Lower Loop Trail

Hmmm....should we walk this or not?

I don't really hike, I like to walk trails like this one...nice and smooth

I'm sure I took a picture of this when it was a flower this summer

I love to share a trail with my sweetie

Slate River valley with Paradise Divide in the background

Slate River Valley with Crested Butte in the background

The day started out cloudy and we knew rain was in the forecast but only about 30%. I was looking forward to walking the Lower Loop trail with Danny so he could help me figure out how to get to the Upper Lower Loop Trail which connects to it. I thought Hallie and I had walked to the end of the Lower Loop when we walked it this summer, but apparently we only went about halfway. Either we lost the trail somehow or got tired or both, who knows. Today Danny and I walked further than Hallie and I did and about the time we figured out where the trail would connect to the Upper Lower Loop, Danny turned around and saw rain behind us. The sprinkles started and we knew we had to turn back. I plan on tackling it again this summer now that I know which direction to go. We ate supper at the Firehouse Grill here on the mountain. It was good and quick. Danny has a fire started in the fireplace and we are settling in to enjoy our last night here.

Taylor River Drive

Taylor Park Reservoir

Pothole Reservoir #2...our lunch spot

The right side of the Pothole Reservoir #2

The Open Road....

Oh how I wish I was brave enough to do this

Danny exploring across the River

Upper part of the Taylor River

Large network of beaver dams

Really large beaver dam. Detail in the center of the photo

The Continental Divide in the distance

Danny and I realized before we came here that the only time we have been to Crested Butte alone was when we came in June of last year to look at this house. We love sharing our home with our friends and family, but this has been really neat to be here just the two of us. Danny is having knee trouble and undergoing therapy for them so we didn't plan to do any hiking on this trip. Instead, we packed a picnic and took a long drive along the Taylor River toward the Taylor Park Reservoir. The water was pretty low but the view was still beautiful. We bought a topographical map when we were here this summer and used it all day for directions. We drove on up past the Reservoir and stopped for lunch at the Pothole Reservoir #2. Yes, there is a #1, but it wasn't that interesting to look at. Also, there was a Park Service bathroom (hole in the ground but clean) at our picnic spot which was a blessing. It was about 48 degrees outside and windy so we sat in the car where it was warmer and ate our lunch. After lunch, we continued driving until the road came to a dead end. Along the way we scared up a flock of bluebirds which were beautifully brilliant blue and also watched a Bald Eagle soaring majestically on thermals. We were expecting the dead end because of the map, but it gave us the perfect opportunity to get out and explore a little. I have discovered that I am about as nimble as a guinea pig and Danny must have mountain climbers somewhere in his family. This is not a good thing when Danny can walk across a log over a creek, and I'm too scared to even try because I just KNOW that I'm going to fall in. Luckily for me, he doesn't need me to be with him to explore and I am perfectly content to stay behind and take pictures. There was a good bit of snow on the ground where we stopped and lots of rushing water. The beavers had created quite a series of dams in the valley. To go home, we took a different route that took us along Spring Creek, which dumps into the Taylor River, eventually arriving back in Almont and then home to Crested Butte (15 miles away). We will eat dinner tonight at Maxwell's in town. Neither one of us have eaten there so we are excited to try it out.

October at Joie de Vie

new coat of stain and sealer

custom copper caps on the porch posts

a little snow dust on the mountain

We had some work done on the house last month and took an opportunity for a quick trip to Crested Butte to check it out. There are four houses in our Association and this summer we agreed that all of the houses needed another coat of stain and sealer. The snow is murder on these homes. Also, our porches are supported by huge posts that are all splitting from the melting snow that sits on them in the winter. Danny had talked to a couple of people and suggested "caps" of some sort for the posts. Our neighbor did some legwork and decided on a local company, Dragon Sheet Metal, to do the work. We had copper caps custom fitted for all of the posts on our homes. We are very pleased with the work and glad we came up to check it out. We missed the peak season for foliage, and the aspens have just about dropped all of their leaves. It was exciting to see a dusting of snow on the mountain and we are hopeful for a great ski season. I took Danny to Marchitelli's Gourmet Noodle for supper last night. It was a new place for him, but Hallie and I went this past summer to try it out and loved it. We had a great meal and will definitely go back on another visit.

Upper Loop Trail

View of the town of Crested Butte...

Sneezeweed

Wyoming Paintbrush

Alpine Dandelion

Scarlet Gilia or Fairy Trumpet

Sunflower

Hallie shows where the bicyclist took a tumble

Mariposa Lily

I think this is Bistort

We walked this trail early in the morning because storms were setting in around us. It was a little creepy to be on this trail after hearing about a bear in the area. We talked a lot and I made a mental note to bring my "bear bell" with me next summer. We unfortunately witnessed a biker fall off the trail and roll down an embankment head over bike. Luckily she wasn't hurt and her companion was able to get her up and back on the trail. It reinforced the "no bike riding" policy that Hallie and I have. I don't like to ride and she can't ride. It was a fun hike and we were glad to be able to fit it in.

Brush Creek Trail

It's very fun to walk on a path when you have no idea where you are going

Bracted Lousewort

The waterfall went pretty high up, but we could only see the bottom

Northern Bedstraw

Three examples of the variety of Sunflowers they have here

Wild Rose

Wild Blue Flax

This little guy came bounding down the trail with this branch, dropped it at our feet and ran up the bank of the trail. We had no idea he expected us to throw it to him until his owner came along and told us he was obsessed with sticks.

This was a different kind of trail than the others we have done. We thought we would just be walking for awhile admiring the view of the valley below but we were surprised to come across a small waterfall. This was an unexpected treat. The clouds were dark all around us and threatened rain the whole time we were walking, but it didn't rain until we got back in the car.