheep come to them. . . I neglected to take px, but maybe because there was hardly anything to take px of. A dry summer has left the lakes pretty small.

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And we didn’t see any sheep either!

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Fall River Visitor’s Center

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Old Fall River Road.

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A good picture of how the road is – often sheer drop-offs. Dad & the kids loved it (except Josh who was napping) but I did NOT care for it. I kept my mind off “what-ifs” by sorting and editing px which is always fun.

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Alpine Visitor’s Center from Fall River Road.

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Back at the cabin.

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Levi had a goooood supper.

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Good night.