Karen’s Visit

My sister, Karen, came to visit and help us out for a week at the end of October. 

It was great to have another pair of hands around the house.  She helped out with diaper duty, holding the little pumpkin, and household chores.  But we thought it was great just to have her visiting us and showing her some of our favorite spots. 

One day we walked Pearl Street in Boulder and had lunch out.  On the way home we stopped in Eldorado Canyon State Park to show her the colorful cliffs and watch rock climbers.

Another day we took a short hike in Red Rocks and then had lunch at the cafe there.  The park and the amphitheatre are so stunning to me every time I re-visit.  Here’s a recap of our day:

Here’s Andy and I with our little “Pumpkin” in her pumpkin outfit.

Then we had to do a diaper change…in the trunk of the car (is that allowable??  We hope so, because I expect many more of those days!)

Here’s a panorama of the Red Rocks that my sister took.

And, what Mom couldn’t love a face like this?

Here’s Andy, Karen and Elizabeth on the trail.

Ok, this wasn’t taken in the park, but it’s one of my favorite bath time shots of Elizabeth.

For more everyday pictures of Elizabeth and our time with Karen, visit our October WebAlbum.

Golden, CO – Windy Saddle Park

Our sunset walk on this night was a new trail for us.  It’s called the Beaver Brook Trail.  This trail starts at Windy Saddle on Lookout Mountain Road above Golden.  It’s only about 1.2 miles long inside this park, but goes for another 6 – 6.5 miles in the neighboring Genesee Mountain Park.  Genesee Park is where you can find a herd of Buffalo, too.

This trail is so close to home that I really don’t know how we hadn’t done it already!  It offered views starting from the parking lot.

And from one rocky outcropping, we could look eastward and see north Table Mountain in Golden.

Quite a bit of the trail was rocky and yet mountain bikers and trail runners passed us by.  Not all of Beaver Brook is open to mountain bikers, which was good because some larger rocks required a little hand up from Andy for me to get over.  At 33 weeks pregnant, this trail, with it’s rocks and narrow ledges in spots, was proving more interesting than I expected.

Here’s a shot of Andy on the trail…

Ok, so I didn’t have to climb through that opening like he did…and good thing, I’d probably still be stuck there!

Our timing was perfect that we ended the hike back at the parking lot just in time to sit and watch the sunset.

I can’t wait to try this trail again someday – and maybe come in from Genesee Park the next time.

Morrison, CO – Red Rocks

We decided to take a sunset stroll through Red Rocks Park.  It’s a beautiful place, which we haven’t hiked recently.  We did the short and scenic Trading Post Trail, which is only a 1.4 mile loop trail.

Here are just a few shots for you…

This is the park that also has the Red Rocks Amphitheatre that has concerts in a rock setting.

Kittredge, CO – Corwina Park

My first intention was to go to Lair O’ the Bear Park (which is a JeffCo Open Space), but then I saw it… “Panorama Point” in neighboring Corwina Park.  So easily swayed by a name, I know.

Corwina is a Denver Mountain Park, and is sometimes referred to as Corwina – O’Fallon – Pence Park, since these three Denver Mountain Parks border each other.  Corwina borders Lair O’ The Bear, too.  These parks are all just about 7 miles west of Morrison down Hwy 74.  You could spend quite a bit of time exploring these interlacing parks.

The Panorama Point Trail wasn’t a long hike, but the trail was narrow and snow-covered.  This hike I did think to grab my poles, but not the Yak-Trax.  When will I learn?

Here’s Andy testing the creek’s ice…if you look closely, you’ll see where the ice was thawed and the creek was visible.  Boys.

It was one of our best wildlife-viewing days.  Two large elks were just off trail.  Wish I could’ve gotten a better shot thru the trees. 

We also saw some of our first chipmunks of the season, and possibly an Albert’s Squirrel (which are black with tall, hairy ears).  Lots of birds were out, too.  Then we saw a herd of mule deer.

And the view was worth it.  This shot was taken just below Panorama Point.  From the point we could see the small town of Kittredge as well.

The snow was still surprisingly deep in some areas.  But the hike up to the point kept us warm.