Fall Colors 12 Mile Ranch

So during one of the last weekends at 12 Mile in September before closing, I went on a beautiful bike ride through the Pike National Forest with Willie and Fisher. This is a trail I use often when up at the cabin and when the leaves are changing in the fall, it is gorgeous. We stopped alot to take photos. Here are the results.

Self photo trying to get the dogs to cooperate. It took a few times.

Willie and Fisher were very patient.

The cabin just after a storm and just before sunset.

The eyes of the aspen leaves see the trail.

A successful self timer pic.

Sun and showers created a beautiful rainbow. What a evening!

Buffalo Wilderness Backpacking

For a while now, I have wanted to explore the Buffalo Wilderness and hike the peaks. So over Labor Day weekend, John and I decided to spend two nights in this area. We knew the weather was supposed to be iffy with a strong chance of rain but we went anyway. Two trail connect taking you on a 12 mile loop. We went counterclockwise starting on the Rick Creek trail and connected the Rough and Tumbling Creek trail. This trailhead is only about a 15 minute drive from our cabin. My parents left with us and hiked a couple hrs in with us before they headed back to the car and we kept going. We hiked for about 4 hrs and eventually made it to Buffalo Meadow where we found a great campsite. It never rained on us but clouds were building all day. There were a few other groups camping in the meadow but we still were able to get away and feel like we were the only ones out there. The evening was calm with a roaring fire to keep us warm.

The next day we woke to clouds and minimal sun. We decided it wasn't a good idea to hike up the Buffalo peaks which are at 12,000 or so feet with the weather already looking ugly at 9am in the morning. So we hung out all morning and then went on a short walk up the meadow before turning around because of thunder, lightening and rain. Hiking out to the car wasn't an option in the weather as it was a six mile hike out. So instead, we got the fire going to keep warm and then huddled under the trees during the storm. Fisher was not thrilled to be stuck out there with thunder booming all around us. He huddled as close to me as possible and couldn't stop shaking. Poor guy.

Luckily the weather cleared just before sunset and we had a beautiful evening and woke up the next day to sun. We leisurely at breakfast, packed up camp and headed out mid morning. The hike out was beautiful and most of it was downhill so it only took us 2 1/2 hrs. It felt great to get to the car and take up my pack and hiking boots. Back to the cabin to eat something and then drive home to Manitou. What a fun weekend. Here are some pics.

Walking through the changing colors of the aspen.

Looking back at East and West Buffalo Peaks. Some day I'll

summit them but not this weekend.

Fisher ready to go. Leaving camp.

The sun came out. Perfect time for a beer.

Views from camp in Buffalo Meadow.

The gathering of the wood!

Keeping warm.

Fisher and I huddling under the tree from the storm.

Our camp.

Lunch time! yummy!

The Next Chapter

It has been a while since posting. Since returning from New Zealand, my life has brought many changes. In April, I ran the 21 miler at Big Sur with my mom and then officially moved out of California back to Colorado. John decided to bolt from California too and we drove a big rental truck with both our stuff across four states finally landing at my parents in Colorado Springs sometime in May. Then the next task was to get my Colorado PA license and find a job. After many responses of "we want someone with experience" and many patient hours on the computer and the phone, I finally landed a job at a family practice office in Colorado Springs. The next step was moving out of my parents house. I found a great little spot in Manitou Springs walking distance to a park and to downtown Manitou. It took a while to move in and get settled as I began work at the same time. It is a great spot, close to trails, Pikes Peak, easy access to the mountains, and not a far drive from my parents.

In between moving and a new job this summer, I continued to train for long distance running races, spend time at 12 Mile, backpacked in the Buffalo Wilderness and attended two family weddings in Snowmass and Durango. I ran the Mt Evans Ascent in June earning 10th overall female, Summer Round Up 12K in Bear Creek Park finishing 6th in my age group and 22 overall female, the Pikes Peak Marathon finishing 17th overall female and 2nd in my age group, Imogene Pass Run finishing 13th in age group and just recently finishing Golden Hills Marathon in Oakland finishing 1st in age group and 7th overall female. It was a great summer for events and running with the Pikes Peak Marathon as the most rewarding. What an amazing experience.

So I hope to regularly post now. Some upcoming adventures include a trip back to Puget Sound for a Alumni UPS Women's soccer weekend and my mom and I's annual holiday trip to NYC and of course the holidays are approaching fast!

To be continued..........