Day two at Great Sand Dunes

We are off to explore some of the forested sections that front the dunes along Medano Pass Primitive Road that tracks along Medano Creek.  We know before we start that we can’t go past the 6th creek crossing since water is high and there is lots of mud.  Many are getting stuck.  We hope to get that far.  One mile in and we encounter “deep, soft sand” warning signs with advice to reduce air pressure to navigate.  Rats, too daunting.  We park at “The Point of no Return” and set out on foot.  Sand Ramp Trail runs along the forest edge with some nice views of the dunes but the mosquitos are thick and ruthless.  We make it 2.5 miles out then turn back, actually opting to walk back the road to avoid the buggiest sections.  All told we see 2 cottontails and a green tailed towhee, not a wonderful critter count.  We dally a bit to wade in Medano Creek cooling our toes in the ever-changing flow streams.  We make a couple more stops (in breezy areas) to enjoy views.  We are relieved to get back to the truck but unhappy that we made the trek.

Great Sand Dunes

It is a chilly 42F when we roll out of bed at 6:45. Weather Underground forecasts 82 by mid-day with brilliant bright sun and humidity around 22%.   If we are going sand dune climbing, we better get going. We grab a quick breakfast and are at the trail head by 8:20. Wow, there are tons of mosquitoes.  The NP web page warned there could be but, it seemed they might be exaggerating.  This is high desert after all!  Nope, they decend upon us in clouds and even with repellant we scurry out of vegetation onto the wind-swept sand field to find relief.  Medano Creek originates as snow melt high in the Sangre De Cristo mountains and wraps around this side of the dune field.  It has reduced in flow since spring peak but it is still amazing to see it here.  I take off my shoes and splash through the wonderfully cool braided rivulets.  We witness pulse flow; a phenomenon caused as temporary sand dams in the flow form and collapse with the water flow.  Pretty cool.  It is a fun crossing.

Ok time to start hiking.  That’s where we are heading, High Dune.  Just follow the ridges a mere 2.5 miles round trip.  The path is rolling to start but soon becomes steeper with many sections across deep loose sand.  There are quite a few breaks and after an hour of climbing we begin to question whether we really need to go all the way to High Dune.  Well, maybe.  We keep trekking.  We are both doing lots of huffing and puffing and I’m a bit queasy.  Looks like maybe I am not quite acclimated to 7500 – 8000 ft.  We cut the hike short stopping at a pre-dune after about a 325ft climb in elevation and take a seat on the ridge.  The view is fantastic and it’s a great spot to sit and watch sand boarders.  With a bit of rest, some salty snacks, and plenty of water I’m feeling ok.  We stick to our decision to stop our ascent and make our way back down toward the creek.  No way the High Dune trip could have been just 2.5 miles.  Our round trip was 2.25 miles and it was easily another ¾ mile to the very top.  No matter, we had a great hike.

We check out the visitor center and get a pretty good lesson on this unique ecosystem that encompasses the mountain ridge (its contribution of water from snowmelt and effect on wind and weather patterns), the sand field (its origin as mountain erosion products deposited in a great inland sea), and water (it sustains life here, regenerates the aquifer, and transports sand back to the base of the dunes to be carried through again) together they sustains this always changing but ever stays the same system.   This site is one of the few National Park and Preserve sites where all elements, even the underlying aquifer are protected and the ecosystem less threatened by neighboring land uses.  Good Job Department of the Interior.

Kingston time

Celebration! – our primary reason for the NY visit – Willa’s 5th birthday.  Cake baking and decorating is the first order of business.  It’s a rainbow this year.  Three batches of cake and an unbelievable amount of brightly colored buttercream icing.  Check it out.

As part of a compromise (Willa asked for poop shaped cake) Willa helped decorate “poop’ cupcakes.  I’m not sure it’s a great idea…..we shall see.

