caretaking

A walk around the block

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We effectively took a walk in our “neighborhood”, around Lumpy Ridge. Lumpy Ridge is a massive granite rock outcropping that’s been sculpted by wind and erosion over the last 1.8 billion years. It features many named rock formations, my favorite is Twin Owls. Once you see it, you can’t miss it.

Twin Owls

These are popular rock climbing destinations after the Peregrine Falcons finish roosting.

I’m always pretty happy at the beginning of a hike.

Happy hikers

We were prepared for winter hiking conditions, especially after our earlier, exhausting, post-holing experience.

So of course, we didn’t need our snow shoes. It’s like carrying an umbrella, forget it and it’s sure to rain.

The views of the Continental divide were stunning. We climbed for the first 4 miles then it was all downhill after that. We ran into slushy snow on the back side of the ridge along the Dark Mountain trail. Microspikes were all we needed.

We picked a gorgeous day for it. This is an outbuilding on our neighbor, MacGregor’s Ranch, which transferred 1200 acres of lands for conservation to the NPS.

I decided to name a few of the formations myself.

I would call this Twin Chickens
Chicken hat on a post
Angry man and family
Toucan with a hat
First sign of spring on Cow Creek Trail
Home stretch

Luckily for me, we were able to use two vehicles and did not need to complete the loop, which would have added additional elevation.

Meanwhile, back at the Ranch, the big boys came to visit.

It was a nice change from the turkeys.

A good time was had by all!

Beauty and illusions

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I remind myself that we are the visitors here. The turkeys are still doing their thing all around us. At least three toms, strutting their stuff, and numerous hens, chirping. They call from behind the barn and up the hill, around the buildings, and in the front field. Spring is certainly in the air.

Tim pointed out they drag their flight feathers on the ground with their display. With a little bit of snow, it looked like someone had pulled a sled around the cabins.

He also thought there was a lizard in the kitchen.

It was really a lone piece of arugula.

This moth, found on our wall, had good camouflage.

One of these is not like the rest. Can you tell which ones are from a heritage breed?

While the cost of eggs rise and the stock markets tumble, it helps to remain focused on the beauty which surrounds us everyday.

Scene in our backyard

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After a day’s absence, the turkeys returned (I actually missed them) and the flock grew to 24. There are 3 Toms and 21 hens, as best I can tell. They seem to be getting used to our presence. This morning, one Tom approached me in his full display.

Two bull elk returned. One had dropped his antlers. They were hanging out next to the barn and walked off after I spotted them.

The variety of bird song increases daily as more return for Spring in Estes Park.

When we are not busy working on the cabins and main house, I have been creating lots of projects. More to follow. A girl has got to have fun!

A post holer’s perspective

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That’s the imprint of my right hand during one of several post hole topples. I didn’t catch the two that left me lying in the snow. All was well at starting elevation, 50’s and dry trail, so we left our snowshoes in the car. Back home in the Adirondacks it’s a requirement. Here it’s just bad form.

We hiked along the Wind River, where there was enough blowdown to earn its name. Our next hike will have even less traffic so we’ll definitely bring our snowshoes.

Grumpy Rock

I can always see something in the rock formations.

Sad-faced rock

When we rounded the bend, the views dazzled.

Another great walk in the Park.

Meanwhile, back at the Ranch

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We took a road trip to Fort Collins. I had an appointment to review archives of the Dickerson sisters. These were two women who grew up on an off-the-grid homestead in the Mummy Range of mountains, where they supported themselves by running a timber operation and selling home baked goods and handcrafts. I had hoped to see some of their handcrafts but there was a misunderstanding and instead I reviewed a folder of articles, photos and clippings. I first learned of them when I read an article about a pin loom blanket made by them. This was while I was making a pin loom blanket almost next door, in the adjacent mountains.

Here’s a photo of Alice. I may try to recreate her hat. They lived together into their 80’s. I read their story in a book called Apples of the Mummy’s Eyes.

They were as poor as church mice but now their homestead is on the market for $850,000! I managed to copy their recipe for bread, in their case baked in a wood burning stove.

I am happy to share it with you.

At least, we had preferred parking due to our hybrid car.

