Boo!

 BOO! Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I know, I know, we're coming up on the scariest night of the year. No, I'm not talking about Election Eve, but rather that other standby of good cheer, Halloween. American elections have only been around since 1788 while the celebration of ghosts and goblins heralds back more than 2,000 years to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. 

I used to work with a lady who professed that Halloween was her favorite holiday of the year and she used to love to get dressed up in some pretty amazing costumes she designed herself. She used to encourage me to do the same but I demurred using the excuse that I was already scary enough. 

Of course this year has perhaps been one of the scariest in recent memory. Short of wars, famines, and global climate change, pandemics rank right up there on the short list of frightful events. Halloween festivities (is festive even the right descriptor for Halloween?) likely will be a little subdued this year given that we're already wearing masks and we're supposed to separate from one another by whatever the new standard is - 6 feet, 20 feet, miles? A friend I went walking with yesterday is being clever in her approach to still celebrating All Hallows Eve and still staying safe as are many others. The local ghosts and ghouls won't leave her house disappointed. For us adults (I think I still fit into that category despite what my wife sometimes tells me) there's plenty of spookiness already (like having to take on the hat of Teacher while home schooling AND trying to get their own work done) but hopefully next week's election will at least give us some certainty in some very uncertain times. At least I think it will, once we know the actual results by early January or whenever the Supreme Court deigns to inform us who is to lead us for the next four years. 

So for those of you who still love Halloween the scary times will likely continue long after October 31st this year. And for those who don't, not to worry. I saw my first official Christmas T.V. commercials last night. Now that was really scary.

I think there's another Holiday in between moving from celebrating Ghosts and Ghouls to Santa and elves (elves, actually, could probably do double duty on both Halloween AND Xmas - kind of the Yin and Yang of Holiday characters). My local hardware superstores (Lowes and Home Depot) seem to have forgotten entirely about Thanksgiving having rushed to get the Christmas decorations out for sale by late August. Perhaps they think we don't have much to be thankful for this year, but I think they are wrong. I give thanks for the special people in my life as well as the simple gift of simply being alive when so many of our friends, family, and neighbors will have unexpectedly empty seats round the Thanksgiving table this year. There was fear of a Holiday COVID spike due to folks getting together to celebrate the season, but given the numbers in Colorado right now that boat has already sailed. So lets all stay safe (Yeah, wear the mask, stay as socially distant as you can, etc.) but while your at it, please pass the turkey...

Here's a short video I put together to put a little Halloween fright into your day as well as a second one I shot up in them high Country during the recent snowstorm (it might get you into the mood for sleighs and sleighbells, HO, HO, HO!):

'Til next time, BOO! and Merry Christmas!

Absolutely positively the trip that wasn’t...

The plan was to be writing this in the ninety-plus degree heat of Palm Springs, CA but COVID put a nix on that. We had reservations at the Palm Springs KOA but the message from them was that while most everything was open (pool, amenities, etc.) mask-wearing was 50-50 at best and they told us that we’d be coming “at your own risk.” Digging a little deeper on the internet showed that the positivity rate for the Palm Springs area is running anywhere from two to three times the rate of metro Denver which, if you have been paying attention, you know is increasing to levels not seen since early summer. 

So we decided that the prudent thing at this point was to stay put. I hate being prudent. 

Like most of you I’m getting really, really tired of COVID yet there doesn’t appear to be any end in sight. I feel for whoever happens to be President in 2021 because it appears that no one on this blue ball called Earth truly has the answer to our pandemic woes, least of all whichever candidate you cast your ballot for. I perhaps feel most for Mr. Biden who at least seems willing to pay some heed to the medical community but then I wonder why, for goodness sake, he even wants the job given the seemingly insurmountable issues we will face in the next 12-18 months. 

So instead of heading west towards California I was able to talk my better half into taking a day jaunt to the Pawnee National Grasslands to see the Pawnee Buttes. Palm Springs it is not, but this quiet expanse of prairie located about two hours northeast of Denver does offer majestic views and some great hiking. We were there on a weekday and had it almost to ourselves with just a handful of cars in the parking lot and not a single soul on the trails we took. The drive to get there is somewhat convoluted but we were determined. I had not been to the Grasslands before even though I’ve lived in Colorado since 1971 so shame on me. My only excuse is that like many of you when I head out of Denver I usually head uphill instead of out onto the open plains east of town. Anyway, we were happy we made the effort to get to this remote part of Colorado. Here’s a sample of what there is to see if you ever decide to do the prudent (there’s that word again) thing and venture somewhere less traveled.... 

All aboard!

I'm a slacker. I admit it. I've been going to Leadville for 40+ years and it was only last weekend that I first rode the Leadville train. Of course, in its present incarnation as the Leadville Colorado & Southern Railroad, its only been hauling passengers since 1988 so I guess I'm not too late to the party.

