15 replies to this topic

[Monica]

I have to be honest, this was a bitter sweet mini vacation for us. The bitter part was saying goodbye to our Katie in Colorado Springs, the sweet part was Rick and I managing to fit a few days in RMNP after saying goodbye. Our daughter got her first teaching job in Colorado Springs and we moved her out there. We were both feeling a little down after saying goodbye that morning and we were rather quiet during the drive to EP.

We arrived in the area around 2:00 pm and decided to hike up Lily Mountain.
We thought the trail up Lily Mountain was at Lily Lake, as soon as we realized our error we got in the truck and drove up the road just a bit to the trailhead. Because of this mistake we never did make it back to Lily Lake to walk around the lake.







The view was wonderful at the top. We were so glad we decided to do this. In the past we had thought of Lily, Deer, and maybe some others as kind of wimpy and more for families with young children. We were wrong. Well, I still think they are perfect for families with young children, but they're not wimpy. This trip we only had a few days and we were not in the shape we've been in in the past so things like Lily and Deer were high on our list. Rick loved never reaching the altitudes that give him sickness.

Summit




Oh no, is Rick wiping out on a mountain again? No, he's just goofing off, or copying Coop.


Love the views up there!


The clouds started looking ominous so it was time to head down.


Heading down.

To be continued...

Edited by Monica, 13 August 2011 - 08:56 PM.

[Monica]

Gotta have that trailhead sign. We thought of taking it at the end of the hike.


I love this view where our truck is parked. Now we were really excited about being in RMNP. Nothing like RMNP to boost our spirits.



Here's a few shots from CO Springs. I know they don't fit with this trip report, but they sure are important to us.






This next one tears me right up. This was saying goodbye. It was hard letting go.



We're really proud of our girl and know she'll do just fine.

Edited by Monica, 14 August 2011 - 05:03 AM.

[Twinebender]

Good report Monica, but I feel I should just clarify about the "wimpy" hikes. We are definitely wimpy so they didn't seem real easy to us. What surprised me was that the views could be so awesome from peaks that were below 12,000ft.
This is good news for me as I always seem to struggle with AS and now I won't feel so hard pressed to get right up to 12,000 on my first or second day to get good views.
As far as getting back to Lily Lake, perhaps it's better we didn't get to do that trail, especially after hearing about how it really did Mike in on this trip.

Edited by Twinebender, 13 August 2011 - 08:11 PM.

[Scrapinator]

A great way to start the vacation in the park, but I know it was hard leaving Katie in Colorado Springs. I don't think it ever gets easier leaving a child far away from home.

[mwilson]

Loved your report and pictures. We need to do Lily Mountain and I think Deer Mountain is a great hike with awesome views. I have a feeling my definition of "wimpy" may be changing! The park is pretty not matter where you are. Where did the two of you stay this trip?

Has Katie started school yet? It is hard saying goodbye, but it's wonderful that she got a job doing something she loves.

[Allie]

Loved your report, Monica. Saying goodbye to Katie had to be so tough, glad you had the park to lift your spirits. Wishing Katie well in her new job. She will be a terrific teacher, I'm sure. She has good role models in you and Rick. Funny pic of Rick "falling down".

[renate1]

Twinebender, on 13 August 2011 - 07:51 PM, said:

As far as getting back to Lily Lake, perhaps it's better we didn't get to do that trail, especially after hearing about how it really did Mike in on this trip.

Mike is still doing his darndest to recoup from that hike around Lily Lake, you know the usual recovery program fishing fishing and more fishing :)

[Twinebender]

renate1, on 13 August 2011 - 08:40 PM, said:

Mike is still doing his darndest to recoup from that hike around Lily Lake, you know the usual recovery program fishing fishing and more fishing :)

What!? If I had known fishing was involved in the recovery I would have done this hike my first time out to RMNP!
It does seem only fair to give your arms a workout after your legs do all that work.

[John]

Love Rick's Coop shot! Seems like a lot of us are saying good bye to kids. I think Janine! dropped of her girl, and Mark Z took his girl away to college and I'm driving my girl and her stuff to Fort Worth after church tomorrow. We need to form a support group with regular meetings in RMNP.

[Rhonda]

Great report and photos, Monica! Love the one of Rick "wiping out" a la Coop.

The one of Rick hugging Katie gets to me every time.

I have to join this support group, as I am losing my one and only son to San Antonio this week for a job promotion, and with him go my heartthrobs - Kaden and William. Travis left the nest in 2004 but he didn't leave the area so this is his real flying away. They will only be 4-5 hours away, but still....I will miss them so much. Especially my weekly keeping of William.

As for wimpy hikes, I am like Marsha....the definition has changed. I actually know for a fact that Deer and Lily are way beyond my capacity right now. I'd have to work hard to get in shape for them and I just don't have the motivation anymore. Backs and knees are terrible things to lose. Enjoy them while you've got em!

[Monica]

mwilson, on 13 August 2011 - 08:06 PM, said:

Loved your report and pictures. We need to do Lily Mountain and I think Deer Mountain is a great hike with awesome views. I have a feeling my definition of "wimpy" may be changing! The park is pretty not matter where you are. Where did the two of you stay this trip?

Has Katie started school yet? It is hard saying goodbye, but it's wonderful that she got a job doing something she loves.

Marsha,

We stayed at the 4 Seasons Inn on Elkhorn, just before it joins up with 34. We had stayed there one night 4 years ago and really like it. It was 99.00 a night and we had a sm. refrig., microwave, and coffee pot. We didn't have a stove/oven but there was an outside grill. There was a also hot tub which was nice. It's right on the Fall River. It's hard to find something some what last minute and for 100.00 or under so were pleased.
Katie starts school this Thurs, Aug. 18. She's been busy with orientation, setting up her room, meetings with her mentor teacher, and she took a graduate coarse on teaching Language Arts. Her school is very close to the Air Force Academy and she has a large corner room with beautiful views. We joked with her that it will be the teacher gazing out the window.
As for me I hope Sam, our youngest manages to stay in MI.
Here's a couple pictures from the 4 Seasons.

Edited by Monica, 14 August 2011 - 12:24 PM.

[Rhonda]

What a nice looking place and so reasonable!

[mistylady]

Sometimes we have to look at the positive of all this. Your daughter in in Colorado! You love to go to Colorado! Now you have two reasons to go to Colorado! Double the trips, double the fun! I'm betting she is going to love this experience. It is always hard to let go.

[hector]

Great pictures, Monica! Lily and Deer are on my list, too, for future hikes.

Did Rick have to climb up a tree to get that last photo of you by the river?

[B-Jay]

Lily Mountain was my very first summit in RMNP. I got a little discouraged at the end when I saw the final scramble up the rocks. However, I managed to make it to the top and was so glad I did. Wonderful views!

Since your daughter is in Colorado Springs now, you're going to have to take even more trips to Colorado to see her and the mountains.

B-Jay