After our visit to the museum, we hiked in the Eagles Nest open space. The landscape was much different from what we have become used to.

It was dry brush with no snow. The weather didn’t get quite as warm as we hoped but it was a great walk.

There were signs like these whenever we considered following the wrong herd path.

On our way home, we saw a small herd of bighorn (not longhorn) sheep.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch a flock of turkeys has moved in. One of the Toms struts his stuff around the grounds.

His ladies seem more interested in the meager grass and bugs in the lawn.

Now they have gone down the road a piece.

Rabbits and Mountain Lions

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We went for a walk out back to stretch our lazy legs. We met a couple of hikers, who excitedly told us they saw lots of Mountain Lion tracks. That’s all Tim needed to hear. Despite my protests, our walk got a little longer.

Once we found one print, we saw a lot.

For comparison

On our way back to the Ranch, it became clear why the campsite was named Rabbit Ears.

Today it’s blowing stink, we won’t be walking. I think a swim is in order.

I can’t get enough of this sky

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First of all, it’s usually clear blue, and sunny. The other morning sunrise was beautiful pink. I got to see it since the clocks moved ahead.

I liked the reflection off our window.

The főhn or “Chinook” winds are often over 50 mph and the elongated clouds show it.

Even the prospect of snow or rain creates a pretty sky.

And jets leave their trail.

Here we are, tucked in this beautiful valley.

Another walk in the park

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We rallied ourselves and drove south west to a trailhead in a different part of the park. We took the back way through Rocky Mountain National Park, where the views were stunning.

Our goal was a short string of lakes created by the Tyndall glacier. Even though it was only 3.2 miles, we took our time because the hike begins at 9,500 ft elevation and rises to slightly over 10,000 ft.

I noticed one steep portion above us on the way in. On our return, a National Park volunteer, like us!, pointed out a small avalanche caused by a skier earlier in the morning.

The lakes, Bear, Nymph, Dream, and Emerald, were still frozen and Flattop Mountain set our course.

Emerald Lake

We’re smiling now because we’ve eaten our lunch and our return trip is almost all downhill.

The sky over the Park is always lined by contrails.

When we returned home, I baked a very tall loaf of whole wheat bread. I tried the bread machine but didn’t set it correctly. I have since downloaded the manual rather than randomly pushing buttons. I had to take it out of the machine when it risked popping the lid open. I put it in the only bread pan I could find and salvaged a delicious loaf.

Tim is a very lucky man!

Our neighbors

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They usually visit when we can’t see them. Now that there is snow on the ground, bobcat footprints reappeared.

We met 4 large bull elks down the road when we returned from town. On another trip, we ran into a traffic jam, as a large herd of elk slowly crossed the road. Finally a cowboy left his vehicle and moved them along. That really sped things up.

Mule deer were in the meadow last night but this could mean a mountain lion may visit to have them for dinner, literally.

Unlike the Adirondacks, the skies are usually bright and blue, probably due to altitude. Here the sun was in mist, setting before the snow.

Backyard view.

We finally explored a little more of Rocky Mountain National Park. We haven’t been motivated to venture afar because it is so beautiful right here. These are some views from Bear Lake. I think they are different views of Longs Peak and the needles.

The happy caretaker out shoveling.

Two hikes and an elk road block

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We were lucky to have family visiting for a few days and did some exploring with them. We walked the trail ridge at Lily Lake and saw great views of Longs Peak and the northern Front Range.

Yesterday I returned to Gem Lake, 987 ft elevation change, easily, and have acclimatized.

Front Range Clouds and Contrails

The view from the Stanley Hotel may have been even better.

We had a paper airplane contest up the hill, behind the ranch, which offered a view of this valley.

A rock wrapped in paper (?!) travelled the longest distance but a complex design had the longest float. Both winners!

Here is a coaster I wove on a rigid heddle loom. It was a slow but gratifying process because I had to select all the pattern threads by hand.

We needed an image of Shrek for a card and I got to try another watercolor.

This morning, the trees are bending in the wind with gusts to 70 mph. They continue to look beautiful after they die. Hopefully none will fall on my car.

The highlight of the visit was when the local elk herd decided to change pastures and cross the road. The kids said it was the best thing they saw, so Tim turned the car around to watch them some more.