Garden of the Gods Park – A Colorado Springs Treasure!
The Garden of the
Gods – from 30th St.
A couple of weeks ago, I was putting the finishing touches on the family calendar I produce every 18 months for family and friends. I decided that a photo of the Kissing Camels in the Garden of the Gods would be prefect for the month of February. It had been a long time between visits to the Garden of the Gods for us. So early on Father’s Day morning my husband and I packed up the camera and specialty lens, our chow dog, Mystic, then headed to the Garden of the Gods to update our photo catalog.
It was a beautiful morning, a few wispy clouds in the sky but the winds were increasing. Typical. First stop was just outside the Garden of the Gods Park off 30th Street, near the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center which offers a great view of the park. My husband shot a few photos from that location then we followed the line of cars into the park. It was bumper to bumper, I swear there were cars with license plates from all 50th states. Well, maybe not, but close.
Garden of the Gods is an attractive goal for rock climbers, due to the unusual rock
Cathedral Spires – Garden of the Gods
formations. Rock climbing is permitted, by annual permit obtained at the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center. You must follow the “Technical Climbing Regulations and Guidelines,” climbing with a “buddy”, using proper equipment and staying on established climbing routes.
I had completely forgotten that it is peak tourist season and the popularity of the Garden of the Gods Park. Stopping at the pull offs or look outs in the Garden of the Gods was out of the question that morning. They were full and cars cruised by at a turtles pace, no offense to turtles, waiting for a spot to open up.
Kissing Camels
Balanced rock and Steamboat Rock were in the shadows. The sun shone on Cathedral Spires, Hogbacks, Three Graces and Kissing Camels, perfect. I dropped my husband and his camera equipment off in the area of the Kissing Camels and cruised through the park again. I reveled in the rock formations, the tourists admiring them and the camaraderie of the drivers calmly making their way through the park. No rude gestures, horn honking or other bad behavior, just an enjoyable drive through the park, again.
My husband was waiting patiently at the side of the road, a few yards from where I’d left him. We decided to make one more pass through the park and then drove through Old
Garden of the Gods – Hogsback and Llama’s Heads Formations
Colorado City. Found a place to stop and review the photos taken, which were prefect for my calendar and this article then we returned home.
As if I needed a reminder of Garden of the Gods Park’s popularity, this morning I opened the local newpaper, The Gazette, and on its front page proudly declared that according to online travel site, TripAdvisor.com, Garden of the Gods Park is ranked number 1 in the country. A warm fuzzy feeling crept inside me right along with pride that our little park was so loved.
The Garden of the Gods has always held a special place in my heart, my husband hypothetically asked me to marry him in the Garden of the Gods Park many, many moons ago. (It’s a long story)
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Posted in My Say What Blog, The Pikes Peak Region and tagged Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods Park, Tourist Destination, Unusual Rock Formations by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
Rocky Mountain National Park – An Enchanting Adventure
The quiet beauty of Rocky Mountain National Park (RNMP) is spell binding whether during the summer months or when covered with a fresh
Afternoon Storm Headed Our Way In Rocky Mountain National Park
blanket of newly fallen snow. My husband and I plan at least one camping trip to RMNP during the summer and we stay in Moraine Campground at the edge of an expansive meadow. Down below you can see Elk herds and the cars moving slowly by the area. More than once, we’ve opened the fifth wheel door to find ourselves face to face
View From Our Campsite in RMNP
with a bull elk or an entire elk herd. That is an interesting experience. Usually we back off, shut the door, quiet the dog and wait for a few minutes for the elks to move on. It’s an adventure we wouldn’t trade for the world and keeps us coming back year after year for at least the last 15 years.
Fourth of July Weekend is our excuse to explore the 415 miles of wilderness, which is located about 140 miles north of Colorado Springs on the Western edge of Estes Park. By the way, Estes Park has a fantastic fireworks display over Estes Lake on the fourth of July. It’s a fun time for all, if you don’t mind the throngs of people. Some years we join in the festivities, others we remain at our quite campsite and watch the marauding wildlife.
Yellow-Bellied Marmot
You can’t miss the drive up Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved highway in America. Above tree line, you’ll marvel at the small but vibrant yellow, blue and red alpine flowers able to survive in this harsh climate along with the hearty Yellow-Bellied Marmot. We’ve even seen, but only once, a little furry Pika, but he was camera shy. If you are quick enough, you might catch a glimpse of a long tailed weasel darting between the rocks.
