Alan and I rode to Odessa Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park three years ago. In fact, we rode a little past Odessa to take a peek at Fern Lake. The Cameron Peak Fire had caused significant wildfire damage around Fern Lake. I wrote about our first foray to Odessa Lake. It is a very […]
Odessa Lake Take-Two… A FREEZING COLD and WINDY Ride Read More »
For a couple of old(er) retired folks, we sure don’t let the moss grow under our feet. While our Cub Lake ride in RMNP didn’t happened until late July, it was because for the bulk of June we were in Africa! Not only that, but we have done a thing. We have decided to sell
Cub Lake, Our First Ride in RMNP This Summer Read More »
Alan and I are wrapping up our 4th summer at our home in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Riding our own horses in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) is an indescribable pleasure. We have become spoiled. We moved to Colorado from Kansas. We spent considerable time riding in Kansas, Missouri, and the surrounding states. However, riding
The Treacherous RMNP Trail You Don’t Want to Take! Read More »
Finally, I am literally and figuratively back in the saddle. After a several month hiatus from blogging, and an even longer hiatus from riding, I am so happy to be able to share our recent trail rides with you! We enjoyed our first ride of the year in Comanche Peak Wilderness. My blog series about
Comanche Peak Wilderness, a Forest Rebounding From Fire Read More »
This week’s feature photo shows me on my own horse instead of riding Alan’s mare! Not only am I riding my own horse, but Alan took a photo and actually shared it with me! After our challenging ride of a couple of weeks ago, we opted for a trail reported to be moderate. The Deer
An Awesome Ride on the Deer Mountain Trail Read More »
Last week when I described our aborted attempt to reach Bluebird Lake, I shared the comment made by the ranger we encountered at the end of that ride. We told him we planned to ride to Finch Lake on our next outing. He said, I have done 3 rescue operations on that trail, and all
A Tense Technical Trip to Finch Lake Read More »
Although we spend our summers in one of the most beautiful places in the country, we haven’t ridden as much as we’d like lately. Partly that is because of travel. I just completed 6 posts about our amazing rafting trip down the Grand Canyon. Check them out if that is on your bucket list! Recently,
An Aborted Attempt to Ride to Bluebird Lake Read More »
I have written in past summers about our ride to Bierstadt Lake. It is one of my two favorite RMNP trails. (My other favorite is Ouzel Lake, which we will ride again this summer for sure.) The Bierstadt/Bear/Sprague Lakes loop offers a little bit of everything and a lot of incredible beauty. Our park entry
Bierstadt to Sprague Lake, a Favorite RMNP Trail Read More »
On May 1st, I bought RMNP passes for one ride a week during the month of June. Our first scheduled day was June 1st but we didn’t go, as the temperature was in the 40s and new snow would make the trails more challenging. Our second pass rolled around on a day that was a
Hollowell Park and a Muddy Mired Mare Read More »
A beautiful and diverse topography can be found at Devil’s Backbone Open Space in Loveland, Colorado. This was another place that Alan and I checked out on a Saturday morning. NOT a good time to show up here! We returned on a weekday and essentially had the place to ourselves. We had Kara the Border
Devil’s Backbone Open Space Read More »
Before the summer heat made the open space too hot, Alan and I decided to head to nearby Bobcat Ridge Natural Area. We had scoped this out one Saturday morning, but the parking lot was packed. Not only that, but it isn’t dog friendly, and we had the dogs with us. We believe it is
Beautiful Bobcat Ridge Natural Area Read More »
The parking lot and trailhead for Round Mountain Nature Trail in Colorado is visible to me when I hike from home to the top of Palisade Mountain. According to AllTrails and Colorado Trails Explorer (COTREX), Round Mountain Nature Trail is horse friendly. In fact, you can hike or ride to Stone Mountain as well, and
Memorable Round Mountain Mayhem Read More »
Right before Alan and I left Colorado for the winter, I wrote about our ride to Kruger Rock in Homestead Meadows. Imagine our dismay to learn that on Tuesday, November 16th, high winds blew a tree into power lines and started a fire in that area. First the floods… As I have mentioned in the
