10-19 March
Since we haven't had enough snow in the Pacific Northwest for skiing most of the winter, we thought we'd take advantage of our trip to Colorado for the semi-annual board meeting to ski in RMNP on the usually snowy west side. WorldMark Granby provided several nights of lodging and my old Syracuse University Outing Club buddy, Craig, was able to join us.
10 Mar, Tues - We left early enough that we could reach our destination of Jerome (actually the Twin Falls exit of I-84) before dark [barely, it was 11hrs plus the one-hour time change to MDT]. There was no snow at the ski areas as we crossed Snoqualmie Pass. We stopped for gas in Union Gap as usual and again at Costco in Boise where we also had a snack. Sierra Trading Post yielded a replacement set of trekking pole tip protectors. Our overnight stop was at a Days Inn located a mile north of the interstate so we did not have to drive all the way into Twin Falls. However, the dining choices were very limited out there.
11 Mar, Wed - Breakfast was decent with Belgian waffles and pre-cooked, packaged cheese omelets and the usual cereals, juices and pastries. There was no snow as we crossed the range in Utah but we did see a big cauliflower head of a dark cloud over the hills to the SW [Later we found that it resulted from a rocket motor test at Thiokol]. We picked up a map and a free poster at the Utah welcome center, got gas at Sandy, then continued on I-15 to Nephi where we cut down to I-70. The ride through the San Rafael Swell was scenic as expected and we stopped at a few viewpoints. We drove a long business loop through Grand Junction to get gas and then it wasn't too much farther to our overnight stop at the Quality Inn at Glenwood Springs. The motel was a real value with a large room that included a couch, two beds, fridge and M/W, and a freshly cooked breakfast which featured scrambled eggs and sausage. For dinner we got a recommendation from the desk and went to a shopping area for a steak burrito and fish tacos at Moe's SW Grill.
12 Mar, Thu - The drive out of Glenwood through the canyon was really scenic and there were several opportunities for hikes along the way. We stopped at Vail for a break and walked around the faux-European Lionshead village. There was plenty of snow at 8500 ft and lots of skiers clomping around in their ski boots. Vail was doing a good job welcoming visitors with free 2-hr parking, visitor info center and guides in the village. We drove in to see the Nordic ski area on the way out - the golf course, not very exciting. Up over Vail Pass (around 11,000 ft) and through the long tunnels, on the east side we stopped in Georgetown to walk through the old streets and have lunch up the hill at the train station for the short section of tracks that winds and spirals up to Silver Plume (?). It was a little chilly with snow on the ground but the sun was warm. Continuing on we took I-70 to just beyond Idaho Springs where we turned onto Rte 6 and drove through the scenic Clear Creek Canyon - lots of climbing, hiking and fishing opportunities. C.J. spotted a couple of hang gliders flying from what must have been Lookout Mountain. Reaching Golden, we checked into the Table Mountain Inn after checking with Jugdeep Aggarwal with whom we were sharing a room. He wasn't going to get in until 2000 or so. After settling in, we walked along the main street a few blocks to the American Mountaineering Center, an old school building, where the board meeting was taking place. We got there after some training session for the regional directors and just in time for some refreshments. Outside we could now see a dozen more HG and PG flying the local site. A little later (Exec Dir) Martin had a bunch of empanadas brought in to go with the three kegs of beer. No one could complain that there wasn't enough food. Meanwhile the lobby was being decorated with a couple of paragliders on the climbing wall and a hang glider on the floor. Around 2000 the local chapter showed the USHPA "film festival in a box" in the AMC theater and there was a good turnout of the local pilots including Chris Ratay whom we had met in Colombia.
13 Mar, Fri - Since breakfast was not provided, we had brewed up some overnight oatmeal in the room fridge then headed over to the AMC for the committee meetings. My Awards committee met at the same time as the Safety and Training comm so the only attendees were C.J., Jug and myself. Later, I spent a lot of time trying to download the form needed for the committee report, writing the report, uploading it, and emailing the Organization and Bylaws comm.Around noon we got together with Mark and found an ice cream and chocolate shop, "Golden Sweets", for our traditional "lunch". There were more committee meetings in the afternoon; I sat in on the Publications comm. and the Competition comm. Then C.J. and I joined Jug, Josh Pierce, Bill Hughes, and Alan Crouse for beer and dinner at the Old Capitol Grill. Back in the room around 2030, C.J. worked with Jug to unlock the secrets of her Flymaster.