The party is at the kids’ house and is a big hit.  There are lots of kids and their families, grandparents, and extended family Uncle Brian and Great Aunt Carol.  A huge unicorn balloon greets the guests, another one makes an appearance as a pinata, and the rainbow cake is a hit.  Cool looking and tasty.

Willa just had to share the “Poop” cupcakes.  The kids loved them….

Happy Birthday, Willa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Much of the rest of our visit was grand daughter time.  Tracy is out of town on business and we jump at the chance to spend time with them.  Walks, bike rides, wagon rides, a little baking, projects, reading, and a lot of pretend play.  Kent and Willa challenge Mike to a pretty competitive game of chess.  Mike one; Willa, next time.

It is Spring concert time for the pre-k class and we are all invited.  What a fun program.  We love it Willa.  We sneak a few no grand-kids moments. I get an evening out with just “my” boys and Kent and I have breakfast out with our guys.  All too rare and cherished get-togethers.

We fit in a hike at Black Creek Preserve.  Willa is on foot and Mike has Hazel in the carrier. The trail crosses a number of bridges and there are great huge old trees so there are lots of troll and ogre encounters.  Good time had by all.

We squeeze in a little home remodeling work.  Kitchen counters have already been replaced, some great looking white plus marbling quartz.  The next real step is back splash but there was a bit of electrical work to do behind that section of the wall first.  Done!  We reset the stove to add insulation and dishwasher to fit the new countertops.  Always something…..

Bye guys, we head back west to Colorado.  Next visit, the whole Kingston family with us at Tetons National Park.  Can’t wait to see you then!!

Mid-height in the canyon at Zion

Side streams into the canyon cascade from cliffs high above the canyon floor.  Airy, windblown falls pool on rock benches along the rock walls creating cool oases for wildlife and hiker.  Today we check out the three emerald pools across from Zion Lodge.  There are lots of steps and some steep ramp sections but this is a cake walk of a hike compared to West rim out of the canyon.  We see up close the huge impact of water on this whole ecosystem, enjoy great canyon views, and even find a bench to sit and watch some climbers.

Bucket List Adventure

We have for many years been in Canada and Alaska but never really seen the Aurora Borealis.  During the summer months the nights are short and sometimes cloudy and we seem to go pretty hard during the day then sleep at night when the “lights” are visible.  Too many times our camping neighbors have asked if we saw the lights last night.  So we decided to take a special trip when the conditions were favorable to see them.  According to the brochure if you stay 3 nights you have a 95% chance of viewing them near Yellowknife, Northwest Territory Canada.  We chose the Blanchford Lake Lodge as our destination.  We checked the phase of the moon and scheduled during the New Moon to avoid the moonglow interference.  We were planning to travel in the southwest this summer and host Willa for a desert adventure during her Spring break so we hurried from Texas to near Las Vegas for our flight.

After several flight adjustments our travel to Yellowknife via Vancouver left much earlier than when we picked the flight but choices to these destinations are pretty limited.  So, we added a hotel stay the night before and caught the 3:30AM shuttle to the airport. We sailed through security and grabbed a fast-food breakfast prior to the flight.  We had plenty of time for lunch in Vancouver due to the early flight, then it was on to Yellowknife with an 8:30PM landing. The airport at Yellowknife amounted to a building with 3 gates(doors) where you walked across the plane parking area.  Glad we kept our coats in the overhead since it was about -4F and windy.

Upon arrival at the hotel we were informed, the kitchen is closed including “bar food” , so it was off into the night in search of Boston Pizza.  Boston Pizza also has a full bar so it was a good find for some weary travelers.  We learned the next morning the “lights” were visible briefly during our dinner.  Seems like our luck is holding true to form.

We were scheduled on the Tindi Air noon flight to the lodge from the “old town” float plane base. When we arrived at Tindi we traded our lower 48 winter gear for the real thing.  Seems part of the “wilderness float(ski) plane” rules require everyone to be in Survival gear and here that means -35F.  Our plane for the trip was a historic/legendary twin Otter.  Before we boarded the aft of the plane was loaded with food and supplies for the lodge including fuel for the generator and snowmobiles.

