Yesterday, October 1, 2013 was definitely a good day. It was spent driving from Colorado Springs to near Cripple Creek, Colorado to visit family in their new home (6000 sq ft in the woods), doing some foliage photography and then getting to finally meet Jack and Danielle Mayer in the Woodland Park area.
We really appreciated the hospitality of Jack and Danielle and are looking forward to the possibility of moving to the Colorado Springs area next year and being near enough to see them much more often. Thanks, Jack and Danielle. We had a great time.
As for foliage, on the "front range," the colors are just beginning to change, but at the higher elevations between Divide, CO and Cripple Creek, the change is much greater. It is looking good and promises to get better. I think our timing for being up here is going to be really good. Now, if I just don't run into closed roads that prevent us from getting to the places we want to go.
Here's a peek at what we saw.
Now, I'm anxious for the next week or so. We will be picking up our youngest son at the Denver airport on Saturday and visiting with another friend of ours that lives in Denver and hopefully meeting Cindy T from here on the forums the same day. Sounds like a great day in store for that day as well.
Terry
hpykmpr47 said
02:04 PM Oct 4, 2013
Wow ,we took the same trip yesterday 3/ Oct ./ 13 with friends and the aspens were beautiful. We also got to hike to the falls near there and it was a great hike to a great falls.The day before we took the Cog Railroad to Pikes Peak and the leaves were great there as well, the donuts were also great....Alan
el Rojo and Pam said
02:15 PM Oct 4, 2013
Very nice picture Terry. Keep them coming....Please!
Terry and Jo said
04:04 PM Oct 4, 2013
hpykmpr47 wrote:
Wow ,we took the same trip yesterday 3/ Oct ./ 13 with friends and the aspens were beautiful. We also got to hike to the falls near there and it was a great hike to a great falls.The day before we took the Cog Railroad to Pikes Peak and the leaves were great there as well, the donuts were also great....Alan
Alan,
Which falls and where? We've been to Seven Falls, but if you are referring to another one, I'd like to know which one you saw.
Terry
Terry and Jo said
04:58 PM Oct 4, 2013
OK, Red. Here are a few more.
This next one was taken while back among the Pines and Aspen at our niece's home. We didn't have a lot of time, so we only took a short walk. Oh, and what looks like something standing in the road is actually a log lying on the ground that appears to be something standing.
This next one shows a close-up of the area where the niece and nephew-in-law live. The house seen here is their home. They bought this place which includes 160 acres. The home is a log-style home, and may actually be log. I couldn't tell if it is a true log home, but I suspect that it is.
Now, this is a wider shot of that same area. If you look to the left, there is another "home," which I think is a modular one. It is part of their property and the modular is a rental unit. I haven't been able to check it out, but will on Sunday (day after tomorrow), but there is a campground/RV park back in the trees behind that modular somewhere. I suspect that it may not have the facilities that most of us would want unless one really wants away from everything. They are not yet licensed to operate a campground/RV park, so time will tell as to what is done there.
Now, I have to take issue with the wife and sister-in-law here in Colorado Springs. There has been enough going on with different things that I've not been able to get out into the mountains since I took these photos. I may just have to "run away from home" today and do that to get some more pictures. We'll see what happens. Tomorrow is a trip to Denver to pick up our son and see a friend of ours and possibly meet Cindy T from here on the forums. Once our son arrives, we will definitely do some more time in the mountains as he also likes to take photos.
Terry
Loretta said
05:06 PM Oct 4, 2013
Beautiful pictures. What a gorgeous area.
el Rojo and Pam said
05:42 PM Oct 4, 2013
Great pictures Terry. We go to Colorado in late August and don't get to see anything like that. We do get out of the Texas heat however. Thanks keep them coming if you can.
Terry and Jo said
07:54 PM Oct 4, 2013
I got onto the National Forest Service's website today. The information there indicates that the two roads we wanted to take are closed. However, since I don't know how up-to-date their website is, I really need to go by their office in Colorado Springs. However, I'll probably have to call first as it is uncertain if they are open, what with the government shutdown. The roads we are interested in are called Gold Camp Road and Old Stage Road. They both have numbers for designation purposes, but I don't recall what those are right at the moment.