14 Mar, Sat - Breakfast was overnight oatmeal again (there was a fridge in the room but no microwave). We got to the AMC a bit before the 0915 meeting and listened to all the reports from Martin and (Pres) Rich Hass. My report came right after the first one, Accident Review comm (Josh Pierce) [Mitch wasn't at the BOD, and neither were Jamie and Dennis. Pete Michelmore didn't arrive until Saturday.] Most of the meeting was pretty boring, even the last hour (or two) when the Bob Kuczewski situation was discussed (and the decision made to institute expulsion proceedings against him). Next fall's meeting will be in
15 Mar, Sun - Another sunny, very warm day. Any snow left on the roof outside our window had melted, although there were still traces visible on Lookout down as low as the M near launch. We got up around 0800 and didn't leave the hotel until 1000. Our first adventure of the day was to drive up the very winding, steep road to the M and walk up the stairs and switchbacks a short ways to the launch. Even though the breeze was starting to blow gently up the face, we saw no pilots. Back at the car we continued up the road passing bicyclists both going up and down. There were also speeding skateboarders whizzing down. At the top of Lookout Mountain we stopped at Buffalo Bill Cody's grave and park. We saw one of those black squirrels with the erect, long-haired ears (an Abert Squirrel), a quick glimpse. After a short walk around the park, memorial and gift shop we headed down the other side to US40 and I-70. We exited where a sign indicated "geologic interest" and found several large (150+) parking lots full of cars - hikers and bikers we guess unless they were just Park N Ride lots. We parked in the T-Rex lot and walked along a trail above I-70 where it passes through the Dakota Hogback. Plaques, some defaced by taggers, explained the geologic formations (including the colorful Morrison) and why they were almost vertical. We had been sort of looking for Dinosaur Ridge near Red Rocks Amphitheater but we'll have to save that for another year. Instead we drove I-70 to Arvada and got gas at a busy Costco ($2.119, cheapest gas of the trip). We also picked up a rotisserie chicken, a large container of hummus and some chips. Then we drove back to Golden and decided to do the Coors Tour. Unfortunately, it was a Sunday and the crowd was large. After standing in line for a half-hour or more we decided to skip the tour and head on to Granby. It was 1330 or so when we left Golden for the drive up through clear Creek Canyon on US6 and we could see at least four PG flying Lookout. There were lots of cars parked along Clear Creek - hikers, climbers, fishers, gold miners and ? We continued to I-70 then US40 up and over Berthoud, another 11,000 ft pass, in sunny weather very different from the blizzard of two years ago. We stopped for groceries at City Market outside of Granby then arrived at WorldMark just before 1600. We were assigned the same room that we had when we stayed here and C.J. was still on the knee scooter. It is on the entrance level and has a wheel-in shower. [Works for us.] We had some Costco rotisserie chicken and veggies for dinner. Craig arrived arrived around 1930 bringing a big bag of bagels and a bottle of red wine. We sat around and got caught up before going to bed around 2200.
16 Mar, Mon - up at 0630 to get a somewhat early start. We cooked up a batch of scrambled eggs, sausage and bagels before we left for the RMNP Grand Lake entrance. No one was at the gate to check our "golden geezer" pass so we drove right on to the end of the plowed road at the Colorado river trailhead. We were early enough that the trail was still frozen so we didn't even put our skis on until we got to Shipler Park which was warmed up from the sunshine. We were able to ski most of the rest of the trail and through the parks. We needed lots of sunscreen because there was little shade as we passed the site of Lulu City and continued on another 0.3 mi or so. Around noon we turned back and retraced our tracks to a good snow slope for a scenic lunch spot; at that point we figured we were right in Lulu City. It was after 1300 when C.J. and I continued south following Craig who was probably tired of our slow pace. Right after lunch I had some trouble with tightness in my chest but it seemed better after a while. This was C.J.'s first ski trip in two years and her toes were still causing her pain. We got off-trail south of Shiplers Cabins and had to break trail to climb back to the packed trail. Conditions were better for skiing now that the snow had softened up a bit. Still, C.J. had to remove her skis and walk when the trail got steeper. I skied a ways and then removed my skis when I had to cross a narrow, slippery stretch of trail above the river; then I put them back on when the trail got more open and flat. When I reached the car Craig volunteered to bring C.J. her hiking boots and snowshoes. But C.J. had moved faster than I expected and Craig walked only a short distance before finding her. On the way out we stopped at the Visitor Center to ask about the tiny, leaping insects ("snow fleas") we had seen covering the snow. The ranger did not know what they were but said that they had not been there last week. [Later we found out that they were springtails.] Back at the condo we rested and downloaded pictures from our cameras. After chicken, cabbage, peppers and onion and a salad for dinner Craig showed me some of his old outing club and Nepal slides. Unfortunately, many of his slides had been damaged in the Boulder flood a few years ago.
