A Weekend in the Mountains

After a morning in Denver at the Gold Crown with USA Basketball hosting a coaching academy, Don and I took off for Estes Park for a weekend in the mountains.  We took I-70 west out of Denver and then north on the "Peak to Peak" drive up to Estes Park.  We stayed at a cute cabin at Wildwood Cabins near the entry of Rocky Mountain National Park. 

On the Peak to Peak drive to Estes Park

The aspen trees were beautiful this weekend.

Lunch on the way.

The beauty of Rocky Mt. National Park

We walked around Lily Lake

View from Lily Lake

In our cabin at Estes Park

The view from our hot tub on the balcony of our cabin

We spent most of Sunday driving/hiking/exploring Rocky Mt. National Park.

Elk sighting!

It got so close that we backed away and up to the road.

There were several females around too.

Lunch time

We were over two miles above sea level at this point.

Another elk sighting at this high altitude.

The Continental Divide at Milner Pass

It was a great weekend to explore Rocky Mt. National Park.

A Sunday Outing

September 18
Our Sunday: we found a church that we felt at home in! Then a picnic at the Garden of the Gods. And an afternoon at Seven Falls. We LOVE Colorado and the fun places to explore.

The mile or so walk to the falls was beautiful.

At the base of Seven Falls

Ready to head to the top!

Kahlers in CO for Labor Day Weekend

Our first visitors to Colorado Springs are the Kahlers and we couldn't be more excited.  We picked them up at the Denver airport on Friday night about 8:30 and drove to COS to our apartment.  The air mattress was waiting for the boys and the pull-out couch for Melissa and Scott.

Saturday
We spent the morning at the Cave of the Winds for a 90 minute "lantern" tour in the cave.  We each carried a bucket with a light inside.  Our guide was quite the story teller in the darkness of the cave.  

 

Let the cave tour begin!

Next we were off to the Garden of the Gods for a picnic lunch and time to hike & climb on the rocks.  Amy (Melissa's college roommate who lives in Denver) and her son, Jackson met us there.  After several hours of hiking and climbing we all headed back to the apartment complex to swim.

Picnic in the Garden of the Gods

Landon & Owen holding up Balanced Rock

Melissa and Owen under Steamboat Rock

Time to hike and climb

Landon with new friend, Jackson, climbing!

And Owen!

Melissa with Amy - such a dear friend from college.

Kissing Camels

Pool and hot tub time

We DVRd the Iowa Football Game and enjoyed the evening cheering them on!

Celebrating Melissa's August birthday.

Sunday
The Royal Gorge was our destination on Sunday.  First we took the Royal Gorge Route Railroad.  It was a fantastic trip along the Arkansas River.  We really enjoyed the open car to view the sites and the Royal Gorge bridge that we went under.

Picnic lunch time beside the river

 
Rafting.......no pictures but it was GREAT!  The six of us and a guide rafted the Big Horn Sheep Canyon.  We all got wet through the level 2 and 3 rapids.  Landon and Owen loved it!

Royal Gorge
To finish the day we went to the Royal Gorge Bridge.  We rode the gondola across the gorge and then walked back over the bridge.

MOD pizza for supper.  We found this pizza place soon after we moved to CO.  It's like a Subway for pizza.  You designate the sauce of your choice then all the toppings on your made to order pizza.  It's baked in a wood stove and pesto it's ready before you know it.

Monday - Labor Day
We took the cog train up to the top of Pike's Peak.  We boarded at 10:40 and returned about 1:50.  We had thirty minutes at the top.  It was in the 80s at the bottom and 35 at the top (wind chill of 20!)

Time for another day to explore Colorado!

A waterfall viewed from the cog train

 

It was COLD!

Owen enjoyed a nap on the trip back down.

 

Beautiful scenery from the tram.

A trip to Papa's office at USA Basketball

  
Tuesday
We spent the morning at the Olympic Training Center.  The tour was informative.  It was fun to see other areas of the OTC than the areas used for the U16/U17 training.

And just like that it's time to send them back to Iowa.  Back to the Denver airport for a 3:10 flight.  
We LOVED having the Kahlers in Colorado.