May 30, 2007

Yes, yes, I know. Two months. What the heck is going on around here, you're asking. Obviously, so much fun that I simply haven't had time to sit down and update y'all. I'll try to do so now.

I drove down to Big Bend National Park (712 miles) April 1-6 to meet up with some of my Texas outdoor gal pals. I hadn't been to Big Bend since I was a kid and was astounded at the diversity of the area. From desert to pine trees to rain forested waterfalls. Pretty amazing.
And, if nothing else, being in Texas, BIG VIEWS.





Yep, BIG views. You're looking at Mexico out there, ya know.


Four of us backpacked one night and a couple of women did the hike with us that day. I think we had the easy part even though we're carrying packs cuz they had to hike all the way back that same day!

Anne decided the safest place to be should we have a visiting bear was inside the bear box. To heck with the food!


Friend, Judy, on the Santa Elena Canyon trail. The striations in the canyon wall make it appear as though the water is flowing opposite of it's true course.

Friend, Jane, posing underneath the balanced rock. Brave girl, Jane.

Blooming cactus hither and yon. We were about a week early for the "full bloom" but that might have been foiled or delayed by the unexpected wintery weather that came through Friday night.

This is an ice-covered tree the day after we left the park, in Cline's Corners I think. We had lovely springish weather the entire week at the park. Friday blew in some stuff we didn't care to enjoy in tents and the outdoors. Before it was all over, highways were closed and motorists stranded for a bit. We all made it home but not without some hairy bits of driving along the way.

Wade visited us April 8-13. We were able to do a driving tour to the Great Sand Dune National Park north of Alamosa. Photos simply can't do this area justice. The few people that ventured onto the dunes were tiny specks, that's how huge the dunes are. It is quite a fascinating ecosystem with the desert flats, the dunes, and the mountain range all complexly interconnected.



We also visited Lake Vallecito, a bit outside Durango area. This was the site of my first real camping experience with friend, Val, many years ago. We both have many comical memories from that trip ranging from her (and only her) hearing a bear walk past the tent to my rather talented impression of Dwight Yoakum. You had to be there.


After a couple of days, winter visited us once again.


April was still a really good month for snow shoeing up on the pass so I took advantage of that with my new friend, Ralph, who has since become honey pie Ralph.




It was so beautiful this day, I just had to stop and smell the roses, eh, pine needles. I did actually downhill ski once this season. I was pretty anxious about it since I hadn't been in many, many years. Turns out it comes back to you rather quickly. Had a great time. No photos. For crying out loud! I can't ski AND take photos. You would have enjoyed my theatric face plant but, alas, you'll just have to use your imagination.

No long after these photos Pagosa experienced a pretty quick snow melt and Spring sprang so we've been enjoying lots of hikes in the national forest that surrounds us. I'll spare you all the hiking photos for now. I know it will just get more and more beautiful here so perhaps a few will grace future postings. Besides, I can't fall in the river AND take photos.

May 13-18 Mom and I loaded up Minerva and headed off to Bryce Canyon National Park to meet up with some other outdoor group friends. We really weren't prepared for the unique beauty of this area.


Double click on this so you can get a larger scale. Those trees you see are very tall, like 80-100 feet tall, to give some scale.




Outdoor friends, Shirley & Jean, posing during our hike down into the formations.


Mom at one of the rim overlooks. It is truly a sight to behold.

Wade came out again in May and we enjoyed the Piedra Falls Trail. The entire gang got into the act hiking the trail on a beautiful spring day.




Our next adventure was to Wichita Falls, TX to celebrate Landon's high school graduation. I get to brag here because Landon not only graduated but graduated with honors. That's my nephew!



As you can see, the Cotton family is proud!

This pretty much catches you up on the goings on around here. I'm off on a 6 day kayak camping trip in Utah this weekend. Mom is exploring the local area and creating artistic jewelry and Bonnie is just hanging around being cute. This wishes you all well. Let us hear from you and what's going on in your life.