17 Mar, St. Patrick's Day, Tue - We slept in until 0730 (well, after 0800 for C.J.), had oatmeal for breakfast, and then Craig took off for Boulder. It was after 1000 when we headed back north to RMNP and the trailhead for the Green Mountain trail. About 1100 we strapped on our snowshoes and started the climb from 8800 to the saddle at 9500, and then descended to Big Meadow at 9400. The trail was packed hard enough that several people we met were hiking in boots, or, in one case, sneakers. But the crampons on the snowshoes were helpful and we never postholed even later in the day when it warmed up. We passed a half dozen places where moose had crossed the trail in the hour-and-a-half it took to reach the meadow. We stomped out a bench100 ft from the forest to give us a scenic view while we ate lunch - one of Craig's bagels with cream cheese for me. Except for the first climb back to the saddle, it was all downhill to the trailhead. C.J.'s toes were hurting again but we reached the car by 1405 (about 1hr5min). We went directly back to the condo knowing that we had editing to do. I dropped C.J. off for a shower while I went to City Market for some beer (Colorado Native) and to fill up with gas ($2.249). Then we worked on the editing which was due by midnight (?!) maybe because it was the New Pilots edition. I did some packing and C.J. heated up the chicken leftovers for dinner. We froze all the meat (sausages and corned beef) we didn't use, for transport home in the cooler. I reserved a room at Days Inn in Jerome again. It will be a long drive but we'll get home in two days if all goes well.
18 Mar, Wed - Up at 0630 for another early start (0745). It was a scenic drive up CO 125 along a fork of the Colorado. From the top of the pass (Willow Creek, 9621') we descended into North Park and out of the forest. We passed through Walden, "Moose viewing capital of the world", without seeing a single moose. Once across the border into Wyoming we started seeing herds of pronghorn antelope. We stopped for a break outside of Saratoga in a wildlife recreation area; we would have preferred a visitor center but none were open in Encampment or Saratoga. Then we got on I-80 and drove freeways the rest of the day. We stopped for gas ($2.129 w/Good Sam membership card) at a Flying J in Rock Springs. Then we stopped at the Utah Welcome Center where I-80 intersects I-84 where there was good red rock scenery. We pushed on into the Salt Lake Valley to I-15 and on north past Tremonton (where we saw smoke to the west from what must have been another Thiokol rocket motor test). We took a break at the top of Sweetzer Summit and then cruised on to Twin Falls. We filled up with gas at Costco ($2.389, but even more expensive at Boise according to Gas Buddy). we used the GPS and Yelp to choose a restaurant but the Persian Kebab was no longer in business. Then we searched for a bit to find Coop's Southern Barbecue which was in a small repurposed house.They were out of the ribs but the pulled pork and pulled turkey were pretty good and their sides (cornbread, slaw and house salad w/apple vinaigrette) were good. The 1/2 lb of meat each was more than we could finish. We got to the Days Inn just about as it got dark - around 2000. It was a long day of driving.
19 Mar, Thu - Up at 0600 when someone's car alarm went off. The breakfast was pretty decent once again with packaged omelet, raisin toast, oatmeal, yogurt, juice and hot chocolate. On the road at 0730 before the sun rose. We drove and drove and drove. We got gas near Hermiston at Pilot ($2.309, with discount). We drove on into WA and through the Yakima Canyon with a break at Roza. We reached North Bend at 1615 just as a few drops of rain began to fall. Doing the trip in two days is efficient but tiring.