The flight went without event and was pretty smooth considering our altitude was probably less than 2,000 ft.  We were greeted upon arrival and given a walking tour of the entire facility while our luggage was distributed.

 

Blanchford Lake Lodge has been hosting summer and winter adventurers for decades. One member of our group had been to the lodge 32 years earlier and was fascinated by the current conditions.  Our choice for the adventure was the original cabin built after the lodge itself.  It included sleeping space for up to 7 including the loft, a wood stove for heat and a composting toilet.  It took a little practice but it was never too hot or too cold in the cabin other than a couple of times we stayed away too long and the fire went completely cold.

We watched for lights the first night and learned the next morning they were visible around 3:30AM after we gave up around 2.  Our luck is still holding.

The next night we had clouds move in after midnight so we went on to bed.

The third night the spectacular

 

show started around 9:30PM and lasted until after midnight.  The lodge had buzzers like are used in restaurants to call when your table is ready for those of us in cabins and they promised to knock on doors unless you had the “do not disturb” sign out.  This night the buzzer was jumping and doors were knocked on but we had already noticed the view and were out snapping pictures and enjoying the view.  This was the show we came to see.

The fourth night was not spectacular but still worthy of attention between clouds.

During the days we found ourselves hiking the many trails through the wilderness.  So beautiful and serene.

One afternoon a “boot” hockey game broke out mostly among the Canadians.  Boot hockey is much like sandlot hockey, no skates, self officiated, and the goal at each end was (2)5 gal buckets.  We watched and cheered.

All too soon it was time to leave.  The puzzle Lynn started the 1st day in the lodge was nearing completion but, that joy was left for the incoming adventurers. We received a heartfelt sendoff from the older couple that mostly stayed behind the scenes and were probably the owners of the lodge.

After our flight back to Yellowknife we ventured across Great Slave Lake to see Yellowknife’s Winterfest. Each year volunteers construct an ice castle and figures on the lake.  The only non-ice items I saw were a couple of wooden doors.  The Castle is open for the month of March then demolished and left to melt back into the lake during the spring thaw.  An amazing community event.

After a night in Yellowknife it was back to Las Vegas via Vancouver without incident.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But we are not headed back to the motorhome just yet.

We planned to go pickup Willa for her spring break trip.  Then Mike and Tracy sweetened the pot. “would we like to take care of both girls in Kingston for a week while they take a mini-vacation of their own”.  They got an emphatic yes so after a change of suitcases and a night in Vegas we were NY bound.

 

 

While we were in NY we learned of the sudden closure of Blandford Lake Lodge.  Seems inflation added on top of the pandemic stretched the operation too thin to continue.  Seems a shame.  Really glad it held out till after our trip.

Rogers Rock Trail

3.3 miles and an 800 foot elevation change…all rock clambering we discover.  The trailhead to Rogers Rock is right here in camp.  It is a climb to a rock promontory that overlooks the north end of Lake George and is rated as moderate.  It is 50 degrees when we head out.  We each don a couple layers plus gloves and hats and we are off.  An easy start is quickly replaced by a steep challenging climb.  Trail marking is a bit weathered and tough to follow.  We shed layers and meticulously route pick to find reasonable footing.   It is definitely a more challenging hike than I anticipated but we are rewarded with a lovely view and a perfect rock outcropping to relax in the mid-day sun.  We try an alternate path down but it is not any easier and we encounter a new hazard, snakes. The sun is warming rock surfaces just enough to coax them out.  All we see are harmless non venomous ribbon snakes.  We arrive back at the trailhead with no twists or sprains, just a wet butt (mine) from a slide down a particularly long steep rocky section.

