Hiking and Moose Hunting near Chambers Lake

Tuesday, we asked our camping neighbors for some moderate hike recommendations. They had hiked this area for 40 years. We did a nice alpine lake out, around and back of about 3 miles. After lunch at the campsite we headed up Big South trail that parallels the rough and tumbling headwaters of the La Poudre river.

Also with the recommendation of our neighbors, we went moose hunting at dusk.
We spotted trhee in a meadow and one chomping grass roadside.

Chambers Lake Campground WOW!

Monday Wow! We hit the jackot on campgrounds. National Forest Service Chambers Lake campground (a Colorado top 100) is situated on a pine covered pennisula jutting out into the small mountain lake. The campground hosts seem to take great pride in keeping this place clean. Even the vault toilets smell clean. No electricity here but this is a place anyone would enjoy for a week. Getting here Monday was a very short trip just over a continental divide pass from west to east. Explored some local towns along the Cache La Poudre (pronounced poo-dee) River. Bought some $3/gal gas. A lot of relaxing and reading around the campsite. Thank goodness for DEET when there is no breeze. A couple of small hikes planned Tuesday; then east towards Fort Collins looking for Internet, cell service, and a state park that has showers and a laundry.

Sunday nite we stayed at a state park that has been devistated by PMB (pine mountain beetle). Almost all of the trees in that campground had been cut down. Pretty ugly, but we had already paid. Thus our happiness with Chambers Lake where the NFS had been spraying to save the campground from the PMB epidemic.

Rodeo Video and Rare Backcountry Sighting

Steamboat Springs

Stramboat Springs
Several days with cell service and electricity, but no Internet. We've been camping
at Steamboat Lake State Park, about 40 minutes north of town in northwest Colorado.
Pretty lake and mountain views, but unfortunatelly about HALF of the lodgepole pines
all over Colorado have been killed by a beetle infestation. Most of the trees in this park had to be cut down. Read in the Sunday paper that volunteers planted 6000 trees in the campground.

We've done a little hiking, a lot of exploring dirt roads in the wilderness, but a bunch of downtime at the campsite. In fact, it's happy hour as I write this. Went into town Friday, had dinner at a BBQ resturant and stayed for the Steamboat professional rodeo, held each weekend during the summer.

The ski mountain (which we've skied several winters) is nice and green.

Heading east early Sunday after a little more touring of Steamboat town including a visit to a nearby Fish Creek waterfall. We'll go over Rabit Ears pass where Andy and I did some snowmobiling a couple of years ago. Next stop is State Forest State Park (west of the conteniental divide), and then over the pass Monday to Chambers Lake. May not have Internet again for several days. Putting this info out at the Safeway Starbucks while Debby is shopping.

Bagged our First Fourteener

We made our goal of climbing at least one peak over 14,000 feet. Starting early, we reached the summit of Mt Evans shortly after 10 am. The air was pretty thin and with temps in the 40's this was invigorating. We were ready for this climb given our two days of acclimation and "training" at 9,000 feet. Got some nice photos of big horn sheep, including a mom and baby.

We're taking a break from camping for a nite, staying in a hotel in Summit County. They were nice and upgraded our room to a suite with an giant in-room jacuzzi. Wow! Going to eat a Fiesta Jalisco tonite, one my favorite ski country restaurants.

I guess that I should add that a drive up the highest paved road in America helped us with summiting Mt. Evans, bringing us close to the top (uh 99%). However our "training" of breathing regularly around the camp site surely helped us hike the rest of the way. In summarizing Debby's thoughts on the summit road: "pretty frickin scary".

Golden Gate Canyon State Park

Day ? Finially Colorado camping. Have to stop and think "What day is this?". A couple of days in Golden Gate Canyon State Park to acclimate to the altitude. Beautiful sunset at "Panorama Point" and back to the campground for our first campfire.
In the fifties overnight. Woke to the clearest, most blue sky in the world. Starting to realize why I love Colorado.

This park is less than an hour west of Denver and Golden. However, quite a chore to get the FunFinder up the canyon road. Spent much time in first and second gear. Passed a small 4 cyl truck from Fla with three adults squeezed in, and pulling a
popup camper. He later said he had the truck floored in first gear doing about 5 mph. I'm thinking he might be buying a bigger truck out here.

Talked to a nice lady from nearby Co who gave us some tips for the area. She and husband (retired) camp frequently and recently spent three years RV touring Australia (daughter lived downunder).

Kansas is BIG

We knew this was going to be a long day. Even decided to take the "back roads" rather than interstate. Speed mostly 65 and very pretty travel. Even decided to spend a couple of hours in Dodge City touring the Boot Hill Museum. We're only about 1/2 hour from the Colorado border. Left 6:30 am and parked the camper at the KOA in Goodland KS at 9:30 pm (15 hours)! One thing we noticed was a great deal of western themed metal sculptures along the way.

Lake Fort Smith State Park

Day 3 at a very modern state park (only 2 years old). Would rate 4-1/2 stars. We have only designated one 5 stars...Still very warm. It was interesting to see our neighbors with a camp fire, but also a large fan plugged in nearby. Big thunderstorm hit at bedtime. It was nice to be in a trailer rather than a tent to watch the fireworks.

Explored the frontier town of Fort Smith, visiting the history museum and Arkansas River water front. Also stopped at the town of Van Buran to see the restored Victorian main street. Fort Smith was very active in the civil war fighting; a center of justice (eg hanging) in the old west, and a flight training base during WW II.

Heading across Kansas today. We're taking the back roads rather than Interstate. Passed Bentonville AR (Walmart HQ). Will stop at Dodge City (tourist town) before heading up to Colby to overnite at a KOA.

Memphis

Day 2 State Park just north of Memphis. Visited Beale Street, the rowdy blues and
party district. Great baby back ribs and catfish for dinner at "The Blues City Cafe".
On the way back we found Shelby Forest Country Store and stopped for dessert and listened to a couple of guys playing bluegrass.
Both of these places will go on our estemed list of Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.
Ready to get to the mountains. Forecast is for 99-100 for the next few days.

Day 1 Hiking Photos

Hiking at Rock Creek State Park

Day 1 Rock Island State Park TN

Day 1 Camping at Rock Island State Park between Knoxville and Nashville, after an easy 6-1/2 drive. Got to set up camp in a thunderstorm. The area is known for the gorge below a damned up river. First hike was unexpectantly difficult. Debby got to use
her brand new hiking poles. Your's truly (Mr. Efficient) discovered that his new gortex light weight hiking boots are resting comfortably under the coffee table at home. Fortunetely I have my regular hiking boots. Hiked down to "Twin Falls". All I can say is that these falls make the Cascades in Giles County look like a water fountain.

Just finished a Killian's and a bag of popcorn. So far, so good.

The car and FunFinder are almost packed. Debby has done lots of cooking and the freezer is full. In keeping with tradition, Debby has yet to pack her clothes. But the day is young so I'm sure she will complete this by bedtime.

We're taking a southern route over four days out to Colorado, stopping in three state parks and one KOA. Planning to take a slightly northern route on return in July (previous trip was straight across on I70).

The images her are(1) a google map of the route out and route back, (2) the "loops" planned for Colorado, and (3) a listing of places we are going to camp. Note that we needed to modify this itinerary twice due to some pleasant surprises by the kids; Andy and Mackenzie just got married, AND are expecting a child in late July. Also Kimberly and Patrick are to be married on Sept 4 and have a bunch of pre-wedding functions planned this summer. So it's a tight fit to sneak this trip in.