Never a Bad Shot in the Snowys

Hike to the Shelf Lakes

North Lake

View of Pass

On our second full day in the Snowy's the "Plan" was to do a warm up hike before tackling the big one up to Medicine Bow Peak.  We figured that maybe we could acclimate to the high altitude slowly.  Our legs haven't been the problem it's our lungs which have not accepted the fact that there is far less oxygen at 10,000 feet...not to mention even less at the Peak's 12,024 feet.

Heading back to Pass

We decided to hike out to the Shelf Lakes and possibly free style around Brown's Peak and connect back into another trail leading back to the parking lot.  The trail winds along a series of lakes and out through a pass between the mountains.  Perfect blue bird skies, temperatures in the 60’s and very little wind…terrific day for a hike. 

New stance

Cooper carried our water and sunscreen in his very own doggie pack.  It was the least he could do in exchange for his breakfast and dinner.  He really seems to enjoy the pack even when it throws off his 3 legged pee stance.  After a few false starts he decided that his race horse stance would have to do.  He earned his keep and then some.  Although he took out our knees a few times in his haste to get in front and try to be the 'lead dog'.

Cold swim!

Cooper was pretty excited diving into the cold mountain lake water.  Excited until he realized that these lakes are really deep and he could no longer feel the bottom.  It didn't stop him from splashing around in every lake and stream he could find though.  We ended up with a very dirty dog sleeping in the tent with us that evening. 

Where did that marmot go?

or maybe up here?

Heard it over here...

We hiked out about 4 miles and decided that one rock scramble was all we should do with a dog in tow.  Brown's Peak was a tad too far and we headed back on the same path.  Cooper didn't seem to mind.  He went "hunting" for the critter that kept chirping at him.  He never found the marmots or even the birds, but he had a ball trying.

Rock scramble ahead

There's MOM!

Our total hike was about 7-8 miles which Cooper managed to double with all the extra running.  The crazy dog hiked down into another huge snow field that extended all the way down into the lake.  He saw 'Mom' sitting up hill and took off across the snow field and onto the heavy rocky hill side at a full gallop.  We though he'd break his fool leg and we'd have to carry him out.  Not a happy thought.  He made it with only a few sore toes from the rock scrambles.

Tuckered dog

Equally tuckered Bill

After our hike we headed back to camp for a well deserved nap.  Of course a storm decided to pop up just enough to interrupt nap time and we had to put up the canopy so dinner could be cooked.  Thankfully the heavy rains and winds avoided our little patch of woods.

Waiting

Turning back

Snowy Mountains- Day One

Medicine Bow Peak

Today we left Cheyenne and headed out to one of our favorite places…Laramie and the Snowy Mountain Range.  A few years ago on our first trip West…Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Arches, and Grand Tetons National Parks...we noticed a small sign on I-80 "Snowy Mountain Scenic Highway."  What can we say, it combined our most favorite things…mountains, snow and scenic.  Unfortunately we were traveling during the first week of May and the road was still closed from the many feet of snow it gets over the winter.  

Libbie Lake 

We never forgot and on our retirement trip we headed to Laramie & the Snowy Range.  It is spectacular.  We’d say it’s better than any other National Park and we’ve been to a few.   You can get so close to this  mountain.  The elevation is over 10,000 feet and the road takes you right to the base of the highest peak in Medicine Bow National Forest.  If you hike to Medicine Bow Peak you find yourself at 12,024 feet.  We hiked it on our fall trip and  the views are incredible.  

Cooper & Mom...Libbie Lake

I'm a happy dog

Cooper loves what he’s seen of the Snowy’s so far.  We found snow and he immediately started rubbing his face and body through it.  He also discovered the creek behind the tent.  We have enjoyed the sounds of running water and a slightly wet dog.  We did get pretty lucky since most of the campgrounds in the area are closed due to fire or the dead trees dropping.  The campground host was evacuated from his original assignment due to fire.   No camp fires allowed so the evening will be pretty chilly and bedtime will be early.  Otherwise we’re enjoying the 70 degree day and hopefully the nighttime air won’t drop too far below the 50’s.

Flowers and mountains

Flowers and water

Christening new car

Whew! Made it!!

 The car had it first trial by ford…it passed.  It failed though at really big, muddy rocky holes.  Mainly the Male counterpart didn’t like the forest service road he chose and decided to abandon our adventure into the back country.  The Female called him chicken…isn’t that why we have an all wheel drive vehicle? 

So weak...when's breakfast?

Another day spent driving.  Cooper was none too happy that after his morning constitutional we didn't deliver his breakfast pronto.  He 'tolerated' his punishment until we got down the road a ways.  Once again life was grand and Cooper had his empty yogurt cups.