Until I find out something, I might drive up Pike's Peak and see what I can see from there. Next week will definitely be better for opportunities to go into the mountains. Since the sister-in-law is having some minor work done on her new house, that is why we are limited as to when and where we can go. We need to be around for the workers.
I may need to look to see if there are are more areas out toward the west of Colorado Springs and Woodland Park. Back in 2008, we spent a few days out at Eleven Mile State Park while visiting the same friend that is now in Denver and touring the CS area. The following is a sunset picture taken in that August vacation at the state park. I may do the trip just for grins to see what the color over further west would be.
Terry
hpykmpr47 said
02:03 PM Oct 5, 2013
Terry and Jo wrote:
hpykmpr47 wrote:
Wow ,we took the same trip yesterday 3/ Oct ./ 13 with friends and the aspens were beautiful. We also got to hike to the falls near there and it was a great hike to a great falls.The day before we took the Cog Railroad to Pikes Peak and the leaves were great there as well, the donuts were also great....Alan
Alan,
Which falls and where? We've been to Seven Falls, but if you are referring to another one, I'd like to know which one you saw.
Terry
I cannot say ,our friends mentioned the name of the falls and all I know is it had the word Horse or horseshoe in it. It wasn't far from Cripple Creek and in was about a 1 1/2 mile hike to get to the falls, uphill but not a bad hike at all. I will ask my wife the name and let you know. The other pictures that you have posted of the leaves are beautiful. Thanks for sharing them.....Alan
hpykmpr47 said
02:19 PM Oct 5, 2013
Terry and Jo wrote:
hpykmpr47 wrote:
Wow ,we took the same trip yesterday 3/ Oct ./ 13 with friends and the aspens were beautiful. We also got to hike to the falls near there and it was a great hike to a great falls.The day before we took the Cog Railroad to Pikes Peak and the leaves were great there as well, the donuts were also great....Alan
Alan,
Which falls and where? We've been to Seven Falls, but if you are referring to another one, I'd like to know which one you saw.
Terry
The name of the falls is Horsethief Falls and it is on the same trail as the one to Pancake Rock.
Terry and Jo said
04:28 AM Oct 6, 2013
Thanks, Alan. I'll have to look that one up as I've not heard of it. Of course, there are a lot in Colorado that I've not heard about. We had camped west and a bit north of Trinidad at a place called Purgatoire River Campground for years and had done a number of day trips in that part of Colorado. Then a new co-worker told me about Zapata Falls, which is out near the Great Sand Dunes National Park. To see that fall, one has to walk up into the crack in a rock and back inside to actually see it. Believe me, that water is cold. One can drive up to a parking area and then walk just about 1/4 to 1/3 of a mile to the falls.
When I was back in there, the falls were going great guns and lots of water droplets were around and it was difficult to get good clear shots back in that "cave." I really was amazed that something like Zapata Falls was around and I'd never heard of it over decades of camping up in that area.
Terry
Terry and Jo said
05:11 AM Oct 6, 2013
Forgot this when I answered Alan just above.
We took a trip to Denver early this morning to pick up our youngest son, Eric, from the airport. After that, we went out to a restaurant somewhere in southern Denver for lunch with our friend. Then, we had the real pleasure of meeting Cindy T as she came by after her appointment and we sat a while and visited with her. A few tales were told (not too many tall ones, though) and had a good visit. If it works out that we end up in the Denver/Colorado Springs/Canon City area, we hope to meet up with Cindy again.
Glad to have met you, Cindy. We're looking forward to other possibilities.
All in all, we had a good day. However, great days will begin tomorrow as we will again go up around the Cripple Creek area to visit family and take photos. Then, because Jo and her sister want to do some sewing on Monday, Eric and I will travel back into the mountains and likely again on Tuesday. One of those days, we want to go up Pike's Peak and see what it looks like from there.
Terry
hpykmpr47 said
12:51 PM Oct 6, 2013
Terry and Jo wrote:
Forgot this when I answered Alan just above.
We took a trip to Denver early this morning to pick up our youngest son, Eric, from the airport. After that, we went out to a restaurant somewhere in southern Denver for lunch with our friend. Then, we had the real pleasure of meeting Cindy T as she came by after her appointment and we sat a while and visited with her. A few tales were told (not too many tall ones, though) and had a good visit. If it works out that we end up in the Denver/Colorado Springs/Canon City area, we hope to meet up with Cindy again.
