September 28, 2013 - What a Difference a Day Makes

Woke up at 5:30 am to an 18 degree temperature, clear skies, and a fresh skiff of snow on the ground.  Thank the heavens that we did not camp out at Lost Lake last night.  We dressed warmly and headed out to try sunrise on Gothic Road at Gothic Mountain.

Gothic Mountain Sunrise

While photographing sunrise/sunset in socked in conditions is futile, sunrise/sunset photography in clear skies with no clouds is not much better.  Nonetheless we figured it was worth shot.   We knew we were at the right spot when we came upon of gaggle photographers on the banks of East River in front of Gothic Mountain.  The photography turned out to be a bit better than I had anticipated.  The river provided some nice foreground to Gothic Mountain and as I explored further up the road, I discovered the perfect beaver pond providing nice reflection of the mountain in all its colorful glory.  I also came across what looked like some bobcat tracks in the fresh snow.  Pretty cool.

Slade River Valley

After the shoot, we ran in to Rick's photog friend, Jimmy Gekas and a couple of his buddies, Max and Glen, also from San Diego, and chatted for a bit, comparing notes on the prospect of colors throughout the area before we went back to the hotel to check out.  We then went into Crested Butte to get a delicious coffee (Portland, you've got some serious competition) and breakfast sandwich at a small shack call "Camp 4 Coffee", sent the truck through its second car wash (it was so filthy from Kebler Pass, that even I couldn't stand it), and repair yet another fuse before heading up Slade River Road to see some more colors.

Fall Colors from Slade River Road

Clearly the cold temps and snow did some damage to the aspen as the colors of somewhat were more muted than yesterday and some were just plain brown, frozen dead.  Too bad but that's the breaks . . . and there was still a considerable amount of color.  We went back up Washington Gulch Road and then up again Kebler Pass to see what the cold weather did to those aspen.  Some stands were also affected, especially next to open areas, but there were still plenty of good-looking stands.

It's Pittsburgh . . . without the"h"

We then headed back to Crested Butte, where we were going to meet up with Jimmy, Max, and Glenn, and also Brent who was traveling out from Denver to begin his 9-day fall colors tour.  Rick and I sat outside at Brick Oven in 50 -degree temps (in the sun that is fairly warm) and drank a beer waiting for the others to show.  After all arrived, we visited a while and then took off for Kebler Pass, again, to shoot sunset at MP 11.  Despite the lack of clouds, we had some very interesting light so that it made even the huge stands of very green aspen look gold.  There was quie the cluster of photogs creating almost a carnival atmosphere.  Brent who I swear is only 2 degrees separated from knowing anyone saw familiar faces in the crowd and made introductions all around and it became quite the social event.

Sunset at MP 11 on Kebler Pass

Afterwards everyone headed back to Crested Butte, while Rick and I headed up to our camp site at Lost Lake.  We checked to make sure that we still had the site earlier that day and the host said he figured we didn't show because of yesterday's snowstorme.  Nonetheless he kept it reserved for us so we had a place to go.  After a campfire and some wine, we hunkered for what appeared to be another cold night.

September 27, 2013 - More Rain But Also Some Fall Color

After a yummy pizza dinner in Rifle, getting into Carbondale after dark, and driving up to our camp site on a rocky, rutted road to set ourselves up for a sunrise shoot of Mount Sopris, we collapsed into bed with hopes for better photography . . . only to have those hopes dashed as we heard the rain in the early morning.  By 5 am, out of concern for the road condition, we got up and headed out.  Glad we did because we slid a good portion of the way down, even after putting the truck in Low 4-wheel drive and the lowest gear possible.  The road being on a steep hillside made the descent quite exhilarating.

Bleary-eyed, frustrated, grubby, and just fed up, we made our way to our favorite coffee shop in Carbondale, Bonfire Coffee, to regroup and plan.  Bag it all and go home?  Hang around and hope for the best?  Go back up to Wyoming and the Beartooths?  After a few cups of coffee and some food, we decided that the best thing was to get a shower and see what the weather is like and go from there.

We headed south To Redstone where there is a USFS  campground that had solar showers with hot water.  While Rick was getting his shower I got chewed out by the campground host for using the campground without reservng a campground site.  Understandable, so I offered to reserve one of the many empty campsites and pay, but the host refused, simply saying that we should not do that anymore.  Understood, but don't you want a campground fee anyway?  Apparently not.

