Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Alpine Loop Part 2

Part 2 of our Alpine Loop adventure began on Engineer Pass. It would take us from Ouray to Lake City. As with the other passes, the views were amazing, and the drive was not too scary. Usually, I only get nervous when we are crawling over sharp boulders. I fear I am going to look out the window and see one of Bear's tires shredded. This pass was especially popular with Jeeps. We have seen Jeeps on every pass, but for some reason, maybe it was the day, we found ourselves in a line of close to 10 Jeeps.



Lots of Jeep Jeep love on Engineer Pass, no need to take a selfie. 

We arrived in Lake City and checked in at our lodging, Cannibal Cabins. Yes, you read that correctly. When Ryan began to plan the Alpine Loop trip, he asked how I felt about camping the entire time, I told him 2 nights was my limit. So, that left him to find lodging in Lake City.  Cannibal Cabins had availability, and the reviews were good. I could care less about the name, I wanted a shower and a toilet, indoors. But I did research Lake City, and I read about Alfred Packer, it all started to make since why Lake City has so many cannibal and Packer references.




Our main adventure while in Lake City was our first 14er climb. A 14er is a peak at or above 14,000ft. The U.S. has 96 fourteeners, and Colorado has the most of any state, 53. The San Juan Range, where we live in Southwest Colorado is home to 13 fourteeners. Uncompahgre Peak was our first 14er (elevation 14, 309ft), but will not be our last. 

I am not even going to try and sugar coat the experience, my first 14er climb was brutal, it was ugly, and at one point (actually, many, many, points) through out the hike, I vowed I would never climb another 14 er again. I am by no means an expert hiker, but something was wrong with me the day we hiked Uncompahgre. It was about 1.5 miles into the hike up, around 12, 500 feet, that I started feeling off. Dizzy, nauseous. I had never experienced altitude sickness before, but that's what Ryan and I believe happened. The higher I climbed, the worse it got, but in my true stubborn fashion, I refused to give up. I am so thankful the weather held out. That is one of the fears with hiking 14ers, the weather changes rapidly, and it is always a push to the top, so you can hike out before bad weather moves in. Mother Nature was on my side (about time since she always makes in rain when we camp), she made sure it did not rain or storm, and after a very long hike, I finally made it to the top. Ryan and Henry were already at the top. I had told Ryan to go ahead, summit, just in case I was not able to make it. 

Ryan and Henry at the summit. I was still somewhere along the climb up. 
Family Photo at the top. I do plan to attempt another 14er. Hopefully the next time, the experience will not be so dizzying or nauseating. 



After surviving the hike, we decided to take a recommendation from the manager of the cabins we were staying at and went on a moose hunt. Not literally, she told us of a place nearby that has frequent moose sightings. We were very fortunate to find 3 moose, and Henry greatly enjoyed the experience.



After two nights in Lake City, we said goodbye and began our last pass of the Alpine Loop, Cinnamon Pass. This pass would take us from Lake City to Silverton. Along the way, we passed American Basin, the location of two more 14ers, but we will have to save those hikes for a future adventure. 

American Basin



We arrived in Silverton at the perfect time. The train was still there, waiting to depart for its return trip to Durango. This was the first time Henry experienced the train in Silverton. I love Silverton! It is an incredible town, it's cute, it's small, the people are nice, it's just all around  my favorite place near Durango. My love for Silverton may have something to do with the fact it's the last town we see before many of our Jeeping and hiking adventures, and it's the first town we see after we survive our Jeep and hiking adventures. Avalanche Brewery is our go to place. The beers are fun, the pizza is delicious, it's the perfect place to relax after another Lang Family Adventure. 

At Avalanche Brewery in Silverton. 


We bought him a train whistle, of course he had to go blow his whistle at the train. All was fun and games until the train decided to blow it's whistle. :) Picture in the photo album. 

View of Silverton on our drive back to Durango. 

The rest of our pictures from the second part of our Alpine Loop Adventure:


Friday, September 22, 2017

Alpine Loop Part 1

I know, I know, it's been 2 months since I've posted. I frequently get the question, "When are you going to post again?" Well, it's not an excuse, but all I can say is, I went camping, again....

