Lower Loop

Daisies are everywhere right now. They make me think of my mother in law. Her name "Marguerite" means daisy in French and it was her favorite flower.

Wild Geranium...these come in shades from white to purple

Rosy Pussytoes

This is something new I've seen here. People paddling along on surfboards

Prairie Smoke

Prairie Smoke that has gone to fruit looks like Dr Seuss Truffula Trees

Prairie Smoke

Twinberry

One of my favorite spots

The Slate River has flowed over the trail. Later down the trail, it was completely covered

Bistort

Sulphur Buckwheat

Death Camas....so named because it is very poisonous

With views this beautiful, who wouldn't want to walk here?

Elephant Head or Little Pink Elephants

Elephant Head

Blue-Eyed Grass

Bitter Cress or Brook Cress

Wallflower

Finding my way back to the trailhead

Yellow Monkeyflower

Mountain Harebell or Bellflower

Sneezeweed

Butter and Eggs

Cute little mama chipmunk and her baby

I love this sign...what a cool idea

Not exactly sure what this is but it gets my attention every time

2 1/2 hours of trail walking = ice cream....yum

I walked the Lower Loop trail by myself. And because I walked it by myself, I got lost. Let's just say I'm directionally challenged. In my defense, the Slate River is running high and fast and has washed over part of the trail. This confused me and I was unable to find where the trail connected to form the loop. I'm just going to have to wait to walk this again with Danny. I spent 2 1/2 hours walking on this trail and was absolutely exhausted when I got home. Also, there was rain threatening all around me and I didn't bring my raincoat! Thank goodness I just got sprinkled on. Despite my inability to follow a trail, I really do enjoy the beauty of this one.

Goodbye to Axelle

Danny and Axelle

(L to R) Amy, Danny, Axelle, Renee, Travis and Hallie

We said goodbye to Axelle today. Travis flew his plane from Oklahoma to Gunnison to pick up Axelle, Renee, and Danny. He then flew everyone to Claremore, OK where he left Axelle with his family. Then he flew Danny and Renee home. I'm sure it was a long day of flying, but it was all very much appreciated.

Woods Walk

Columbines under Aspens

Through the woods and out into a meadow

White Geranium

I think this is Cinquefoil

Wild Rose

Crested Butte

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Yellow Sweet Clover

While Danny and Axelle rode the zipline, Renee and I went to the Woods Walk. This is one of my favorite places this year for Columbine. It's also a very easy walk through the woods and then into a meadow which was good after our rather strenuous walk this morning.

Izzy's!

Hallie's AMAZINGLY large pancake. She could only eat 1/4 of it.

One of our favorite places for breakfast is a teeny little place named Izzy's. It's run by a Jewish man named Craig who makes amazing French toast from homemade Challah bread and fantastic potato latkes! We stopped in for Breakfast before Danny, Hallie, and Axelle attempted to climb to the peak of Mt. Crested Butte (more on that later).

Silver Queen and The Peak Hike

Riding the Silver Queen up the mountain. Danny, Renee and Axelle are in the seat ahead of us.

The reward for all the difficult uphill walking are the views!

This is a T-Bar lift. It's hard to believe that ski's actually touch the
ground (snow) when people are riding on it.

We had to walk through some snow to get to the start of the hike up.

Once again, Axelle loves the snow.

Danny and Axelle wait on Hallie before they turn the corner to start up the Peak Trail

Sky Pilot

Danny and Axelle are inside the tiny yellow circle at the top of the photo.

My little friend snacks on a cashew I gave her

Checking me out to see if I have any more

Riding the lift back down

View of the town of Crested Butte from the lift.

Danny saved the most strenuous hike for Axelle's last day to give her time to adjust to the altitude. The plan was a hike to the very top of Mount Crested Butte. After a very filling breakfast at Izzy's, we went back up the mountain to the resort. From the resort, we rode the Silver Queen lift high up toward the mountain peak. From there all of us, yes even me and Renee, hiked up the trail toward the start of the Peak Hike. It was difficult, but the view rewards were so worth it. Renee and I had no intention of even trying to hike to the Peak, but Danny was hoping she and I could get close enough to be able to see them at the top. There is a small clearing at the base of the actual ascent where Renee and I took a seat on a big rock to wait. As you can tell from the picture, our view of them was only possible with the binoculars we brought with us. The height is deceptive as to how far away they really are. Danny, Axelle, and Hallie started out together, but Hallie just wasn't able to make it all the way up. The trail became very steep and her balance and knees just wouldn't allow her to progress, so she sat down and waited for them to come back. After an hour or so from leaving us, Danny and Axelle arrived at the top. It took awhile for them to come back down because Danny was waiting on Hallie. She's a cautious hiker and it takes her awhile on steep descents. All together, Renee and I waited two hours at the bottom of the trail. We were thoroughly entertained by a little chipmunk that must receive a lot of attention from passing hikers. I gave her a couple of nuts from my trail mix and she was bold enough to try and sneak some more from my pack. There was another set of women that came up with a big bag of sunflower seeds just to feed her. She would climb into their hands and eat from them also stuffing her cheeks full! As if that hike wasn't enough, later that day, Danny and Axelle rode the new zipline course on the mountain.

Lake Irwin and Spillway Falls

Lake Irwin

Upper Spillway Falls

Spillway Falls

Showy Jacob's Ladder

Last year Danny skipped across the top of the falls...not this year...too much water!

Showy Jacob's Ladder

Spillway Falls

Norther or Sulphur Paintbrush

We spent the afternoon hiking at Spillway Falls near Lake Irwin. Hallie didn't feel well and stayed behind, but Renee and Axelle joined us along with some friends from Louisiana who had been vacationing in Colorado. Danny met Kent and Brittany Nugent on a mission trip to India this year. When Danny found out that Kent was in Colorado with the rest of the family, his wife Tammy and daughters Shelby and Carrie along with Carrie's friend McKayla, Danny said to come on by for supper. They wound up coming into Crested Butte in the early afternoon and had time to join us for a hike as well as supper. Last year, Danny skipped across the top of Spillway Falls to sit on the opposite side. This year, there was so much water, that was impossible, but it didn't stop Kent and Brittany from sliding down to the bottom and sneaking under the falls. It's a pretty little walk along the Falls in trees and meadows with beautiful views.