Quick Getaway, Part 1

Back in early March, I was feeling a bit stressed and decided I needed to get away for a couple of days. The trip was planned about 30 minutes before I left. I headed towards Glenwood Springs, Colorado about 3 hours away.

A winter storm had just passed through so I thought I would like to hike to Hanging Lake and check it out in the winter time.

Along the trail to Hanging Lake.

Along the trail to Hanging Lake.

 

The trail was slick with snow and ice and I used my Stabilicers (cleats) on my boots. The scenery was gorgeous.

 

View down Glenwood Canyon from the Hanging Lake trail.

View down Glenwood Canyon from the Hanging Lake trail.

 

I was startled at the beauty of the lake when I got to the end of the trail.  There were icicles in the falls and the water was a brilliant crystal clear blue-green in the sunlight.

 

Hanging Lake.

Hanging Lake.

 

Hanging Lake

Hanging Lake

 

Hanging Lake

Hanging Lake

 

That evening I had some really authentic Cajun food at The Lost Cajun, in Glenwood Springs.

Dancing Skunks

It was either the summer solstice or the Perseid meteor shower in August, as these are the most likely times I’d be camping in the Pawnee National Grasslands. I was sitting on top of a hill watching the sunset when a couple of skunks emerged from a burrow about 30 feet down the hillside. They came up the hill a little closer. I was on edge, ready to bolt in the opposite direction, but they were oblivious to me. Facing each other, they reared up on their hind legs and began gently pawing each other. They’d spin, fall down and get up again. It reminded me of a dance. It was a very affectionate scene as they were silhouetted with the sun falling below the horizon behind them. When the sun was nearly gone, they disappeared back into the ground and I never saw them again.

Evening 2 of 2015

The full moon combined with the fresh snow makes it very light out at night.

 

Landscape lit by the full moon.  Streaks in the sky are airplanes. (Click for Larger)

Landscape lit by the full moon. Streaks in the sky are airplanes. (Click for Larger)

 

Granted, it’s not quite as bright as depicted in he time exposure above.  But no flashlight is needed to walk around and take photos.