Telluride or Bust

We took the family on a camping trip to the beautiful mountains near Telluride, Colorado for a last shebang before school started.  It was a rough late start getting out the door and on our way, only to discover we left the cooler sitting in the kitchen! After stopping to buy a new one along with its contents, and stopping for pizza at a new favorite place we were on our way.  It was fun trying to set up camp in the dark.  But it was so worth it, unbelievably beautiful.

I love the mountains and this did not disappoint, only made me want to stay there forever.  I love a cold mountain morning with hot chocolate and pancakes.  The kids did too.  It rained a little every afternoon, but not enough to slow us down much, but enough to have some fun times in the tent, and Jacob loved wearing Amanda's shoes and headlamp around camp.

We had a picnic along the river in town, and later watched the kids get very wet wading in the same river.  We also watched a mountain bike race, climbed some rock walls, ate mini donuts, and had some fun conversations with some locals including one guy who showed us the bike seat a bear had recently taken a bite out of.  We also did a bunch of kids length hikes and rode the gondola (the local public transportation) every chance we got.  This hike we took the gondola to the top of the pass between Telluride and Mountain village and then hiked down.

And after packing up camp the last day, we took this hike up Bear Creek
Canyon.  It was 2.2 miles one way.  So 4.4 there and back.  We knew it was more than we had done with the kids before, but not by a lot.  And they surprised us and did fabulous.  Although Dave did end up carrying Jacob a fair amount.

I loved this field of Cairns along the way.  The kids each made one to add to the bunch.  Spencer could have stayed there all day.  He made two with a bridge connecting them.

Finally at the falls, Maren and Spencer were so excited to have made it!

 Then we hiked up to get a closer look.  (And Jacob obviously did not want to participate in any pictures, he was eager to back to some throwing rocks in the water action!)

I hope we can go back again soon!