We took my wife's mother along for the 2 1/2 hour jaunt from Leadville up towards Fremont Pass gaining 1,000 vertical feet along 9 miles of track. It's an out and back ride and features spectacular views of the Arkansas River valley as well as Colorado's two highest peaks, Mount Elbert and Mount Massive. The railroad encourages mask wearing and social distancing but, as they tell you when you get on board, they are not policemen and make no effort to enforce the guidelines. On the day we went I'd guess it was about a 50-50 split between those wearing masks and those not. The train features seating inside and outside and seemed to offer a fair amount of room to spread out. Dogs are also allowed to ride then train. My mother in law brought along Bijou and you'll see this little white fluffball featured in the video below.

Tickets were $40 a person and there is some light food and beverage service onboard. And yes, there are restrooms on the train as well. All in all, it was a great trip and I'd recommend it to train buffs and anyone who likes to occasionally ride the rails. It was certainly a nice break from all the stuff going on in the world right now. If you can't make it up to Leadville in the next couple of weeks (the weather seems to still be cooperating for trips like this) just sit back and come along for the ride in the video. Oh, and if I ever come out of retirement I want the engineer job on a railroad like this one...

Fall in my neck of the woods

October 1st. Sitting here in a sweatshirt and jeans rather than shorts and tee shirt and almost - almost - turned on the heat this morning when I got up. Back when I was working I would be getting up before the sunrise at this time of year and on my commute I could always tell what time of the year it was as I watched the eastern sunrise move north along the horizon in spring and early summer and then start it’s leisurely jaunt south as fall settled in.

This year of course is like no other. Between COVID, civil unrest in the streets, and it being an election year there’s enough stress to overwhelm almost anyone. Watched the first “Presidential” (it was anything but) debate and all I can say is ouch, just ouch. What a painful experience. I don’t care which side you’re on, vote for whoever you want, but if this is the best America can do then we have a bigger problem than a pesky (if 204,000 lives lost can be called pesky) virus and people marching in rightful protest.

But that’s not what I’m here for today. I’m extremely fortunate to be able to spend much of my free time in the Colorado high country and I don’t think any time of the year is more enjoyable than early fall. The aspen have been changing colors for a couple of weeks now, the temperatures, especially in the mornings, are downright cool, and it seems as if Nature is taking a pause, a silent breather between the hustle and bustle of busy summer and the soon to come somnolent snows of winter.

In the video below you’ll tag along for a meandering trip capturing some of the sights of a fall between 8,000 and 12,000 feet (there’s a reason they call it the high country...). Some of my favorite spots in the state include the areas around Leadville and Twin Lakes, Monarch and Cottonwood Passes, Taylor Park and the Taylor River, and Gunnison and Crested Butte. By the way, they finished paving Cottonwood Pass out of Buena Vista and its a beautiful road trip well worth your time. Monarch Pass is always spectacular in the fall, especially the east side, but just before the top we like to head over “Old Monarch Pass” which is still a dirt road (suitable for passenger cars and SUV’s). We went over Old Monarch Pass last weekend while filming the video and there must have been a recent wind storm as several still-green pine trees had fallen across the road though someone had already come through and chain-sawed a path so vehicles could still get through. 

Once down the Pass we turned right on the beautiful road to the little (“tiny” might be a better descriptor) town of White Pine tucked 10 miles off the highway. Back in 1878 White Pine’s rich silver deposits were beginning to be mined. Though never quite a boomtown it was certainly busier than it is today and that’s fine by me. People still live in White Pine mainly during the summer months and I’m not sure if anyone really winters over as winter road maintenance is minimal making access difficult. On a crisp but sunny Autumn day however, its as beautiful and tranquil spot as any in Colorado. There’s even a small historic cemetery where some of those folks who lived out their final days in White Pine  in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s now enjoy their eternal rest under the shade of a beautiful aspen grove and whispering pines.

Heading over Black Sage Pass, still on dirt roads, towards Waunita Hot Springs takes you through some of the prettiest aspen in the state. The day we drove it we didn’t see another single vehicle between White Pine and Waunita Hot Springs (yes, there is still a hot springs pool though it’s use seems to be primarily reserved for private groups and events). As you crest Black Sage Pass the vistas open up giving some spectacular views.

Gunnison is a town I could easily live in, at least during the month of September! We always take a drive just outside of town along Ohio Creek (you can make this a long loop to Crested Butte over Kebler Pass either by car or bike). There’s apparently a lot of wealth in Gunnison County and along Ohio Creek it’s on display as you can see some incredible ranch homes the equal of anything you’d see in far more crowded Aspen. 

Well, this blog is getting a little long so I’ll let the video speak for itself. It seems each year I try to capture the feeling of what Fall is like in Colorado and each year I wish I could do the season justice. I'm starting to realize how hard that is, but still I try. There’s still time to head up high to see Colorado’s version of fall foliage in a blaze of golds, oranges, reds, and yellows. Oh, and the mountain views aren’t half bad either. It’s easy to get caught up in life in Denver and forget that just a couple of hours away there’s a whole other world that may not take you to a different state but will definitely put you in a different state of mind.