We moved on, clean but a little chagrined, and armed with the knowledge that today would be a rainy and snowy day.  Nonetheless we decided to plug away and began driving up McClure Pass toward Paonia, hoping that the pass had some color . . . which it didn't.  The aspen was green, green, green.  Also, the clouds rolled in.

Some Colorful Aspen in Snow on Kebler Pass

By the time we turned off onto Kebler Pass to make our way to Crested Butte there was a rain/snow mix.  On top of that, the roads were muddy and slick.  BIG sigh.  Despite the disappointment, Rick took it fairly well and decided to hang out for a couple of nights as the weather was suppose to clear that evening.  So we reserved a campground site at Lost Lake on Kebler Pass for two nights (had to leave a note and check on the host's doorstep as he was gone at the time and kept our fingers crossed that there would be no mix up like at Teton) and moved on toward Crested Butte through the mud and snow.

Fall Colors from Gothic Rd

Views from Gothic Road

When we got to Town, we decided to go check out the road to Gothic, recomended by one of Rick's photog friends, Jimmy, for fall colors.  We turned up the road and . . . lo and behold we had Fall Color and it was gorgeous!  As it was Friday the roads weren't too busy so we took our time going up the road to the small Town of Gothic, known for its Rocky Mountain Research Station.

The Rustic Town of Gothic at 10K ft elevation

Gothic Mountain to the southwest of the town and road is a striking formation with aspen color and the East River winding past it.  The clouds kept moving in and out carrying with them periodic snow squalls but, nonetheless, this had the potential to be a good sunrise spot.

Gothic Mountain from Washington Gulch Road

We then decided to explore the next drainage over, Washington Gulch, which showed us the opposite side of Gothic Mountain.  This side was even more striking in color thanks to not just the aspen but also the scrub oak so this turned into a possible sunset spot. 

By this time it was around 5:00 pm and we thought we had better make our way back to our campsite on Kebler Pass.  As we were getting ready to go, a snowstorm of considerable sized moved in, giving us cause to pause.  Did we really want to make our way up the pass, on an already muddy and slick mountain road, in the midst of a snowstorm? 

Some Pretty Fall Colors from Washington Gulch

Since Rick was doing the driving, the decision was primarily his but I wholeheartedly agreed with him when he said that he'd prefer not to make the journey and that we just get a hotel in town . . . which is exactly what we did.  We ended up staying at a very nice place called the Mountain Lodge Resort just up the hill fro Crested Butte proper.  It turned out to be a great treat as we ended up taking the shuttle bus (and old school bus painted in outrageous colors) into town for a delicious Italian dinner at Bachanale.  Yummy deep-fried Risotta balls, steak (for Rick), arugula/prosciutto/fontina flatbread pizza for me and a delicious olive oil flourless almond/orange torte with chocolate frosting, not to mention some very good wine pairings.  Took the shuttle back to the hotel and gratefully sank down into a warm comfortable bed.  For a day that started out so cruddy, it ended remarkably well.

September 26, 3013 - Decisions, Decisions

Morning at Oxbow Bend

Reflections at Oxbow Bend

It was cold last night.  Hoped the Chinese students made it through the night OK, it being their first time ever camping in the US.  I woke up a few times a little cold but managed to get back to sleep.  Learned later from Rick that, it got so cold that the windows to the cab were frozen open (yes we went to bed with open windows in 20 degree weather to allow for cross-ventilation) and he was worried that I was freezing to death.  Eventually, when the snow and associated cloud cover moved in, warming things up a bit, he was able to unstick the windows and close them.  When the alarm went off, I was actually warm and toasty, making getting up at 5:30 for sunrise a little difficult.

Oxbow Bend Reflections (again)

Nevertheless, up we got and off to Oxbow pullout we went where we witnessed, well, no stunning sunrise as the clouds had moved in once again.  However the waters at Oxbow were very still so I got some neat, moody, reflection shots.  The experience was also accompanied by elk bugling, the prehistoric call of sandhill cranes, cormorants fishing off the  banks of the Snake River . . .  and a gaggle of disappointed photographers trying to salvage something from the disappointing sunrise.

Moulton Barn near Teton National Park

Moody Morning in Jackson Hole

For breakfast, Rick and I headed into Jackson (in the midst of a snow squall) to eat at a wonderful bakery called "Persephone's".   We munched on homemade croissant breakfast sandwiches while deciding whether to stick around until Saturday when the weather is suppose to improve, or just head to Colorado after breakfast.  Not willing to give up the ghost, we decided to stick around until noon just in the off-chance that there is a miraculous break in the weather.  So we toured around a few back roads, got the truck filthy dirty, and after a brief break in the weather, when we caught a glimpse of the mountains only to be disappointed by yet another snowstorm, we decided to make a break for it and head for Colorado.  So with Rick's music mix and a full tank of gas we began to head south.  Carbondale, fall foliage colors, ready or not, here we come.

