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Let me just say this right out of the gate… this day was, without question, the highlight of our trip. Bar none. Why? Because ever since I told Ally about Ed when I began working on the STOMP shirts last year, she had been asking me, "When will we get to meet Igloo Ed?" Every time we'd talk about Colorado (which, let's face it, is pretty much constantly at this point) she'd ask, "When will we get to meet Igloo Ed?" Whenever one of us would wear a STOMP shirt, "When will we get to meet Igloo Ed?" Whenever we… well, I think you get the idea. And, as it turns out, today was the day. Finally!
The plan for the morning was to meet up with Ed, Mark and Ski Bud Frank at Bear Lake at 6:00, head up to Zone Lake for sunrise, make our way to Joyce's Pond, then hook up with the Fire Trail and go our separate ways at the Loch/Mills junction.
We all arrived at pretty much the exact same time, and I recognized the guy in the car next to us immediately. "Hey, there's Mark!" We shook hands, introduced ourselves, got all geared up and were soon approached by Ed, who had a big smile and a hug all ready for Ally. So there we were, not five minutes in and Ed had already made my day.
We promptly headed out and I could tell right off the bat that all of my concerns about Ally launching into an early morning whine-a-thon were all for nothing. It's amazing how the addition of a few more folks that AREN'T her parents can completely change her attitude. She kept right up, and in fact was hoofing along in front of Ed at one point. Whodathunkit?
In no time at all, we were at Zone Lake. We stopped and Ed and I whipped out the tripods and started framing up for sunrise. It was another totally cloudless scene, but the winds were completely calm, the water still, and the reflections mirror-perfect. As we waited around for sunrise, the girls visited with Mark and Frank while Ed and I strolled around the shore. I got a great history lesson and a nice introductory primer to Zone Lake 101. It was almost as if Ed had been here before or something…
Igloo Ed. In the Zone.
A little pre-dawn glow over Zone Lake.
After bagging a few photos, we headed on down the trail to Joyce's Pond. Ally continued to impress, never missing a step and followed Ed's lead like a champ.
She was doing so well in fact, that each time we came to a stream crossing, my concern had less to do with her safety and more to do with me NOT slipping and falling into the drink and getting shown up by my own kid.
Before we knew it, we were at Joyce's Pond. Another hidden gem. I don't know who this Joyce is, but she should be proud.
Before too long, we were on the Fire Trail and making our way to the junction. We stopped for a quick group photo before seeing Ed, Mark and Frank off as they set out toward Half Mountain. All in all, an AWESOME first Ed-venture for us. I look forward to many more in the future.
Continued…
