Colorado continued

This area of Colorado was known for mining many years ago. The area is full of abandon mines. There is also a freeway called the million dollar freeway that connects some mining communities. We were able to drive a portion of the highway. It is a two lane highway on a very steep cliff. The views were amazing.

Looking down on Ouray from the million dollar highway.

 Apparently it is the Switzerland of America

 It really is similar to Switzerland except there is so much red and brown on the mountains. When I was in Switzerland it was lots and lots of green.

The road was very narrow with lots of curves. There were some pretty funny signs.

 Mountains as far as you can see.

 The red mountains were my favorite. The contrast with the blue sky was amazing.

 One more red mountain

There were two fun tunnels on the part of the highway we drove.

 Box Elder falls was a huge waterfall right off of the highway. You don't actually see it unless you stop where all the tourists are:)

We drove this route to get to our hike for the day. We wanted to hike to Ice Lake. Again we had heard lots of good things. We knew it would be steep, over 2,400 ft elevation gain in under five miles. It was steep, which was fine, we had no idea how beautiful the entire hike would be. One of the best hikes I have ever done.......ever!

There was a lot of red dirt along the way and some river crossings

 It was just so beautiful

 This was in the meadow or valley. We climbed over that ridge I am looking at.

 Looking back down towards the parking lot.

 The wild columbine were amazing. What pretty flowers!

 Pictures don't quite capture the beauty that is so vast in the mountains

 A little selfie right when I got over the last uphill and into the valley where the lake was. You can't quite see the lake yet.

And then we were greeted with this sight . . . . Ice Lake

 I really could have sat here all day

Great views for lunch

 My peanut butter cup got really melted:(

 After lunch we did a little .7 hike up above Ice lake to get to Island Lake. This lake also did not disappoint!

We climbed along the edge of the mountain. This is when I started to sing songs from the Sound of Music. I really felt just like Maria!

 The flowers and the lake. Ice Lake looked great from above as well.

 I couldn't stop taking pictures

There is a point on the trail to Island Lake where you can see the entire Valley we hiked along with Ice Lake as the destination. Pretty incredible!

We were really glad we hiked that last little ways. Island Lake

 The water color in these Colorado mountains was so amazing.

 This is a jumping picture looking away from Island Lake. I think I may be too old for this silliness.

Then we headed back down. And I couldn't resist one more jumping picture.....I mean it is so beautiful!

This was a hike that was just under 10 miles. It was a fun area to hike in and one that I would love to visit again. It would also be a great backpacking destination.

Thursday morning we woke up and picked up camp. After we headed towards home. We stopped in Montrose and biked 21 miles. We did a fun little loop that just went around the perimeter of the town. Colorado was so good to us. I need to go back again soon!

Ouray Colorado

 Since it was the 24th of July my mom and I started the morning by running in the temple to temple run. We had done the run a few years previous when she happened to be in town. It was a fun way to start the Utah Holiday.

 After the run I showered and headed to Colorado with Amber.

I had never heard of Ouray Colorado when Amber suggested we take a trip there. After doing some research it looked like it could be fun. The research I did, did not do it justice. It is a beautiful little gem in the corner of Colorado not too far from Provo. It was a fun little get away and I loved seeing a new place and being in such a beautiful place.

This little tent is new this summer and it has been great. I have slept in a tent more than my own bed so far this month. That is not a great, I like my bed!

The first night in town was July 24th. We set up camp and then drove to town and had dinner. After dinner we hiked a portion of the Perimeter trail. We hiked until it was really dark so we didn't finish the trail. It is basically a hike that goes around the perimeter of the valley. It was a fun little trail.

On the 25th we started our day with a little bike ride in Ridgeway. there was a trail that ran parallel to the road. The views were amazing. My only complaint was that it was too short.

We finished biking and grabbed some lunch before heading out to hike. We decided to hike to Blue Lake. It was a hike that was close to where we were camping and it had a lot of great reviews. If you like to go up this is a hike for you. You gain a lot of elevation and you gain it fast, but the lake at the end is totally worth it.

The wildflowers in Colorado were amazing.

 Blue lake

 It really was a great destination. Also a crowded one and you can see why.

It would be a fun little area to backpack someday. There are a lot more hiking options from the lake as well. We had already biked and were tired and so we just hiked to the lake and back. It was about 7.5 miles. I would love explore this area more someday.

Family Vacation

Most of the family got together to go camping in Fort Bragg this year. We lucked out with amazing weather and really had a great time. We missed Anthony and Caleb, but everyone else was able to make it. We also got to see all my dad's siblings and his mom while we were in California. It is always great to catch up with family.

We were at my mom's house a couple of days before heading to the coast. I loved this picture of the boys in just underwear/shorts. This reminded me so much of my childhood.

 The boys never had shirts on until they were older!

We really just spent our time at the beach. Everyone played hard all day and slept pretty well at night. The kids did great, actually I think they loved it.

 We did the tide pools at Mackerricher State Park and then we did glass beach tide pools as well one morning.

 Smores were a favorite for all the kids.

 We watched some pretty sweet sunsets

We brought bikes and so it was nice to take turns riding them.

 Fort Bragg is so beautiful.

We spent two different afternoons playing at what we all sand dollar beach. It is our favorite. I love it because dogs can be off leash. Moki was in heaven.

When Ben and Katie lived in Fort Bragg I would wake Olivia up super early and we would go to Sand Dollar beach and look for sand dollars. We did that two mornings on this trip. The sand dollars were all super small. Katie, my cousin, and Olivia even found the cutest baby starfish on the shore.

I love spending some alone time with Olivia!

 We ended the trip at Cowlicks homemade ice cream. A definite favorite. It was a great trip!

 Braxton's adorable dirty face sums up the trip so well.