mountains

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.

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.

Nary a beep was heard

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It snowed about 5″ overnight and before the plows came, I skied the road, which has a nice gentle slope.

Ranch from the road

On my way back, I heard, “pardon me” from behind. I expected to find someone on foot, but it was a couple in a red pickup looking for the trailhead. The snow was so soft, I didn’t hear them roll up in back of me. Luckily, the plow was just behind them and cleared the parking spaces.

I skied almost to the end of the dead end, but got spooked by large cat tracks, and turned around. Again, from behind me, I heard, “pardon me” from another truck.

First time this ever happened to me and it happened twice in one morning! So polite and unexpected.

Stormy Mountain

Scene in our backyard

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Another beautiful sunrise

For some reason, the sky only glows in the west for both sunrise and sunset. Perhaps it has something to do with the mountain valley?

I’m still getting used to 8000 ft altitude. Tim wanted to hike yesterday and I had all sorts of excuses not to. But I went with him for the part of the way.

I spotted this on my walk home.

Road kill?

This is our backyard.

In the morning, while we drank coffee in the dining room, a young bobcat stopped by and meowed on the rock garden.

Later we saw it walk away with its mother, or perhaps father. I found their prints on my return walk.

And in the evening, we had a mushroom leek quiche.

Best pie crust ever

Today, I am going to try to make scones.

Where the snow blows

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Looks like we will have to shovel even if it’s not snowing. We only got about 4-6″ snow but then the wind blew for a couple of days and created drifts where we didn’t want them.

I may have found a new favorite pastime. I have to knock icicles off the buildings. It is very gratifying – immediately rewarding, with an accompanying tinkling sound.

Snow blows up
Sunroom

The sunroom is cozy even when it is below 0 degrees f. Passive solar plays a big role in keeping the buildings warm.

View from down the valley to the barn

Such a beautiful, dramatic setting.

The barn

We took a short walk the other day, I’m still acclimating to 8000 ft altitude, and came across places where the elk laid down.

We joined the local pool and our first swim was punctuated by many rests to catch our breath. Otherwise, I feel fine. When we went backcountry skiing in the 10th Mountain Huts outside of Leadville, CO, which is at 10,000 ft, I never acclimated and had the worst headache, despite meds, for the entire time.

High altitude baking intimidates me. My first attempt can’t count because I forgot to add the egg until a crumbcake was already baking. It turned out surprisingly well.

Last night I made a cobbler and pizza. Both were delicious.

This time, I remembered everything.

Lighthouse keepers gone astray

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We usually volunteer on islands or coasts, where lighthouses are useful.

Now we are close to the equivalent of Point Nemo in North America.

Point Nemo is located in the South Pacific Ocean, 1670 miles from the nearest shore.

On land, its equivalent is the Pole of Inaccessibility, which often refers to the most distant point from any coastline. In North America, the Pole of Inaccessibility is located in South Dakota

We are a mere 6 hour drive from this pole of inaccessibility.

We made it to Rocky Mountain National Park. I can truly say, “We are not in Kansas anymore”, since we drove through it for several hours on our trip west.

We arrived at Mcgraw Ranch Friday, about two hours before the snow and arctic chill fell.

And here we are! Sunrise this am.

Best dam, beavers

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Someone has busy around here. We took a walk up the hill out back and saw an amazing engineering project. It raised the pond level by 5 feet. These were no small branches used to shore it up. They must have had help.

Lady of the Lake

The next day we took a walk up the hill across the road. The path seems to have grown longer and steeper than I remember. So I distracted myself, and Tim, by looking down. And here is what I saw.

And then this.

It’s a new year

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The holidays were mixed. We spent a very quiet Christmas weekend. We never got around to getting a tree, I couldn’t see the point because no one would be sharing it with us and, in the end, it is always a mess of needles and water.

Instead I hung a red bow.

And lit my candle chimes.

Well, it turns out this wasn’t enough for Tim. So next year, we will have a tree.

New Year’s Eve was celebrated with family and a Buche de Noël, complete with merengue mushrooms. I finally joined the Great British Breaking Show craze and have upped my baking.

I also tried my hand at their staple dessert, macarons. I used the wrong sort of almonds, ground instead of flour, and cheated by filling them with Nutella, but they were a hit.

I received candle molds as a gift and had just enough saved beeswax to make two adorable candles. This reminded me to order bees for next spring since my hive flew the coop, so to speak.

Days are getting longer but I got to watch the sun set behind the hills at 4 pm yesterday.

We have already had a chance to play with the snow thrower a few times, have had countless fires, moved wood around to keep up, and slept in the cabin.

So it is winter.

Dichotomies

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I wrote a paper today for my french class about Stromae, a Belgian singer-songwriter, audiovisual creator and fashion designer. Here it is for you francophones.

Stromae.docxDownload

I discussed the dichotomies of his songs: harrowing themes with music that makes one dance.

That is what today is like. Flowers in bloom inside and perhaps the last snow squalls of the season in the mountains.

Cascade lakes

WE drove to the pool in Lake Placid today and Tim exercised in it. He finally believes he is going to be OK. Last month, one doctor scared the bejeesus out of him and painted a future filled with chronic pain.

He slid down that hole. Now this month she reports he will be fine (as did his first spinal surgeon two months ago). He’s on cloud 9 and able to deal with pain because he no longer fears it will dominate him. He thinks he needed that message. I disagree.

But now we are positive! This Christmas/Easter cactus went from good to astounding within a few days.

So hopeful. It opened itself up to the world. I considered putting it outside near my beehive!