Full stomach

We headed west on I-70 keeping an eye out for interesting things...none really showed up.  Although we did notice that Cooper has figured out this traveling thing pretty quickly.  He knows that once he gets into the car he either has to sit or lay down.   Today he quickly went to sleep...he had a hard night.  Thunderstorms and Dad out getting ice were not his cup of tea.  It took him FOREVER to get settled down...wandering all over the room after we turned the lights out.  Cooper finally decided the best spot to lay down was across the doorway to the bathroom...then we'd trip over him, waking him and therefore could not leave him behind.  Seems like he's smarter than he looks.

Lunch!

The best part of Cooper's day is when the car slows down and parks...lots and lots of sniffing strange new smells.  Even better is if food shows up at these little breaks.  Today we had 3 picnics...breakfast, lunch and dinner.  So far he's had 2 empty yogurt cups, a bite of English muffin, 1/2 ham sandwich, a few fries, and a bun.  Of course he always wants more...like an ice cream cone.   He didn't get that one.

More paving

Yet again...paving

We made it through Missouri,  Iowa (only 10 miles), Nebraska (one long haul across this one), and stopped in Cheyenne.  The one thing we noticed today was that Nebraska really goes all out when they get going on road construction...specifically re-paving.  We went over 400+ miles and it felt like they were paving the whole way.  It did make for a nice gas mileage amount...hard to burn through fuel when you're traveling at 55 mph rather than 75 mph. 

Of course everyone knows that Nebraska is all about corn and the Cornhuskers (University Nebraska's nickname for you non-football fans).  As we drove along we did see quite a bit of corn.  Terraced fields in the southeast corner, irrigated fields and fields that were somewhat fancy.  Some fields had a row or two of tasseled corn and then 5 rows of shorter, younger non-tasseled corn...don't know why it was done this way, but it was more interesting looking.  Oh and who can forget about Runza...we'd like to, but it's a meal that will stick with you...all the way to Louisville as we remembered it from a couple of years ago.

Terraced corn

Runza...the gift that keeps on giving

Corn!

Sun setting

Wyoming!

We pushed through and arrived in Cheyenne at sunset.  Temperatures are cool...yeah!  Tomorrow we're heading out to the Snowy's and some camping at 10,000 feet.  Cooper may need his thundershirt and a blanket to sleep tomorrow night.

First Road Trip with a Critter

West (by God) Virginia

West Virginia reaction

The three of us hit the road for real this AM bright and early at 6:30 AM.  We stopped off for a little breakfast in West Virginia at McD's...y'all knew that we'd do that, right?  Cooper got his usual 2 yogurt cups which were empty for those of you wondering.  His first trip to West Virginia failed to impress him.  Let's hope he still enjoys sleeping for the next 10 hours...not to mention the many days ahead.

Kentucky reaction

Kentucky

Our first roadside picnic in Kentucky traveling with the dog wasn't too bad considering the temperatures were well into the 90's.  The shade was nice and Cooper enjoyed his 1/2 ham sandwich along with a bowl of ice water.  We guess we bored him because he decided that he would take his afternoon nap.

Entering rainy Indiana

Hot

We had a little weather to drive through...temps went from 99 down to 73 during the rain.  Unfortunately it didn't last and we got to "experience" 102 degrees when we stopped for gas in Indiana.  Cooper was less than thrilled to play 'hot foot' as he walked to the designated grassy area.

Classic reaction to 102

  Illinois was greener than Indiana...'nough said.  

St Louis Arch

We passed the Arch in St Louis, MO and can report that the road is STILL not finished.  Jeez, between Louisville and the St Louis areas you'd think one of them would be finished by now.

We arrived in Wentzville at the hotel...another new experience for the crazy dog.  He's settling down now, but not happy that Dad chose to head out for ice.

For the record this is the very first pet that either one of us has had on a trip through 5 states.  We're pretty sure all the others are very jealous critters about now.

Tomorrow we're hoping for Cheyenne, WY...got to decide which direction we head from there.  Will it be the Snowy Range outside Laramie or north toward Cody, WY? Decisions, decisions...either way we're a lucky threesome.


One last thought....

business opportunity

 *click pictures to enlarge

Westward Bound

It is that time again that the travel blog will be live...hopefully.  We'll see if we can find anything interesting to write.  On this trip we will be once again heading out West.    Our only plan is to be in Seattle by the 19th for the wedding of some good friends' son and back home by the first football game.

Driving will be the mode of transportation and we hope to camp our way across the mid-west...if we can avoid tornadoes, thunderstorms and at this moment wild fires.  Unfortunately the West has been dealing with a triple whammy of hot, dry and lots of dead pine trees...courtesy of the pine beetle.  A truly awful situation and hopefully things will settle down and people will get to return to homes rather than ashes.

 Cooper (aka the dog)

We just need to keep from driving each other insane...or the dog nuts.  Did we mention we're taking the dog?  We're sure to have some insane story to tell about his adventures.  

Snow Circles from Beauregard, Steamboat Aerials on Vimeo.


This is one of the most stunning visuals I have ever seen.  Of course in our ramblings about on our own snowshoes we have not attempt anything of this magnitude... if only we could.