Glad to have met you, Cindy. We're looking forward to other possibilities.
All in all, we had a good day. However, great days will begin tomorrow as we will again go up around the Cripple Creek area to visit family and take photos. Then, because Jo and her sister want to do some sewing on Monday, Eric and I will travel back into the mountains and likely again on Tuesday. One of those days, we want to go up Pike's Peak and see what it looks like from there.
Terry
When you do go to Pikes Peak make sure to dress warmly as it is cold up there, also make sure you have lots of water to drink. On the day we were up it was 33 and very windy up there . At the base of the mountain it was shirt sleeve weather. I had on jeans and 2 coats and I was not over dressed. A friend of ours who lives in Colorado Springs told us that drinking lots of water helps overcome altitude sickness and we found very quickly that she was right, as when we got off the train we were both light headed and dizzy and sipping water helped a lot. Well maybe the warm donuts also helped....Alan
Terry and Jo said
02:26 PM Oct 6, 2013
Heh...
....Yeah, I heard about those doughnuts last night. I was informed that if not all of us were going up (meaning Jo and her sister), then Eric and I were to buy at least two dozen to bring back down. In our case, we'll be driving up because I want to stop at the turn-outs and take pictures. I'm told that the cog railway doesn't stop until it gets to the top (or bottom), so there I would be limited to shooting through the windows. While pictures I've seen of the cog railway look scenic, I may have to put that trip off for a bit. We'll have to see.
Thanks for the tips. I did bring a coat, but it isn't really a HEAVY coat, so I may have to go find a cheap Walmart one.
Yesterday, October 1, 2013 was definitely a good day. It was spent driving from Colorado Springs to near Cripple Creek, Colorado to visit family in their new home (6000 sq ft in the woods), doing some foliage photography and then getting to finally meet Jack and Danielle Mayer in the Woodland Park area.
We really appreciated the hospitality of Jack and Danielle and are looking forward to the possibility of moving to the Colorado Springs area next year and being near enough to see them much more often. Thanks, Jack and Danielle. We had a great time.
As for foliage, on the "front range," the colors are just beginning to change, but at the higher elevations between Divide, CO and Cripple Creek, the change is much greater. It is looking good and promises to get better. I think our timing for being up here is going to be really good. Now, if I just don't run into closed roads that prevent us from getting to the places we want to go.
Here's a peek at what we saw.
Now, I'm anxious for the next week or so. We will be picking up our youngest son at the Denver airport on Saturday and visiting with another friend of ours that lives in Denver and hopefully meeting Cindy T from here on the forums the same day. Sounds like a great day in store for that day as well.
Terry
Alan,
Which falls and where? We've been to Seven Falls, but if you are referring to another one, I'd like to know which one you saw.
Terry
OK, Red. Here are a few more.
This next one was taken while back among the Pines and Aspen at our niece's home. We didn't have a lot of time, so we only took a short walk. Oh, and what looks like something standing in the road is actually a log lying on the ground that appears to be something standing.
This next one shows a close-up of the area where the niece and nephew-in-law live. The house seen here is their home. They bought this place which includes 160 acres. The home is a log-style home, and may actually be log. I couldn't tell if it is a true log home, but I suspect that it is.
Now, this is a wider shot of that same area. If you look to the left, there is another "home," which I think is a modular one. It is part of their property and the modular is a rental unit. I haven't been able to check it out, but will on Sunday (day after tomorrow), but there is a campground/RV park back in the trees behind that modular somewhere. I suspect that it may not have the facilities that most of us would want unless one really wants away from everything. They are not yet licensed to operate a campground/RV park, so time will tell as to what is done there.
Now, I have to take issue with the wife and sister-in-law here in Colorado Springs. There has been enough going on with different things that I've not been able to get out into the mountains since I took these photos. I may just have to "run away from home" today and do that to get some more pictures. We'll see what happens. Tomorrow is a trip to Denver to pick up our son and see a friend of ours and possibly meet Cindy T from here on the forums. Once our son arrives, we will definitely do some more time in the mountains as he also likes to take photos.
