Michelle, Darren, Gary and I took off bright and early for an epic camping adventure starting in Colorado Springs and looping around to end our journey in Canon City, Colorado. After about 8.5 hours on the road through flat western Kansas we finally arrived in Colorado Springs at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. The sky was dark - it was about that time for the daily afternoon summer thundershowers. Hungry from our long drive, we headed over to Rockbottom Brewery for dinner. After dinner, we headed into the mountains and up to our first campsite, Crags Campground. Located on the western slope of Pikes Peak, at about 10,100 feet in elevation; we found ourselves driving up a steep snow lined mountain slope. When we finally arrived at the campsite it was pitch dark and 37 degrees, burrr. The boys set up the tent while Michelle and I kept warm in the truck. I guess you could say I didn't quite pack properly for the extreme weather - what a blistering cold night to say the least!
Windfarms in Kansas!
Western Kansas is boring, zzzzz
Mountains finally!
At Rockbottom Brewery!
Burrr!
***August 4, 2010***
'We'll be comin around the mountain...!'
burrr!
At Garden of the Gods!
Next, we headed over to the Cave of the Winds - formed from 500 million year old limestone!....
In the gift shop!
Next, we drove into Manitou Springs (the next town over - about 5 mi) and stopped by the Manitou Cliff Dwellings where authentic Anasazi cliff dwellings, built more than 700 years ago are preserved under a protective red sandstone overhang!
Next, we headed over to 11 Mile State Park, our campsite location for the night! We set up camp, shared a bottle of wine and cooked camper's stew in foil packets over the campfire!
***August 5, 2010***
We finally got to shower; our campsite had coin ran showers and laundry facilities on site! After getting ready for the day, we headed into town towards Pikes Peak Highway. On the way we spotted a little homeade BBQ cart on the side of the road, so we stopped for lunch. Everythnig was amazing, I had a pulled pork sandwich and sweet potato fries. After lunch we made our way to the highway, it was about an hour drive up the Mountain through switch backs, forests, and meadows.
Some local BBQ for lunch!
Going up!
About halfway up!
Switch-backs!
Almost there!
We finally made it to the top - all 14,100 feet! It was so pretty, but a little scary sometimes (so steep)! We had to hurry and catch a glimpse of the peak before the storm rolled in, so we hurried down to the the edge trampling over broken rocks. The altitude literally took my breath away, thank goodness we brought lots of water!
We took our time descending down the mountain through the storm but once we had passed through it, two beautiful double sided rainbows appeared right outside of the truck (so close I could practically reach out and grab it)! Since we were so close to Crags Campground, we decided to head back for another night. We found a secluded campsite next to a flowing stream, tucked in the forest. Michelle and I made grilled steak and veggie fajitas, and fresh quacamole. Tiny white mice scampered all around our warm campsite. We chatted for a while and then headed to bed early!
Back at Crags!
Making dinner!
***August 6, 2010***
Woke up freeeezing once again at Crags. Warmed myself up in the truck. Made Bacon and Eggs. Packed up camp. Hit up Starbucks. With all the necessities out of the way, we started our drive through the Arkansas River Valley from Colorado Springs to Buena Vista, CO = about 94 miles. Once we got in town, we stopped at a small local cafe and had a sandwich before checking in for our white water rafting adventure. We went about 9 miles down the Arkansas River through Brown’s Canyon. It was beautiful, but because it was late in the season the water level wasn’t very high so it wasn’t as much of a rush as I would have liked. Our tour guide “Will” was also very beautiful :) After working up an appetite from the rowing, we found a good sounding restaurant called Buffalo Bar and Grill - we sat outside on the Patio and enjoyed the rest of the beautiful day. I had the best veggie quesadillas for dinner!
After dinner we headed over to Collegiate Peaks Camground, our campsite for the night. We found the perfect secluded place, somehow we managed to get lucky on campsites this whole trip! perched on a little overhang, we had the perfect view of the surrounding Arkansas River Valley and the Collegiate Peaks directly in front of us. We made smores and I saw my first shooting star in the big open Colorado sky, it was amazing!!
***August 7, 2010***
