Now, the truth is that I HATE hiking. At least, I hate hiking out West. Back home, you're invariably trekking over mostly flat terrain through a beautiful pine forest dotted with lovely little lakes. Out here, you're invariably going UP in search of a "beautiful view" and stomping up a dusty, rock strewn trail. So you get to stand somewhere for a few minutes checking out a nice view, but you've spent the last few hours staring at a rocky dirt trail so you don't trip on a rock and twist your ankle. I can't think of a less pleasant activity. That, however, does not stop me from occasionally going stark raving mad and thinking a hike is a good idea. Which is why we found ourselves hiking 4.5 miles straight up a mountain in search of the Ruby Jewel, a glacial lake above the tree line.
This is me at the trailhead proper. This is after hiking three miles of 45 degree rocky dirt roads. Ryan made me laugh in this picture, so it doesn't adequately portray the sheer misery of this hike. I'm very disappointed that I didn't take any pictures of the dirt road so that you could see why it was so horrible. Naturally, we only took pictures of the pretty stuff!
Like this waterfall. I wanted to stop for a while and just enjoy it, but Ryan, being a Wood, felt an urgent need to press on. It was at about this point that I decided this marriage was just not going to work out after all.
Almost there! Here's the view about half a mile from the top. FABULOUS. But part of the misery of a hike is that when you see something this great you think, "Wow, things must be AMAZING at the top!" Don't be fooled. Your first clue here should be that in order to GET to the top, you have to climb over the rockslide in the foreground.
Here I am just past the rock field. ALMOST THERE. At this point there's so little oxygen that I was basically willing myself up the hill. Yes, I'm an altitude pansy. But 12000 feet is no joke.
Surely the lake must be just over that ridge! It's going to be STUNNING! The most wonderful thing we've ever seen!!!
And here is the great disappointment that is Ruby Jewel Lake. Yup, that's the entire size of it. Where I come from, this is a POND and no one in their right mind would encourage someone else to hike 5 MILES UP A MOUNTAIN to see it!!! My legs feel that its unfair to make them suffer just so that my eyes can enjoy a nice view.
Remind me to NEVER do that again.
It's time for Palisade Peaches in Colorado! We bought two boxes from the Castle Rock Rotary club. They hauled them over from the Western Slope last weekend and today they are perfectly ripe!
Here I am in the messy kitchen! The cleaning lady couldn't make it today and I'm glad because the kitchen is dreadful now. Floor's a little sticky. You know how it is.
No shower facilities in Colorado State Parks, so here I am lookin' gross.
Here's a chippie checking out Ryan's fire poker. Maybe it's a snack?
I just love their little stripes!