7 replies to this topic

[HighPlainsMedic]

I had fun with that title and I wish now I had captured a few of the folks we met down the trail from Mills. But we didn't and that is ok, the memories still linger.

Our day in Rocky for a day trip is as usual, up early, coffee etc.. drive.. etc.. So I shall start with the weather, we had reports that the wind was going to be howling, and in fact it had been howling in EP most of the week. We talked with Katy Webermeir at Nat. Park Village South on the drive out of town and she said it had been "breezy" a term the locals use when the Nat. Weather Service calls for a high wind warning. Well we picked a pretty good day, we had virtually no wind in the trees and just freshening breezes across the lake.. no more than 30 mph gusts.. and very infrequent at that. Needless to say we planned for much more wind. and were as a result overheated by the time we got to the lake.

So why the title? well we were lucky enough to be the first on the trail after about 5 inches or so of new snow, and when we headed back down the first people we met were on ski's and they were headed to the Loch. Then we encountered about 20 folks all in a line with a Ranger leading them up the trail. They were a much older bunch than the skiers we had seen earlier and they all had name tags on, dressed kind of haphazardly, some prepared some not so much, but the weather was pretty mild anyway. We said hi, headed on down and ran into about 10 more folks with name tags.. The usual questions, "where did you go", "how far is it to the lake", "trail conditions" .. Finally a group of about 3 folks with name tags, one much younger than the rest so I had to ask.. "Why the name tags".. Well she said, they organized a trip from Greeley and they were all from a senior citizens center. "now isn't that really cool? I mean really.. They were trudging right along.. The funny thing is, later we ran into a much younger crowd who seemed to be struggling, They asked the usual questions.. "do I need snow shoes up trail?" I answered no. there was a group of about 40 senior citizens that had already packed the trail... We left them thinking about that and headed on down. It was a good day.







That left a mark.. When I post hole.. I really post hole, even with snowshoes on

[John]

Senior citizens, although slow and dangerous behind the wheel, can still serve a purpose." --Lloyd Christmas in Dumb and Dumber

[DeeCeeM]

Quote

The funny thing is, later we ran into a much younger crowd who seemed to be struggling, They asked the usual questions.. "do I need snow shoes up trail?" I answered no. there was a group of about 40 senior citizens that had already packed the trail... We left them thinking about that and headed on down. It was a good day.

That was a great reply!

[Rhonda]

Baby Boomers Rock!!!

[Igloo Ed]

HighPlainsMedic, on 22 January 2012 - 12:07 PM, said:

I answered no. there was a group of about 40 senior citizens that had already packed the trail... We left them thinking about that and headed on down. It was a good day.

Heh, good one! Say, did I tell you I now have a Senior Pass! Whoo Hoo!
I don't go to Mills very often but I do enjoy going up that creek/winter trail. Went up that route to build my first snowcave in RMNP at Black back in 80 or so.

[HighPlainsMedic]

Congrats on the pass.. We wanted to do a short one.. had to get back for a going away party for a Doc. and check the dog.. It was really crowded on the way down. It's one of those hikes that hold memories.. Got some old time photo's of the west side of the lake with Mom and dad and my sister and I, we were about 6 and 7. Dad and I used to go up and cut a hole in the ice and go fishin. I am thinking to scan some photo's from back in the day, need the time to do same though.

[B-Jay]

Everything looks so different in the winter with all the snow cover. I love how Seniors get together and hit the trail no matter what the weather. We encountered a group of seniors in the fall hiking along the Aspenbrook Trail. They were heading to the Baldpate for lunch. (It sure would have been easier to drive.)

B-Jay

[HighPlainsMedic]

I was much more worn out hiking at age 12 than I am at 54 lol.. I think it's a mental thing.. "are we there yet?"