Sue B.

Sunday, 07/06/2008 — Vail, CO

On the way home from Steamboat, we stopped at Rocky Mountain National Park. This would be my first time at the park and we were lucky enough to see moose in the wild. About 2 miles into our hike, I detected a large dark brown object…that was moving...and it had eyes! I froze in my tracks and realized that the massive creature was a Bull Moose staring right back at me. Then another Bull Moose appeared. I couldn’t believe my eyes and stood spellbound 20 yds away from these real-life “Bullwinkles”. My family was further back and I signaled for them to catch up. I was so excited and made my way a bit closer. One of the bulls snorted, as if to warn the other which reminded me that moose can become aggressive if you get too close. We observed the bulls for about 5 min before they disappeared into the woods. Later in the day, we saw other moose grazing in an open space. I was able to get closer to a baby calf that was munching on willows. It may be time to start a blog of adventures in CO.

Contains 48 photos

Steamboat Springs is located along the Yampa River in the northwest part of Colorado and has earned the title of “Ski Town USA”. The name of the town originated in the 1800s when French trappers mistakenly thought they had heard the chugging sound of a steamboat on the river. The sound turned out to be the bubbling of one of the natural hot springs along the Yampa River. I had always wanted to visit this town and run the Steamboat Half Marathon and was finally able to do so. Upon arriving, I was amazed at how green everything was. The landscape showcased every shade of green imaginable. I carried my camera during the race to take photos. Along the way, I was captivated by a herd of horses running in the opposite direction and was fortunate enough to capture the image. There is something truly magical to see horses running freely across a lush green pasture doing what they were born to do - Run Free.

Contains 44 photos

Breckenridge is a premier ski destination located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado’s Summit County. The ski resort occupies 4 mountain peaks of the Tenmile Mountain Range. The slopes, terrain parks and trails provide 2,208 acres of winter playground for skiers, snowboarders and winter warriors alike. From Jan 22-27, Breckenridge was host to the International Snow Sculpture Championships. Teams of artists from around the world were given 65 hours to create snow sculptures from gigantic 20 ton blocks of snow. The artists were only allowed to use their hands and non-powered tools such as shovels, spatulas and butter knives to form and chisel their sculptures. My favorite snow sculpture was the horse created by the team from Mexico. The horse named Bucefalo represented “a free, indomitable and resistant spirit, just as the snow does with its whiteness, purity and beauty.”

Contains 32 photos

The journey to Delicate Arch is a pilgrimage that rewards you with stunning views of the most beautiful free-standing natural arch in the world. The hike to the arch is a 3 mile roundtrip, and part of the trail required us to ascend a very steep climb on slickrock (smooth slippery rock). The last 200 yards leading to the arch was on a narrow ledge along sheer cliff wall which heightened our senses. Up until now, Delicate Arch had been completely hidden from sight and could not be seen from anywhere along the trail. The climax of the hike came when we turned the blind corner along the cliff’s edge…then finally the awe-inspiring Delicate Arch was revealed. The arch’s iconic horseshoe shape was carved by the forces of nature over millions of years. The massive structure stands 52 feet high at the apex on a pedestal with a near vertical drop below. The La Sal Mountain peaks were still covered with snow which provided a contrasting backdrop against the warm orange tones of the arch.

Contains 28 photos

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Contains 20 photos

Landscape Arch is the longest natural arch in the world. The arch is easily recognizable because of its long thin frame and grand dimensions. Landscape Arch spans 290 feet horizontally and measures 78 feet in height. In the 1991 and 1995, pieces of rock broke away and fell off from the arch. For safety reasons, people are not allowed to stand underneath the arch anymore. Ironically, the same forces of nature that created Landscape Arch have over time, rendered it fragile. Unfortunately, Landscape Arch's time is limited, and it will not remain an intact structure for much longer.

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On one of our hikes, we met up with Hikerpelli Joe, who is a relative of Kokopelli. We decided to stick with Hikerpelli Joe because he was a seasoned hiker, mountaineer and rock climber. We watched Joe ascend the steep and precarious rock formations using only his hands and feet for support. When Hikerpelli Joe reached the top of the cliff and looked over the ledge, he was overcome with a slight case of vertigo but he quickly recovered. It was a pleasure meeting Hikerpelli Joe and we welcome his company on future hikes and excursions.

Contains 12 photos

Kokopelli is a mythical character whose image was found in ancient Native American rock carvings, paintings and murals across the Southwest. The legend of Kokopelli varies among tribes. The most widely accepted depiction of Kokopelli is a humped back flute player who brought prosperity, music and joy to the people of the land. As a fertility symbol, he carried a sack full of seeds on his back and played his flute to summon the rains to help the seeds grow. The Kokopelli Trail is a 140 mile trail between Grand Junction and Moab and was named in honor of Kokopelli. On Sept 15, there was a run on Mary’s Loop which is part of the Kokopelli Trail. Despite the trail being marked, I unknowingly went off the trail for half a mile. If it weren’t for some mountain bikers who saw “those runners going the other way”, I might have gotten lost! The trail was technical, difficult and very steep in some sections. I ran with my camera and snapped photos of the views along the trail.

Contains 20 photos

Moab is a land of unique natural geological wonders located in southeastern Utah along the Colorado River, and I had longed to visit this beautiful red rock country. When I stepped off the plane, I immediately fell in love with the place. The landscape and scenery of Moab is unparalleled to anything I've ever seen. Giant red rock formations, soaring arches, brilliantly colored canyons, and vibrant sunshine against a backdrop of mountains and clear blue azure sky - it doesn’t get any better than this. In addition to the spectacular imagery, Moab is an outdoor enthusiast's paradise. There are tons of things to do - trail running, mountain biking, horseback riding, hiking, climbing, river rafting, etc. You can’t possibly see and do all the things you want to in just one trip. Moab is now a favorite destination of mine and I’ll be back to experience more of Moab.

Contains 51 photos

Moab has the most breathtaking panoramic views. Since I didn't have a panoramic view on my camera, I took separate pictures and pieced them together. Just keep clicking the pic until you get the magnified view of the picture.

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You usually ski down Aspen Mountain, but on this day it was a climb up the face of the mountain to the summit. The climb was 3.37 miles, ascending 3,267 vertical feet! When half of the participants show up with poles, you know that the event is a steep climb and not an uphill run. The course went straight up vertical and on this day, only four legged animals would be able run up the mountain. A few people brought their canine companions and the Bearded Collie was the unofficial winner. The dog must have trained hard for this climb because she trotted up the mountain with ease. The Bearded Collie would have no problems climbing a Fourteener! She could have won the event easily, but she remained loyal to her owner. Whenever she got too far ahead of her master, she would patiently wait for him to catch up. The Bearded Collie was so funny and cute and she actually helped pace me up the mountain too!

Contains 29 photos