Since our trip took so long, and because every minute was filled with great fun and friends, it would take a book to tell you all that happened. So in an effort to let you get on with your good times we'll give you a short itinerary of what we did and a BUNCH of pictures. To get all the high altitude details come visit us and we'll fill you in while creating more good fun.
Thursday:
Larry traveled to Manhattan and did some riding.
Dana enjoyed a quiet evening without Larry running around the house.
Friday:
Larry traveled to Golden Colorado with Brian Snyder and stayed at Andi and Dallas Burnum's house. After arriving in Golden they all went on a ride to the top of Lookout mountain. After the ride everyone drove to Boulder to their favorite watering hole (ask for Nate the brewer and tell him you know the Simonsons) . Southern Sun
Dana enjoyed another headache free evening around the house.
Saturday:
Larry got up early and drove to Avon Colorado and rode the Copper Triangle loop in reverse (Avon to Leadville to Copper, back to Avon) with Dallas, Brian S., Kyle, and Brian H. The entire loop ended up being 100 miles.
(Brian and Larry after Climbing to the top of Climax mine, 11,300 feet)Dana flew into Denver and was picked up by the "girls" (Carrie, Kelly, and Alisa). The events of that night have yet to be divulged but they do a lot of giggling when asked about it.
Sunday:
Everyone traveled to the trail head (90 minutes west of Pueblo) for the beginning of the big hike. Around noon the hike began and everyone made it to camp and got setup by 7:00.
(Dana and Larry starting the hike in. 40 and 50 lbs packs)
(The last 1.5 miles before the campsite)
(Our home away from home, at 11,600 feet)Early in the morning (5:00 am) Dana and Larry woke up to join a small group of our friends to climb Humboldt peak. The climb took about 5 hours round trip.
(Start of the climb, doesn't look that far?)
(Resting half way up Humboldt)
(Summit of Humboldt with the needle in the background)Larry woke up even earlier (4:00 am) to join the group that was climbing the Crestone needle. Due to Dana's fear of heights she decided it would be safer for her to stay back and enjoy a nice day around camp. Boy was she right!
(A shot of the needle after 20 minutes of climbing)
(Kyle climbing up to broken hand pass. Half way point on the Needle)
(It's cold and windy on broken hand pass.)
(Larry on the summit of the needle with Crestone peak in the background.)Everyone slept in (7:00 am). After waking up we all gathered for breakfast before packing up our campsites and hiking out.
(Enjoying breakfast at Kyle's house before the hike out. Humboldt in the background.)
(Dana enjoying the beautiful hike down the mountain)Thursday:
After hiking out on Wednesday we all drove south for about 2 hours to a small cabin in the town of Cuchara. We spent our time there relaxing and enjoying all the modern day conveniences we had missed while in the mountains. We also spent some time in the town of La Veta doing some shopping and even met a KSU graduate that owns a shop there. She said that most of the art work in the studio was done by other KSU graduates from around the country.
(Our cabin. This picture does not do it justice. It was a beautiful cabin in a beautiful location.)
(A smiling Dana climbing Humboldt)
(Dana climbing through the rock fall on Humboldt)
(Almost to the summit of Humboldt. Look at that north face.)
(Carrie and Dana on the summit of Humboldt and ignoring Larry.)
(Dana signing in on her first 14er summit.)
(Larry in the kitchen cooking a romantic dinner for Dana)
(Night life on the mountain)
(The casino)
(Helping our neighbor Kyle out with some yard work. Needle in the background.)
(Bath time in our 35-40 degree ferinheight hot tub.)
(The view from our back porch, the Needle)
(A view of the north face of the needle from the upper lake)
(A view of our campsite from the saddle of Humboldt)
(A view of our campsite near the top of Humboldt. Click on picture to enlarge, you can see Carrie and Brian's blue tent.)
(A view of our campsite from broken hand pass. Climbing the needle)
(A campsite visitor.)
(Another visitor.)