Terry
Beautiful pictures. What a gorgeous area.
I got onto the National Forest Service's website today. The information there indicates that the two roads we wanted to take are closed. However, since I don't know how up-to-date their website is, I really need to go by their office in Colorado Springs. However, I'll probably have to call first as it is uncertain if they are open, what with the government shutdown. The roads we are interested in are called Gold Camp Road and Old Stage Road. They both have numbers for designation purposes, but I don't recall what those are right at the moment.
Until I find out something, I might drive up Pike's Peak and see what I can see from there. Next week will definitely be better for opportunities to go into the mountains. Since the sister-in-law is having some minor work done on her new house, that is why we are limited as to when and where we can go. We need to be around for the workers.
I may need to look to see if there are are more areas out toward the west of Colorado Springs and Woodland Park. Back in 2008, we spent a few days out at Eleven Mile State Park while visiting the same friend that is now in Denver and touring the CS area. The following is a sunset picture taken in that August vacation at the state park. I may do the trip just for grins to see what the color over further west would be.
Terry
I cannot say ,our friends mentioned the name of the falls and all I know is it had the word Horse or horseshoe in it. It wasn't far from Cripple Creek and in was about a 1 1/2 mile hike to get to the falls, uphill but not a bad hike at all. I will ask my wife the name and let you know. The other pictures that you have posted of the leaves are beautiful. Thanks for sharing them.....Alan
The name of the falls is Horsethief Falls and it is on the same trail as the one to Pancake Rock.
Thanks, Alan. I'll have to look that one up as I've not heard of it. Of course, there are a lot in Colorado that I've not heard about. We had camped west and a bit north of Trinidad at a place called Purgatoire River Campground for years and had done a number of day trips in that part of Colorado. Then a new co-worker told me about Zapata Falls, which is out near the Great Sand Dunes National Park. To see that fall, one has to walk up into the crack in a rock and back inside to actually see it. Believe me, that water is cold. One can drive up to a parking area and then walk just about 1/4 to 1/3 of a mile to the falls.
When I was back in there, the falls were going great guns and lots of water droplets were around and it was difficult to get good clear shots back in that "cave." I really was amazed that something like Zapata Falls was around and I'd never heard of it over decades of camping up in that area.
Terry
Forgot this when I answered Alan just above.
We took a trip to Denver early this morning to pick up our youngest son, Eric, from the airport. After that, we went out to a restaurant somewhere in southern Denver for lunch with our friend. Then, we had the real pleasure of meeting Cindy T as she came by after her appointment and we sat a while and visited with her. A few tales were told (not too many tall ones, though) and had a good visit. If it works out that we end up in the Denver/Colorado Springs/Canon City area, we hope to meet up with Cindy again.
Glad to have met you, Cindy. We're looking forward to other possibilities.
All in all, we had a good day. However, great days will begin tomorrow as we will again go up around the Cripple Creek area to visit family and take photos. Then, because Jo and her sister want to do some sewing on Monday, Eric and I will travel back into the mountains and likely again on Tuesday. One of those days, we want to go up Pike's Peak and see what it looks like from there.
Terry
When you do go to Pikes Peak make sure to dress warmly as it is cold up there, also make sure you have lots of water to drink. On the day we were up it was 33 and very windy up there . At the base of the mountain it was shirt sleeve weather. I had on jeans and 2 coats and I was not over dressed. A friend of ours who lives in Colorado Springs told us that drinking lots of water helps overcome altitude sickness and we found very quickly that she was right, as when we got off the train we were both light headed and dizzy and sipping water helped a lot. Well maybe the warm donuts also helped....Alan
Heh...
....Yeah, I heard about those doughnuts last night. I was informed that if not all of us were going up (meaning Jo and her sister), then Eric and I were to buy at least two dozen to bring back down. In our case, we'll be driving up because I want to stop at the turn-outs and take pictures. I'm told that the cog railway doesn't stop until it gets to the top (or bottom), so there I would be limited to shooting through the windows. While pictures I've seen of the cog railway look scenic, I may have to put that trip off for a bit. We'll have to see.
Thanks for the tips. I did bring a coat, but it isn't really a HEAVY coat, so I may have to go find a cheap Walmart one.
Terry