A little boy's dream come true...

Locals have become deaf to it, even I may miss the sound, but if Henry is near, the train horn never goes unnoticed. Upon arriving in Durango (maybe even the first day) the train, train tracks, train museum, everything involving the train quickly became Henry's obsession. We waited for the right opportunity to actually have Henry ride the train. Even with his obsession, he was still a bit uneasy when he was extremely close to the train engine. The perfect opportunity fell into place. The train was hosting its annual Pumpkin Train, and Henry's Meemaw and Grandpa (Ryan's' parents) were coming for a visit. The time was now, a little boy's dream come true.....

No surprise here, Henry's Halloween costume was a train engineer. The costume started to come together this summer. First with the purchase of his train hat in Durango, and second, with the purchase of his trusty train whistle in Silverton. I decided to complete the costume with a few more purchases, and all in all, it was a success. Henry loved it.

All aboard....

Super happy and excited to be on the train. 

Loved watching everything go by. 

The train took you from the train station in Durango, to an area outside of town. They had set up a Charlie Brown themed village. 

He found the pumpkin he wanted. 

 

In true Durango fashion, a hike is always a great idea. A day Henry was in school, we decided to take Dave and Jayn on a hike along the southern portion of the Colorado Trail to Gudy's Rest, a look out point with amazing views.

Merry Christmas, Ryan...

It will sound backwards to you (and it should). Ryan bought ME a mountain bike last week, and he said, "This is your Christmas present to me." My response, " What?!?! YOU bought ME a mountain bike and it is YOUR Christmas present?!?!" Yes. Words cannot explain how excited Ryan was to take me mountain biking. I finally said I would go. When in Durango......

Last Monday, Ryan and I went mountain biking together.  I was a bit nervous, actually very nervous......for my face. I had this image of me flying over the front of my handle bars and catching my fall, with my face. We decided to rent a bike for me, to see if I actually liked it. I know everyone says, don't try a new sport/activity with your spouse. Ryan was beyond supportive and patient during our entire ride. I could really tell he wanted me to enjoy the ride.  Well, well, well, I ended up really enjoying the ride. It's hard, such a harder work out than anything I do in the gym. Durango is not flat, the climbs are long, and it's a serious workout. And this was even on an "easy" ride.

After the ride, Ryan and I went back to the bike shop to return the rental, and you guessed it, Ryan bought me a bike. Good motivation to continue riding, no longer paying for a rental, and now I have an awesome bike to hit the trails with. No one needs to know I have no idea what I am doing, but I am out there trying my best.

Two days later, a friend, Ashley, took our friend Sarah and me out on the trails again. It was going to be my second ride, and Sarah's first ride. Ashley is a rockstar on the trails, but was super supportive of Sarah and me. By the end of the ride, Sarah decided she liked mountain biking too! We are building our little group of mountain bikers! :)

Photo credit, Ashley. Documenting Sarah and I making the final climb to the top. 

Three awesome mountain biking ladies.  

So, the next morning, wanting to make the most of her bike rental. Sarah and I went back to the trails. Sarah rocked her second day of biking. After my third day of mountain biking in four days, my beginner mountain biking legs were feeling it. Even with the tired legs, it was so much fun getting outside and exploring new areas of Durango.

Sarah and I documenting our next day hitting the trails. 

I guess is turns out, Ryan and I are a Jeeping, mountain biking family. ;) Merry Christmas, Ryan. Your wife owns (and hits the trails with) a mountain bike.

His and her mountain bikes.
Now it's just a matter of time until we add a mountain bike for Henry. 

Highland Mary Lakes

We first attempted this hike in June, shortly after we moved to Durango. I would say we made it about a mile or two into the hike, and then decided to turn around. The snow was too deep. I was not the most pleasant of hike partners during that first attempt at Highland Mary Lakes. I did not plan to hike through snow, some areas still knee deep. Ryan decided our second attempt would happen in August, the snow would be melted. We had friends join us as well. It was the perfect Sunday afternoon. And no snow!

Taking a dip in one of the lakes. 

Sarah, Caroline, Cameron, and their dog Beasley. 

The rest of our photos from the hike can be found in the photo album:

Highland Mary Lakes Photo Album

Family Hikes...

During Ryan's month home, we plenty of outdoor adventures, or at least we did a lot in August. We knew when he returned home in October, it was going to be a bit too cool for hiking in some of the higher elevations.

Two hikes we did in August were, Engineer Mountain, and Cascade Canyon. We wanted to attempt Engineer Mountain because the elevation is almost 13, 000 feet and we wanted to test if I would have some of the same difficulties I had when we hiked our 14er. The top became extremely steep and rocky, Ryan was a bit nervous wearing Henry and climbing the last bit, we didn't summit, but we did find an awesome spot to sit, have a snack and take in the beautiful views.

Views from Engineer Mountain. 

The second hike started near Purgatory Ski Resort, and took us to Cascade Canyon. In the winter, the Durango, Silverton  Train makes trips to and from Cascade Canyon. Ryan and I were able to ride the train to Cascade Canyon back in February when we first visited Durango. The hike was a bit unusual, or at least different for us in that you actually descend during the first part of the hike to a meadow, cross a meadow, ascend in elevation, then descend again to the Animas River. It was a lot of ups and downs, but it was a beautiful hike. The only negative of the hike, Ryan commented, "I'm surprised we don't see more snakes while we are out hiking." Apparently the snakes heard the comment, and took it as a challenge. Plenty of snakes made themselves present, luckily, only small snakes, but it did not keep me from screaming, a lot.

Our final hike before Ryan left was with friends we met since moving to Durango. They are very active like us, and have a daughter 7 months older than Henry. It turned out to be an excellent adventure, for our second attempt at Highland Mary Lakes. Stay tuned for post.

Kennebec Pass Picnic

Our first bear sighting occurred during our second attempt at Kennebec Pass. We drove this pass earlier in the year (June?) but was unable to make it all the way to the top because of snow. Our second attempt, in August was successful, and the views were well worth it. It is incredible to think this beautiful landscape is our "backyard."

Ryan had the idea to pack up our dinner, and this adventure became our dinner and entertainment for the evening. Little did we know, the wildlife of the area would also be joining us. Fortunately, our bear sighting was while we were driving, and nowhere near our picnic sight, but a couple deer decided to check out what we were having for dinner.

Surrounded by beautiful scenery, dining on delicious food, and entertained by wildlife, what more could you ask for...

*And since I know Ryan will say, "You can have the same things when you go camping." I will add, and we didn't even have to camp for this wonderful experience. :)

Preparing dinner. The top of the Pass is at the look out point, the notched area on the top ridge.
Straight up, and slightly left of our picnic blanket.
The notch was man made, put there to make transport between mines in the area easier. 

A picture of a picture. With our deer friend watching. 

The picture I was taking.

Bear at the top of the Pass. 

Views from the top of the Pass. 

💙

Another deer friend, checking out our dinner. 

Henry setting the "table."

The bear cub we spotted. He was busy turning over boulders, searching for food. We never saw Mama, but I knew she was close by. 

If you would like to see more from our family picnic, click on the link below:

Kennebec Pass Picnic Photo Album

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.

http://www.lakecity.com/mountain-town-activities/historic-attractions/17-things-to-do/history/11-alferd-packer

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:

Alpine Loop Part 2 Photo Album