September 25, 2013 - I Know There is A Mountain Around Here Somewhere

Trumpeter Swan on Firehole River

Snow and Water Lilies

Woke up to socked-in, grey, cloudy skies so there was no sunrise that we could see.  Nonetheless , we got up and trekked out, just in case, but no luck.  However we took the opportunity to hang out with the pair of trumpeter swans we saw yesterday foraging in the Firehole River.  They hadn't budged from their location despite the bevy of photographers congregating around the pair.

Unique Landscapes of Geyser Basin

Old Faithful Inn (R. Dunn)

We headed back to the campground to fill up on water and make coffee but the rain started to come down pretty hard so we passed on the coffee and just checked out and headed south through the geyser basin to Old Faithful.  We made a couple of photography stops for the  geothermal features, got soaked, and then just headed south.  Just as we pulled into the Inn it started to snow.  We had breakfast at the Inn (Ambiance A-, food C), and then, taking advantage of the cellular access we checked in on our home e-mail and I worked on the blog until Old Faithful erupted.

Colorful Wetlands (R. Dunn)

We packed up, visited one more geothermal site, Biscuit Basin, and then made our way to the south entrance along the Lewis River and then, ultimately the Grand Tetons.  Along the Lewis River we came across some colorful wetlands that warranted a few photos.  Puzzled a few passers-by, wondering what we found so captivating.  If it isn't one of the sexy megafauna (or even a chipmunk) it isn't worth a second glance.  In response to an inquiry by one gentleman, I just extend my arm to the vibrant colors and then said "Shhh.  We're watching the fall colors.  Don't scare them."  He laughed, acknowledged my point, and took a few photos.

Shy Tetons

We then headed down to Teton National Park and as we entered the the Jackson Hole Valley we were greeted with clouds, clouds, and low-lying clouds.  Couldn't see one iota of a mountain; just a drained down reservoir.  If we hadn't known where we were, we would never have know what was hiding behind  all that vapor.  The one good thing was that there was some decent fall foliage color.  And so began the ongoing debate for the next couple of days.  Do we hang out in Teton where the color was good but the weather (and, consequently, the light) was and predicted to continue to be lousy for the next three days?  Or do we head down to Colorado where the weather was glorious but the fall foliage color was much delayed?

Tetons (R. Dunn)

As we debated, wonder of wonders but the clouds temporarily cleared so that we were able to get a view of those amazing mountains and snap a few documentary though decidedly unartistic photos.

Tetons and Snake River

Falls Colors at Oxbow Bend

At that point we decided we'd stick around for the night.  The potential for good photography, with the colors and the mountains, was so great, that it was worth one night's stay.  So we reserved a spot and Jenny Lake Campground and then toured the rather small National Park and got a few ideas of where we might get a decent sunrise photo, choosing the very popular Snake River Oxbow Pullout.

Camp site at Lake Jenny

We then returned to our campsite where we discovered that some visiting Chinese students had taken up residence in our spot.  After a little explanation and much apologizing from the students, they relocated.  Turns out they were taking a worldwind tour of the US - LA, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Teton, Yellowstone, Seattle, and Portland (for the tax free shopping).   We then settled in for a meal of chicken and rice, wine, and chocolate around a campfire as the temperatures plummeted from the 40's to, what I discovered the next day, to be the mid-20's.  Glad I wore my long-johns, polar-fleece, hat, and down booties to bed!

September 24, 2013 - We Have a Sunrise

Sunrise Over the Absarokas

Though colder than the past few nights, my down booties and footwarmers along with the fact that I was exhausted helped me sleep well so I was wide awake by the time the alarm went off to capture sunrise.

Nature did not disappoint this morning.  We set up on Lily Lake Road facing west with a view of the Absarokas and, specifically, Pilot and Index Peaks.  Aside from the fact that Pilot seemed to be generating its own cloud bank covering its signature peak, conditions were pretty perfect.  Clouds to the west, clear to the east and we indeed had a gorgeous sunrise.  Wished the aspen in the foreground had changed a little more to their golden yellow but that's just getting greedy.

