Pura Vida: 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:

http://www.colorado.com/articles/colorado-scenic-byway-alpine-loop

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.