Home Sweet Tiny Tent!

Here is the post I started a week ago back in Pagosa Springs and then later finished up in Denver:

Greetings from Southwest Colorado! In fact, again from Pagosa Springs!

It has been a while since we've seen internet. We write again, from the San Juan Motel, King of Hot Tubs in Pagosa Springs. All is well. The moon is bright and full on this weekend celebration of independence. We just got back from a 5 day backpacking trip in South San Juan Wilderness to Blue Lake and Conejos Peak.

After our last post we did an overnight to Emerald Lake in Weminuche Wilderness before heading to Telluride for the bluegrass festival.

The trail head kicked it off right.

One of many marmots. They cheep when they see us. Misha chases them and it almost sounds like laughter as they hide out of reach in the rocks.

Emerald Lake, 2nd largest natural lake in CO.

Beautiful spot for dinner on Little Emerald Lake.

The trail down.

After some deliberation, we have nicknamed the car 'The Emancipator.' It seemed like a just name. We have gone over 5,000 miles so far! This picture was taken at Lizard Head Pass on our way to Telluride.

Found time for a quick game of catch before heading for the festival.

Naturally our first stop in town was Telluride Brewing Co. We counted the other day and realized we have been to 13 breweries so far on our trip!

Our camp at the Telluride High School football field for the festival.

Elk Park was one of our favorite spots in Telluride. During the bluegrass festival there are free events. Edgar Meyer's workshop on the bass was one of the events we caught. Later, after the festival was over we brought Misha here and read books.

Peter Rowan

Telluride is at 8,750 ft.

Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn

Our Campsite at the high school. Misha was in doggie camp for the week. 

Go El Nacional!

There is a free gondola to Mountain Village, the town up on the ski mountain. There was music in the park there the Wednesday of the festival. We also went there one morning to play disc golf.

We walked through town each day to get from our campsite to the park where the music was.

Sheridan Opera House where we saw Steep Canyon Rangers play a late night show.

During the festival we connected with Mark, a local ski legend, who we met last year in Honduras. He invited us to stay at his house in Placerville, a tiny town outside Telluride.

Shanti gave us a warm welcome at the Peacehouse

View of Wilson Peak from a hike in Placerville.

Abandoned mines in Placerville. Apparently the government came and sealed them up after 9/11.

Mark invited us on his KOTO radio show! 

Bear Creek Trail

People seem interested to know if John and I are getting along spending all this time together. The answer is yes, we still like each other! Most of the time, that is. Misha provides a good balance and we keep know we have to keep a supportive healthy family dynamic for her sake. Because of afternoon storms, some days we get in the tent around 1pm and are there until the next morning so there is more than enough bonding time. We are both getting a lot of reading done and Misha squeezes in naps whenever she can.

After Telluride we drove back to South San Juan Wilderness south of Del Norte, CO.  Originally we had planned to hike there before the festival but had to change our plans because of snow. Fortunately, the week of the festival was hot and sunny and so a lot of the snow has melted off the roads and trails. The backcountry roads can be pretty rugged and we are one of the few out there without 4 wheel drive.

We did 2 backpacking trips in South San Juan. It was definitely worth going back for.

The wildflowers are in full bloom right now. We've been lucky to catch them in each state we've been to thus far!

Overnight hike to Rudybalid Lake.

Afternoon in the tent. Most afternoon there are storms or the threat of storms so we've had to change our pattern a bit to waking up, packing up and hiking through the morning, then relaxing in the afternoons. 

Victoria Lake. We caught a moose coming down for a drink on the far side.

Pancakes for breakfast! This was our highest car camping site so far at over 11,000 ft.

Went on a short hike along to the Continental Divide and caught a good sunset.

Wolfdog on the divide.

CDT trail.

We've seen lots of deer.

 We went on a 5 day backpacking trip in South San Juan Wilderness:

Start of a 5 day backpacking trip

We met up with the Continental Divide Trail!

Spent the first 2 nights at Blue Lake, which is right on the continental divide and at 11,500 feet.. John went swimming to look for a lucky spinner that snagged on the rocks.

Em's catch.

Scott had shown us how to clean the fish. 

We smoked it on the fire. Delicious!

We summited Conejos Peak in the background at just over 13,000 ft.

Elk herd

Glacier lake

Hiking up Conejos Peak.

Conejos Summit looking towards Tobacco Lake.

Looking down the route up.

The hike up.

The route up.

One of the Twin Lakes.

From the summit of Conejos

The hike down.

Looking in the direction of where we hiked that day. 

On the drive back to Pagosa Springs.

We got a call from the Eastburn family that they were heading to Silverton for an Independence Day vacation with their new camper so we headed that way!

This tiny mountain town at over 9,000ft turns into a tent city every year for 4th of July

It was great to see these guys again

Misha being festive at the parade

USA all the way!

Who wouldn't want to snuggle this mini American

Standing up all on his own

Somehow this always happens

 From Silverton we drove to Ouray and walked around a bit before heading east to Denver to stay with Adam, former Cyclones 3rd basemen.

Crooked Stave in Denver where the bartender gave us a 4 dollar tab though we each did about 6 tasters of sours. He said he hoped it would help us on our long trip! We've met one nice person after another in this state. 

Caught up with an old friend from Yellowstone yesterday in Denver. He took us to some cool places and we got to try our first Pliny the Elder's! This trip has been about reconnecting with friends as much as anything else. We feel so grateful!

We are going to a Rockies game tonight with Adam so pictures to follow. Our plan is to get another backpacking trip in in the Aspen area before going to Park City, UT around the 15th. We'll catch up then. Thanks for reading!