Lamar Valley

After packing up and fixing a blown fuse (essential to keeping our cooler functioning and charging all of our electronics - so much for "disconnecting") we headed down to Cooke City and had a yummy breakfast sandwich and delicious coffee at the Lovin' Cup Cafe, a funky joint with jazz lp album covers lining the walls and good literature (Wallace Stegner) on the bookshelves.  We then made our way to Yellowstone.

Aspen in the Lamar Valley

Nice to be back in the park when it is much less busy.  Always loved the Lamar Valley, its wide-open expanse making me think of Smetna's "Moldau" every time I make the turn from Soda Butte into the valley.  Saw our pronghorn and bison.  One poor bison had a damaged leg and was clearly not going to make it this winter.  With this wildlife was the requisite bison or pronghorn car jam but nowhere near as bad as what occurs during the summer.  We then headed to Tower Junction, making our way through construction delays generated by yours truly's place of employ, and then made our way down to Canyon Village.  After checking in with Mom and my sister (Mom is to be discharged from Rehab tomorrow) we cut across the Park to check out Norris Geyser Basin and an area that we hadn't seen before, the Gibbon and Firehole Rivers in the greater Geyser Basin found in the southwestern quadrant
of the park.

Lower Falls of Yellowstone

Psychedelic Colors of Geyser Basin

It was fun to see Norris again and tour the Porcelain Basin.  The incoming storm (winter storm warning for Wednesday and Thursday) made for great contrast against the turquoise waters and the stark white geyserite mineral that coated the ground.  When I visited before we were always on a strict schedule so I had little time just to sit back and look.  Rick seemed to feel the same way and we took our time checking out and marveling at the surreal landscape.

Firehole River in Geyser Basin

We then began to head south with our intending Old Faithful to be our final destination.  However, we got a bit distracted by the beautiful Gibbon and Firehole Rivers.  These are the gorgeous, perfect fly-fishing rivers that one sees in "A River Runs Through It".  The Firehole River, in particular, was very picturesque.  A side road took you on an intimate tour of the River's box canyon, cascades, and waterfalls.  As you progressed south into the upper, middle, and lower geyser basins you traversed fumeroles, mudpots, geysers, hot springs all adjacent to the aptly named Firehole River. The Nez Perce Creek, an idyllic tributary to the Firehole, meanders through a lovely meadow and is just begging to be fly-fished.

Rick wanted me to note that we saw some serious elk porn with a whole bunch of repressed voyeurs enjoying the display WAY too much.  No pics.  This is a family-friendly blog.  Also saw some trumpeter swans being far more elegant, swimming along the river.

Grand Prismatic Spring (R. Dunn)

Me at Grand Prismatic Spring (R. Dunn)

The combination of the beautiful rivers and the unique geothermal features of this area made for an afternoon of wonderful discoveries ending with a visit to the "The Grand Prismatic Spring".  While the spring itself was a little disappointing in that we could not see it in its glorious entirety, it was still a magical experience walking through the steam and catching glimpses of the vibrant orange, red, green and turquoise colors.

We then headed back to Madison where our campsite awaited and, given the ran, we had a quick and simple dinner of cheeses, meats, and wine.  Because of the rain and chill (snow tomorrow) we spent dinner in the cab reviewing the events of the day in the light of little camp lantern and listening to Rick's Mellow Mix on the I-phone.

Stormy Sunset at Grand Prismatic Spring (R. Dunn)

September 23, 2013 - Now THIS is Fall Colors Weather

Sunrise on Beartooth Plateu

Morning came way too quickly.  After a good night's sleep at Parkside Campground next to Wyoming Creek just south of Red Lodge, we got up at 5:30, oh so stiffly, to see if we could capture sunrise on Beartooth Pass.  As we progressed our way up the pass, Rick was getting more excited as we watched the temperature drop from 55 to 45 to 35 to 28 -  YES! This is fall colors weather.  Found a good spot (good being a relative term in that it was good for photographic composition, freakin' bad for maintaining human body temperature as the wind was fierce) and was able to get a couple of decent shots looking down into Rock Creek Valley and over to the Beartooths before my fingertips froze and I lost all feeling in my face.   My husband, on the other hand, was in heaven.  He gets in the truck after being out in this weather for 40 minutes and simply says "breezy".

Hauser Lake on Beartooth Plateau

Toured about the Beartooth for photographraphic scenes and then headed back into Red Lodge  for breakfast given that it was pretty impossible to make coffee over a butane stove in 40 mph winds.  Our first choice, Cafe Regis was closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, our second choice, the bakery, was closed until October 1 (at least) and so finally we scored with our third choice, Red Lodge Cafe, which served good diner food and had excellent service (they kept the coffee coming). 