The Kruger Rock Wildfire in Estes Park Read More »
I thought I had been to Odessa Lake in the past… but if I have, I sure don’t remember it. In the summers of ’13 and ’14, I rode with a gal who lead livery riders all over the park. We rode places that she didn’t take livery riders, and I thought Odessa was one
Odessa Lake in RMNP (Also Fern and Helene Lakes) Read More »
My favorite trail in Hermit Park remains Homestead Meadows, but there are several other great options in this Larimer County Park. Last summer, I hiked the Limber Pine Trail to Kruger Rock via the Saddle Trailhead. I took the dogs with me, and helped them to scramble to the top. I am virtually certain that
More Trails in Hermit Park (Estes Park, CO) Read More »
Driving over the Continental Divide on Trail Ridge Road is one of our favorite activities when we have summer guests. The views are amazing, although now they include vast areas of fire damage on the Grand Lake side. Trail Ridge Road goes through Rocky Mountain National Park. On our last trip over the Divide, we
Ypsilon Lake… Up, Up, and UP! Read More »
Ouzel Lake has to be one of the most beautiful rides and destinations in Rocky Mountain National Park. Alan and I rode this trail last summer, as it was one of the most accessible during the Covid shutdown. One of the amazing things about this ride is that it isn’t just a destination to a
Ouzel Lake… One Beautiful Place Read More »
Alan and I rode the Crozier Mountain trail last summer. I wrote this blog shortly after our ride but didn’t post it. I decided to share it this week… Alan and I need to ride this again and see how different it looks after the fire. Glen Haven was severely impacted by the Cameron Peak fire.
The Crosier Mountain Trail (Glen Haven, CO) Read More »
Recently, I wrote about our ride around the Cub Lake Loop, originating at the Fern Lake Trailhead parking lot. We decided to park there again, only this time we would ride out into the meadow area. The Moraine Park meadow had a somewhat special meaning to me. My love of the Rocky Mountains, and the
Moraine Park to Aspen Brook… An Emotional Ride Read More »
I am sure I hiked Homestead Meadows when I was still in single digits… following my folks. This history lesson nestled in the Roosevelt National Forest is truly one of my favorite places to hike or ride. Over the years, I have watched the historic structures succumb to the forces of wind and rain. Nevertheless,
Homestead Meadows 2021 Read More »
The Cub Lake trail is another one of those trails that I rode often in the summers of ’13 and ’14. It is a relatively easy trail, and quite beautiful. It’s a great one to ride with guests. As I have mentioned previously, RMNP is on a timed entry system. In order to access the
The Beautiful Cub Lake Loop Read More »
Our nearly 14-mile out-and-back trip to beautiful Bridal Veil Falls was our longest ride yet this summer. Once again, we parked at the Gem Lake trailhead. That was the same trailhead for our Black Canyon/Gem Lake ride which I wrote about previously. Check that blog for info on park entrance and parking. Other than the
Riding the switchbacks to Bierstadt Lake has to be one of my favorite trails. Our park pass on this crisp morning required us to be in the park by 7 AM! That meant getting up at 5 AM, after riding 11 miles the day before. There was no ranger checking passes at the usual entrance
Bierstadt Lake 2021 Read More »
The fact that the Ranger didn’t think horses could traverse the Gem Lake trail should have been my first clue. In fact, he was not correct. But I understand why he wasn’t sure… However, I am getting ahead of myself. I remembered doing the Black Canyon Trail when I lived here 7 years ago. I
Black Canyon, Dark Mountain, Cow Creek, Gem Lake Loop Read More »
Instead of telling you about local trails this week, I am going to tell you about our trip over the Continental Divide to badly damaged Grand Lake. I have been going to Grand Lake since I was a child. Alan first visited this beautiful location when he was 16 years old. The wildfire of late
Grand Lake, Colorado… After the Wildfire Read More »
Our first venture into the forest this summer was to a nearby and favorite trail… the Dunraven trail in Comanche Peak Wilderness. This trailhead is accessed at the back end of The Retreat, a community of homes located in Glen Haven, Colorado. Last year’s wildfires affected The Retreat more heavily than my community of Storm
Comanche Peak Wilderness… & Wildfire Damage Read More »