The VIC

We climb out of bed around 8AM.  It is in the 50s and has been raining on and off much of the night.  It seems to have finally stopped and we gather up and head to check out the VIC or Visitor Information Center at Paul Smiths College.  It has been recommended as a place with great marsh and bog nature trails good for birding, wildlife and unique plant-life.  Rain holds off for much of the day and we complete the Heron Marsh and Boreal Life Trails.  We meander along the shores of ponds, through dense stands of stately pine, and among carnivorous pitcher plants and stunted pines along bog boardwalks. Sunlight streaks through the canopy of forest zones and splashes off the brilliant fall color of the surrounding mountains.  We spot a deer standing so still among the trees that she didn’t even seem to blink her eyes.  Turtles are sunning in the ponds.  A family of otters plays.  Great blue heron are out hunting, ducks dabble and quack, and woodland birds flit about overhead. The first raindrops fall just as we get back to the car.  Perfect timing for a beautiful walk.

Around Waramaug

It is cool and clear so we decide to explore some of the other local parks.  With no internet we can do no research so off we go to check it out first hand.  First, Above All State Park.  As it turns out, this is a very small undeveloped parcel.  It is of historical significance in that as a high point it served as watch point during ……wars.  They report some ruins to explore but no trails or map.  We pass on it this time and instead try a nearby trail at the Strong parcel of the Warren Preserve.  Locals fund a land trust now holding a number of parcels.  Here they have blazed a mile or so trail through mature oak and an area where cleared land has been retaken by second growth forest.  Ferns blanket the ground where rock walls crisscross long ago tilled fields.  It is a lovely loop walk.  We spot frogs, squirrels and what was probably the behind of a deer as it bounded off through the woods.

Second, Mount Tom State Park.  Here we find a quiet lake (usually quiet anyway – today the fire and police are having dive training) and a climb to a tower overlook.  We opt for the hike and head up a steepish trail that takes us to a fantastic stone turret-style tower.  Of course, we climb it including the head knocker low clearance at the very top.  Another nice mountain view and flash backs of ogre and troll encounters during our walks with Willa.  This tower is a perfect ogre hideout!

Kids a-plenty

It is our last day here at Kenneth Wilson so we head out to explore the SP trails and maybe dip our paddles in the local pond.  We turn the corner into the day use area and are greeted with 2 bus loads of 10-year-olds.  Looks like it is field day.  They are corralled in team building activities by their adults so we skirt the group and head out the nature trail.  In minutes we are beyond earshot of the kids and emersed in thick forest along a still-water bog that reflects beautifully.  We cross into pine forest where thick layers of needles muffle even our footsteps.  Wildlife is sparce with only squirrels to keep us company but it is a nice walk.  It is still chilly and kids are everywhere as we emerge from the trail.  We will return later for a possible kayak run.   (Later we return from Opus 40 ready to relax. Kayaking will have to wait for our next visit.)

Keep on trekking

We headed for bed around 9 last night after taking a preventive dose of ibuprofen.  There was still some tossing and turning with tired feet and leg cramps but eventually we dosed off.  It seemed like only minutes ‘til I get an elbow bump and “Its 6:05.  Are we going hiking?”  There is a 10 minute snooze then we are up and the coffee perking.  The air is cool and the sky clear as we head out for another chance for long mountain views. We are at the route 47 trailhead for the Giant Ledge trail before 8:30.

The trail looks a lot like a stream bed.  Loose rocks are strewn haphazardly and it is wet underfoot.  Thankfully there’s been no rain the last day or two so it is passable.  Occasionally sunlight makes its way through the canopy splashing brilliant patches on the forest floor.  Birds chip and tsk up in the canopy and woodpeckers softly peck in search of breakfast.  We are grateful for the cool temps and shed jackets before the halfway mark.  It is a workout because of elevation change and all-consuming to watch foot placement among the obstacles.  We have the place pretty much to ourselves as we encounter only three hikers the entire climb.  We have arrived!  From a clear rock cropping we take in a majestic view across at least 5 mountain ridges.  Streaks of clouds form along the ridgelines.  There are so many colors of green.  Wind rustles the treetops beneath us.  Here on our perfect perch the cool air swirls and brilliant sun warms.  It is a great place to hang for a bit.