No, I have not been camping for the last 2 months, that would be ridiculous, anger would have reached an entirely new level, lives would have been lost, I went camping for 2 nights, my maximum duration for any camping trip. During Ryan's last month off, we explored the Alpine Loop.

You do not know what the Alpine Loop is? No need to worry, I didn't know either until Ryan suggested the trip, and I did a bit of research. Here's a good link:

We split the drive into two parts. We started just outside Silverton and drove Black Bear Pass to Telluride. Black Bear Pass is supposedly one of the most difficult, scariest 4WD trails in Colorado, but I didn't think it was bad. Maybe it was Bear's (our Jeep) awesome capabilities, or Ryan's awesome driving skills, either way, I would say other passes were scarier. The thing I enjoyed most about this trail was that it is one way, thank goodness, because for me, the scariest thing about the 4WD trails in the area is when you have a vehicle coming at you and you need to navigate around each other without tumbling off the side of a mountain. I also enjoyed the views of Telluride. Black Bear Pass, checked that off the Colorado 4WD Bucket List.
Family Photo at the top of the pass. 

Can't leave Bear out. His obligatory trail photo, with Telluride in the background.

We stopped in Telluride for lunch, made our obligatory visit to Telluride Truffle (super delicious chocolates), let Little Man run around and expend some energy, then it was back into Bear for the start of our second pass, Imogene Pass. This pass takes you from Telluride to Ouray. Again, I didn't think the pass was too scary. Maybe I am finally becoming immune to all the crazy trails Ryan takes me on. Unfortunately, the weather was a bit rainy, but fortunately, Henry took a nap. We came out at the end of Imogene Pass to the "Switzerland of America" the town of Ouray. This would be the location of my latest camping experience. 

It's a bit rainy, but see the zigzag trail coming down the mountain (center of the picture, look to the left of waterfall) that is Black Bear Pass, the switchbacks that take you down the mountain, into Telluride.


If you remember anything about my first camping experience, we arrived and set up camp in the rain. Guess what folks, Mother Nature keeps telling me not to go camping. We arrived at the campground, and you guessed it, it was raining, again. Comparing my first and second camping experiences, Ryan and I have come to the conclusion, the first hour or two of camping, I am mean, I am in a bad mood, I complain, but then, you get some food in me, a little bit of adult beverage and I am good. I start to settle in, and not think so negatively of camping. Ironically, that is also about the time the rain stops. 

I enjoyed the campsites, they were more spread out, among the trees, so you could not see another tent. I was worried the remoteness of the campsites would lead to more bears, and luckily we did not have a bear visit our campsite, but one did visit our neighbor's. During the middle of the night, I heard someone yelling and assumed there was a bear somewhere near by. Knowing I was in a tent, and pretty much out of luck if the bear decided to come visit our site and tear into our tent, I decided my best option was to roll over and make sure my face was not directly next to the tent's side, it seemed logical at the time. The next morning we talked with our neighbor and he showed us the destruction, the Bear slashed through their mesh tent they had set up over their picnic table. Apparently a couple of his children left ham sandwiches in their backpacks, ham sandwiches will do that. The backpacks were never located. 

I always make sure I have one picture of me from camping. Proof, documentation I actually went camping. One thing I have figured out, I make gourmet meals before we go camping, freeze them, and then all we have to do is heat them up on the camping stove or campfire. So even if I am living out in nature, I am still eating really good food. If you need camping meal recipes, let me know, I have some delicious ones. 

View from our campground, looking down at Ouray. 

Part of me hoped Henry would not like camping, but he loves it, his Dad loves camping, so therefore I will continue to camp. 

While camping in Ouray we hiked up to Grizzly Bear Mine. It was a good hike, nice and scenic, the mine at the end of the hike was not as impressive as I expected, but let's be honest, it's a mine, probably 100+ years old, and miles into the forest, it's not going to be some big metropolis. The hiking along the edge of the mountain added to the excitement and made the hike memorable. After any good hike, and especially for Ryan carrying our concrete block of a child, we earned a trip to Ouray Brewery. 

Our little hiker in training. Henry usually hikes the first part of each hike. It's our way to wear him out and make him want to get in the hiking backpack. 

Family photo in the ski gondola at Ouray Brewery. 


The next day we began our second part of the Alpine Loop, we would take Engineer Pass to Lake City. 

If you wish to see the remaining pictures, click on the link below: