Tuesday at Rainbow Trout Ranch

Breakfast time!  Not sure if it is all the activity or just the fresh mountain air, but I am ready to see what is for breakfast.  Let's see if these old legs can walk down the hill after two rides yesterday?  Really I think walking up and down the hill is keeping me from getting sore.  Guess it worked out well that our cabin is straight up the hill.  Made it down to the Lodge.

What is on the activity board for the Cowpokes?

Looks like the kids will be having fun with a variety of things to do!  The adults are going to go for a morning ride...but first, let's go inside and get breakfast.  And of course, the never-empty-cup of coffee!  Thanks to Doug my cup never gets empty!

After breakfast the kids meet Paula on the front porch to get started with their activities.  Time to get our sunblock on and grab our hats before we head down to the corral.

Our morning ride was great.  I love being up high in the aspens and pines.  The wildflowers are just getting started...it still quite cool early in the morning.

Of course, it is time for lunch after our ride.  Lunch today is burgers at the pool.  The staff plays a game involving shooting baskets from across the pool.  The looser has to go in the pool with their clothes on!  Pretty funny!

Larry and I decided to go for a hike this afternoon.  We hiked up to the top of Charity (the rock formation right above the Lodge area).  Seems easy enough, however at 9,000 feet anything that involves climbing UP is hard on the breathing!  Seems like the switch backs made it a little less straight up!  It sure did warm up this afternoon and I did not take enough water.  I never do that!  And this was not the day to run out of water...but I did!

We can see the Conejos River from the trail.

Larry traded in his cowboy hat for a bucket hat for this adventure.



We are up high enough to find some young aspens.



We are at about the same elevation as Monkey Face (the rock formation across the valley.

We came to a fire circle near the top, due to a lack of rain we will have no fires!
Besides it is too darn hot to have a fire!

View up the valley to the north.

View down the valley to the south.

We have made it to the top of Charity.  The rock formation right behind Larry is Hope.
And the next formation is Faith.  Too hot to hike across to the others.  It is much farther
than it looks!  And it is going to be enough work for me to get back down from here.



The Conejos Rivers really looks small from up here.

We made it back down.  I only fell once...I always fall when I hike.  What a long, hot hike and of all times to not take enough water.  I am dehydrated!  I am too tired to eat...good grief, I must be near death!  No, not really!  I am just not hungry and want to rest.  Besides I have had enough BIG meals for one day!

Now I will tell the truth, the kitchen made me a plate of leftovers!!  That was WAY more than enough for two people.

Time for a good night's sleep and then we will do it again tomorrow!!