Fall Colors in Rock Creek Canyon

After breakfast we headed out of town to the south, again, to check out Rock Creek Road where we some some aspen stands changing color.  Nothing terribly exciting going on there so we headed  back up to the plateau.    It was nice to be  back in our old stomping grounds and see that not much has changed.  Rick's and my favorite lake right by the road is stilll there as is the Top of the World Store.   Some improvements have been made to the road (actually as  part of one of my projects when I worked in Central Federal Lands Highway Division of the Federal HIghway Administration) and it is nice to see them turn out well.  The willows and the grasses were changing to reds and yellows and browns so there were a few pretty photos to be had during our wanderings. 

Speaking of colors, for whatever reason, the colors are slow to change this year.  At 11,000 to 12,000 feet the colors are changing but at the lower elevations, particularly where the aspen are located on Colorado, reports have been only 10-15 percent change in color as of today.

Fall tundra colors

Rick providing a sense of scale

By mid-day we were feeling stiff, achy, and beat from yesterday's hike so we parked at the Pilot and Index Peaks Overlook for a snooze . . . well Rick snoozed and I worked on the journal.  Afterwards, we began to get into serious photography mode and began to scout for good sunrise spots west of the Pass down in the Clark's Fork Valley.  It took a couple of days but we began to get into the photography zone where we begin to see our surroundings through a photographers lens and give consideration to the direct and angle of a view.  Is this a sunrise or sunset spot?  Will this get morning light or will it be blocked by that mountain over there?  Will the sky get washed out by the time the foreground catches light?  In some ways this is the most fun part of our photography trips because it involves exploring the beauty of new places with an intellectual intent and purpose.  Perhaps it is because both sides of my brain are being use that leaves me so content?

Rick's and My Favorite Lake

The Place of Rick's and My First Date

In addition to finding a sunrise spot we scoped out some possible campsites for the evening and then headed down to Cooke City to have dinner at the Beartooth Cafe where Rick and I had our first date.  Decent food, rustic surroundings, and serious conversation made for a fulfilling experience.  Then after much vascillating (Should we freeze to death and camp on top of Beartooth Pass in hopes of capturing sunrise or do we take a risk and camp lower (on Lily Lake) in more humane conditions and test out a new sunrise spot?) Rick opted for the alternative that would least likely result in my waking him, in tears, because I'm freezing to death :)  So we headed back to a nice little campground we had scoped out earlier, complete with fire ring and picnic table and had a fire, drank some wine, bemoaned our soar bodies (that damn hike) and took in the clear sky of stars and milky ways.  As if on cue, as we were packing up for the night, we saw a shooting star. 

September 22, 2013 - "Just a Short Hike"

Pine Creek Falls

Woke to a pretty clear sky and balmy mid-50's temperatures.  After a quick meal of oatmeal, dried fruit, and coffee, we packed up our day pack and set out on a 7, no, 8, no 10 mile hiket hat had a 2000 ft, no 2500 ft, no 3000 ft elevation gain, going from 6000 to 9000 during the last 3 miles of the hike.  Coming from 500 feet elevation just the prior day with no time to acclimate, mad this a bit challenging.The hike was along the Pine Creek Trail that ended up at Pine Lake nestled in the bowl of Black Mountain.  Despite extending through quite a bit of area recently burned by forest fire, there were a number of scenic areas along the pike, particularly the multiple waterfalls (and substanial ones at that), riffle pool complexes, and cascades found in Pine Creek.

Jewel Lake

Life continues.

At the end of the last extreme grade climb (just a bit steeper and it would have been a rock scramble) we came upon a most picturesque lake set against Black mountain, called Jewel Lake (aptly named).  Above Jewel Lake is the much larger Pine Lake that tumbles into Jewel Lake through a nice set of cascades.

Because dark clouds were moving in and we were short on water, we

Pine Lake II

Pine Lake

did not stay long before making our way down what I decided must be Dante's 9 circle's of hell.  Climbing up was tough but thanks to my work-outs on the step master and running on a minimum grade of 5% I actually managed it well.  Coming down, though, my right knee made it very clear to me that did not like this descending business and let me know on just about every step.  Grrrrr.  Got down eventually after side-stepping the last mile of descent and hyper-extending my knee on the "flatter" portions.  Gonna make an appt to see the doctor about this when I get home.

