I also made video journals of the trip and the playlist is on YouTube
Colorado Video Playlist 2024
We flew into Denver and rented a car for the drive to Craig. Most of the route in Hwy 40 that we eventually went as far west as you can in Colorado for the trip. It is a glorious drive, winding through vast landscapes and a steep ride over Rabbit Ears Pass just before Steamboat.
At times during the week the highway was stained with the blood of billions of Mormon Crickets migrating and meeting an end on the asphalt of Hwy 40. The convergence creates a unique smell, popping noises, and a very slick surface- talk about a sign of the apocalypse!
Our first stop in the rental car was Silverthrorne and we were freezing from the wind. I quickly put on a sweatshirt and we knew we had escaped the record heat in Birmingham.
Conner, Melissa, Roan, and Millie were awesome hosts!
The Tuesday evening cross fit exercise was tough in the elevation, but I am so glad that Lisa and I did it.
WEDNESDAY (June 19)
We woke up Wednesday to a chilly, beautiful Craig, CO morning and we decided to see how far we could jog uphill (Melissa’s street is a straight climb) without stopping. We both fell out after only going .25 miles! My heart was in my throat and we walked the rest of the way for about a 2 mile morning experience.
We then drove into Steamboat for a 25 mile bike ride through Steamboat bike trails and hiked a little bit at the Steamboat resort. In the video you can see us stopping at the botanical garden which was in full bloom and beautiful.
We flew into Denver and rented a car for the drive to Craig. Most of the route in Hwy 40 that we eventually went as far west as you can in Colorado for the trip. It is a glorious drive, winding through vast landscapes and a steep ride over Rabbit Ears Pass just before Steamboat.
At times during the week the highway was stained with the blood of billions of Mormon Crickets migrating and meeting an end on the asphalt of Hwy 40. The convergence creates a unique smell, popping noises, and a very slick surface- talk about a sign of the apocalypse!
Our first stop in the rental car was Silverthrorne and we were freezing from the wind. I quickly put on a sweatshirt and we knew we had escaped the record heat in Birmingham.
The Tuesday evening cross fit exercise was tough in the elevation, but I am so glad that Lisa and I did it.
WEDNESDAY (June 19)
We woke up Wednesday to a chilly, beautiful Craig, CO morning and we decided to see how far we could jog uphill (Melissa’s street is a straight climb) without stopping. We both fell out after only going .25 miles! My heart was in my throat and we walked the rest of the way for about a 2 mile morning experience.
We then drove into Steamboat for a 25 mile bike ride through Steamboat bike trails and hiked a little bit at the Steamboat resort. In the video you can see us stopping at the botanical garden which was in full bloom and beautiful.
THURSDAY
Lisa and I did the Panorama Park Hike as an early warmup for a travel day to Crested Butte, CO. We took all the adults and 2 dogs in the Jeep Cherokee Laredo and loved the drive. We stopped in Glenwood Springs for a Japanese dinner and I was super impressed by the towns we went through to get to Crested Butte. (Meeker, Rifle, and Carbondale).
Once it got dark, we went over Kebler Pass (fairly rough gravel road) in the rain and it was a crazy experience! It was my introduction to gravel road driving, but thankfully the Lord knew the car we needed for the trip! And that practice helped me throughout the week.
FRIDAY
It was perfect as the days went from cloudy to clear blue skies and sunshine.
Brush Creek was our first hike and it was evident why the call Crested Butte the wild flower capitol of Colorado. The trail was a moderate walk about a mountain stream and the Lord took care of me by putting in my spirit a desire to get some hiking shoes- I would not have survived the week without them!
After the hike, we went into town and were so happy with the vibe. In Crested Butte we sampled a Secret Stash pizza (amazing), Ryce, Teocali, and all were incredible.
SATURDAY
The toughest hike of the entire trip was trying to summit Gothic Mountain. After a long gravel road drive, we started on the hike already in surviving snow (June 21 y’all!) on this 3 and ½ hour hike we climbed 2,168 feet in elevation. We got to a ½ mile from the tip top but was prevented from going further because of the steepness of the trail and snow. We did get up to 11,600 feet and I was DEAD after that!