(Summit lunch: Spam, mustard, mayo, tortilla.)
(Mmm...everything tastes good on top of the Needle.)
(Even anchovies!!)
(Yummy.)
(Looking south from the summit of the Needle.)
(A view of Humboldt from the summit of the Needle.)
(The group that did the Needle: Kyle, Paulette (took picture), Nate the brewer, Dallas, and Larry.)
(Larry singning in on the summit of the Needle.)
(Crossing a very steep frozen stream while decending the Needle.)
(Climbing down through the ice and snow. Broken hand pass just above.)
(Crossing the snow field. Campsite just below. 30 more minutes untill we're back to the campsite.)
(Larry and Dana crossing a log bridge on the way to the campsite.)
(Larry's attempt to grow a mustache. Thats 2 weeks of growth and if you enlarge the photo you might be able to see some peach fuz.)
After hiking out on Wednesday we all drove south for about 2 hours to a small cabin in the town of Cuchara. We spent our time there relaxing and enjoying all the modern day conveniences we had missed while in the mountains. We also spent some time in the town of La Veta doing some shopping and even met a KSU graduate that owns a shop there. She said that most of the art work in the studio was done by other KSU graduates from around the country.
(Our cabin. This picture does not do it justice. It was a beautiful cabin in a beautiful location.)Friday:
Dana and Larry drove back to Manhattan. 10hrs on the road.
Saturday:
Larry got up and did the Saturday morning pancake ride to Wamego and back.
Dana joined the girls for breakfast at the Chef and then went to the farmers market.
After eating lunch at Larry's favorite lunch spot in Manhattan Larry and Dana loaded up and made the final push back to Columbia.
Sunday:
Vacation from vacation.
Miscellaneous vacation photos:
Dana and Larry drove back to Manhattan. 10hrs on the road.
Saturday:
Larry got up and did the Saturday morning pancake ride to Wamego and back.
Dana joined the girls for breakfast at the Chef and then went to the farmers market.
After eating lunch at Larry's favorite lunch spot in Manhattan Larry and Dana loaded up and made the final push back to Columbia.
Sunday:
Vacation from vacation.
Miscellaneous vacation photos:
(A smiling Dana climbing Humboldt)
(Dana climbing through the rock fall on Humboldt)
(Almost to the summit of Humboldt. Look at that north face.)
(Carrie and Dana on the summit of Humboldt and ignoring Larry.)
(Dana signing in on her first 14er summit.)
(Larry in the kitchen cooking a romantic dinner for Dana)
(Night life on the mountain)
(The casino)
(Helping our neighbor Kyle out with some yard work. Needle in the background.)
(Bath time in our 35-40 degree ferinheight hot tub.)
(The view from our back porch, the Needle)
(A view of the north face of the needle from the upper lake)
(A view of our campsite from the saddle of Humboldt)
(A view of our campsite near the top of Humboldt. Click on picture to enlarge, you can see Carrie and Brian's blue tent.)
(A view of our campsite from broken hand pass. Climbing the needle)
(A campsite visitor.)
(Another visitor.)
(Summit lunch: Spam, mustard, mayo, tortilla.)
(Mmm...everything tastes good on top of the Needle.)
(Even anchovies!!)
(Yummy.)
(Looking south from the summit of the Needle.)
(A view of Humboldt from the summit of the Needle.)
(The group that did the Needle: Kyle, Paulette (took picture), Nate the brewer, Dallas, and Larry.)
(Larry singning in on the summit of the Needle.)
(Crossing a very steep frozen stream while decending the Needle.)
(Climbing down through the ice and snow. Broken hand pass just above.)
(Crossing the snow field. Campsite just below. 30 more minutes untill we're back to the campsite.)
(Larry and Dana crossing a log bridge on the way to the campsite.)
(Larry's attempt to grow a mustache. Thats 2 weeks of growth and if you enlarge the photo you might be able to see some peach fuz.)