Rick checking in on Facebook

Interesting "Wooly Bears"

Back at the truck thoroughly beat and bushed, we gulped down powerade, alieve and water, changed out our sweaty socks, and then decided to head on over to Red Lodge for dinner.  With our first option (Bridge Creek) closed on Sundays, and our second option, Carbon County steakhouse a little pricey, we opted for Natalies Bar for drinks and pub food.  Afterwards we head south out of Red Lodge to Forest Road 2421 to camp at Parkside Campground, a lovely place next to the spirited Rock Creek.  The campground was not full (it was closing for the season tomorrow) so we easily found a nice level spot, drank a little wine and then called it quits for the evening and sank into our sleeping bag/down comforter/foam bed for a well deserved nights sleep.

September 21, 2013 - Decompression Ramblings

Departed the house shortly after 6:30 am.    Sixty degree temps with partly cloudy skies and a forecast for rain.  That combined with the possibility of a full day of college football, caused Rick to wonder why are we leaving.  The prospect of a 14-hour drive to our old stomping grounds (and where we first met) up in the Beartooths, was a bit daunting.

Headed west on Interstate 84 to Interstate 82 near Hermiston then 395 to I-90 through Spokane, Idaho and down through Montana towards the north entrance of Yellowstone.  Passed the time listening to podcasts of This American Life, Rick's play lists, and pandora, testing our relationship with Rick giving me instruction on the operation of his smartphone, and just trying to decompress.  It has been a challenging past few months with Rick spending much time travelling and working in Boulder, CO and me and my sister helping Mom and Dad navigate through some difficult challenges associated with her back surgery in July and then a longer-than-expected rehabilitation, complicated by repeated GI tract infections.  At one point I wasn't even sure that I'd be able to make this trip, but after discussion and much thought, I decided that I needed to do this for me and us as this could be our last fall colors trip camping out of the back of the truck. 

We've been debating whether to sell this behemoth of a truck given how infrequently we use it for camping.  The practical conclusion is to sell it.  We don't need it anymore for day-to-day use.  Also, at 11 miles to the gallon and the tight parking in Portland, it just isn't an attractive option for transport.  Emotionally though, at least for me, it is hard to sell the truck.  I see it, I guess, as a symbol of Rick's and my connection to each other for it is through the truck we can get away, forget the stress of our daily lives, and reconnect to the natural world and, through that, to each other.  I find myself concerned that selling this truck will result in a loss of this opportunity to connect.  Also, I see selling the truck as an saying goodbye to a part of my life that I have thoroughly enjoyed: seeing some of the most beautiful places in this country with my life partner.  I'm just not sure that I'm ready to do that.

----Note to self, if we ever do travel like this again, do NOT store the peppermint and wintergreen lifesavers in a sealed container with other food . . . unless of course you WANT all of your other food to taste minty fresh----

We cruised through Oregon stopped in Couer d'Alene, ID at the Garnet Cafe for a late lunch.  Service there was a little squirrely but the food is good.  We then made our way down through Montana and, finally, after 12 hours of driving, we cried uncle and decided to camp at the Pine Creek Campground located just a few miles south of Livingston, Montana.  Though the campground was closed for the season, we camped at a day use area.  Well, technically, we didn't camp, as that is not permitted.  We "parked" given that we slept in the truck. 

We had a quick dinner of meats, cheeses, wine and chocolate during which time, I became increasingly nervous about Girzzly bears.  Whenever we've car camped before we never stayed in Grizzly country, where you are suppose to store your food separately from your living "accommodations" to minimize the potential of a Grizzly eating you alive while it ate your foodstuff.  Granted being in a truck affords you greater protection than a tent.  Nevertheless, there are stories about Grizzlies breaking into cars so I don't think my worries were completely unfounded.  Well, I just drank a lttle more wine to help me forget about this, cleaned everything really well and then crawled into bed, crossing my fingers and saying a little prayer, and trying to convince myself that the bears have likely bedded down in their dens to hibernate for the winter . . . which actually is not the case, they are active throught the beginning of November but I didn't learn that until a couple of days later, but by then I'd gotten use to the idea.

A Much Needed Break

It has been a challenging few months.  Rick working part time in Boulder, Colorado, managing some difficult challenges, my mom undergoing back surgery and the family managing her long rehabilitation, and myself dealing with end-of-fed-gov't-fiscal-year deadlines that requires triple the amount of the paperwork to keep projects moving forward.  But I believe that I am at a point that I am ready to leave without suffering from pangs of guilt or worry . . . and I am so looking forward to this long needed break from the day-to-day grind to reconnect with my husband and the natural world.