The toughest hike of the entire trip was trying to summit Gothic Mountain. After a long gravel road drive, we started on the hike already in surviving snow (June 21 y’all!) on this 3 and ½ hour hike we climbed 2,168 feet in elevation. We got to a ½ mile from the tip top but was prevented from going further because of the steepness of the trail and snow. We did get up to 11,600 feet and I was DEAD after that!
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SUNDAY
For the last day in Crested we went on the Snodgrass Mountain hike It was lower in elevation but the 6.5 miles (2 ½ hours) was tougher than predicted because of the day before. A BEAUTIFUL hike indeed and the dogs loved it as well. We went back to Craig with a full heart and tired legs!
MONDAY
Hard to believe that Conner and I drug ourselves awake at 5 AM on Monday to go fishing at the Craig Steam plant. It never disappoints! The video shows how beautiful the small mouth are there and we caught some big crappie as well.
After fishing, Lisa and I went back to Steamboat for a day at the Old Towne Hot Springs. A day pass there gets you a locker, weight room, and huge steam pools where we did a recovery upper body workout and stretching in the warm springs.
TUESDAY
Lisa and I drove to Vail and I was so impressed with the organization and beauty of that interconnected ski village just off I-70. We hiked the town, got German food at Pepe’s and walked over 10 miles- I especially enjoyed Ford Park and the Ski Museum.
WEDNESDAY
Lisa and I went west to Dinosaur National Monument and hiked the Harper’s Corner Trail and then took the Jeep down the steepest gravel road of the week into the bottom of the Canyon and Echo Park campground. Dinosaur is a jewel without many visitors… it has the beauty of Zion National Park without the crowd!
We also got to do a 2nd Cross fit exercise on the last day as well.
THURSDAY
A sad drive back to Denver and I am posting this blog in the Denver Airport.
God was so good to us on this trip and we are trusting Him to land us safely in B’ham and hope to be in bed by midnight.
“Don’t be sad it is ending… be happy it happened” - Dr. Seuss
A sad drive back to Denver and I am posting this blog in the Denver Airport.
God was so good to us on this trip and we are trusting Him to land us safely in B’ham and hope to be in bed by midnight.
“Don’t be sad it is ending… be happy it happened” - Dr. Seuss
Insider Quotes:
"Don't touch me Conner, I'm having a panic attack"
"I'm following your footprints, but because I'm fat I'm sinking lower!"
After I fell in the snow - feet in the air.. "How did you do that?"
"We took way longer going up because of the GoPro"
"The GoPro is not what is slowing us down!"
"Can you go any faster? There is a hail storm coming!"
"If lightning struck me in the ass, I couldn't go any faster!"
"No way we could have brought Millie and Roan to Gothic"
"We are out."
"Do you remember where the backpack is?"
30 minutes later "Hootie Hoo!"
"Where are y'all?"
"Lost"
"Found the backpack!"
"Gothic Mountain- uphill both ways in the snow with the in-laws"
"Aaaargggh"
"Stop being so dramatic!"
POST TRIP UPDATE
One thing I didn't mention is that right after we got to Crested Butte, I had an episode in my left eye (flashing and then floaters that looked like a lint ball). I called my optometrist and he advised me to monitor the situation closely and see him ASAP when I returned.
Sure enough, the morning after I returned, It was evident that I had 2 small retinal tears and the floaters was actually a small amount of blood.
He sent me immediately to the eye Dr downtown and I had laser surgery immediately to 'suture' the tears. It was an uncomfortable experience, But I was so thankful that the Lord protected me until I was able to get help.
In the picture below, the two green dots are the retinal tears.
I put on a bionic contact lense and got hit by what seemed like 20 green laser blasts.
No one really knows what causes these things, the aqueous fluid in the eye can become 'sticky' and pull some of the retina with it.
I was in high altitude and under some duress driving over the pass in the rain at night... but no one really knows.
Psalm 30:2
[2] O LORD my God, I cried to you for help,
and you have healed me. (ESV)
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