Hearty Alpine Flowers Above Tree Line
Alpine Flowers
We especially enjoy the evening ranger talks in the pavilion not far from our campsite. The history, landscape, wildlife and what you can expect in Rocky Mountain National Park are just a few of the topics.
The weather can be volatile in Rocky Mountain National Park. We’ve left our campground in warm sunshine traveled up Trail Ridge Road, only to encounter hail, lightning, thunder and then snow all in one afternoon. The storms are spectacular, if you like that sort of thing and we do, but you must always be prepared. Always pack with you a parka, warm clothing, snacks and water, even if you are just going for a ride. The warm clothing also makes sitting around the campfire in the evening a lot more enjoyable.
There are family friendly trails, Ranger –led Programs, and six campgrounds, two of which are tents only and the other four accommodate RV’s varying in size. Man’s best friend is not allowed on the trails, but dogs are allowed in and around the campgrounds, which our dog is perfectly happy with. She enjoys the ride up Trail Ridge Road too, as does our parrot. They each have their own backseat window, so there are no disagreements.
Rocky Mountain National Park’s Bear Lake
Bull Elk
If you are looking for high altitude adventures, great camping, stunning views and a wide variety of wildlife, Rocky Mountain National Park should be your next destination. Reservations are highly recommended during the summer months.
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Posted in My Say What Blog, Uncategorized and tagged Adventure, camping, Colorado, RMNP, Rocky Mountain National Park, wildlife by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
Camping and Hiking – Steamboat and Pearl Lake
I think for the next few weeks, I’ll discuss the campgrounds that we’ve visited and the hiking trails around the area. First one, as you probably have surmised will be Steamboat Lake, a Colorado State Park. It’s one of my family’s favorites. We camp in a 30-foot fifth wheel with all the comforts of home.
Right Side View from Camp Site at Steamboat Lake
Left side View From Steamboat Lake Campsite
In fact, Steamboat Lake is the location for my first Cozy Mystery due out the end of 2016. The story revolves around friends who vacation together, picking a different spot each year and this year they are at Steamboat Lake. Just happens that the site Amber and Malic reserved has a trailer already in it when their friends, Jake and Tamberlyn arrive. The rangers are notified, only to discover that the trailer with Nevada license plates apparently has been abandoned with an unwelcome occupant. Upon closer inspection, all is not what it seems and Tamberlyn’s security background and computer talents are put to the test. Ok, that’s enough about my current novel in progress.
Dawn Mist Over Steamboat Lake
Steamboat Lake is a little piece of heaven on the western slope, about 27 miles northwest from the Town of Steamboat. Hahns Peak frames the breath taking scenery of this spectacular park.
Kayaking at Steamboat Lake
It offers non-electric and electric camp sites for RV’s or tents. Reservations are strongly suggested from Memorial Day through Labor Day. There are some sites shaded by aspen or evergreen trees and others are near the shoreline.
We enjoy the sites lakeside as it easier and closer to get our kayaks in the water. The lake is perfect for kayaking, especially early morning and at twilight, when the aquatic wildlife is out and about in the crisp mountain air. It’s also a wonderful lake for boats, water skiing and seadoos. The swim beach is perfect for a day of swimming or a family picnic.
Great Blue Heron, Steamboat Lake
The RV’s are not packed in like sardines and most sites offer at tent pad and campfire ring. There are several trails for biking or hiking and your canine friend can accompany you on the trails. There is a little camp store at the full service marina and the visitor’s center is just a bike ride away.
Flora at Steamboat Lake’s Edge
The information and campsite map is available on their website .
A little about Pearl Lake, it’s campsites are all non-electric and the lake doesn’t allow motorized vehicles, so it’s a very tranquil place. Surrounded by beautiful scenery, it’s just a couple of miles down the road from Steamboat Lake.
You don’t have to say goodbye to Steamboat Lake as winter approaches. There are ten camper cabins available year around. Also available are 14 electrical hookups at the marina parking lot. Just load up your snowmobiles and ice fishing gear or snowshoes and cross county ski’s and get out there.
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Posted in Camping, My Say What Blog and tagged camping, Colorado, hiking by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
Robins vs Mourning Doves – Who Will Win the Right to Nest?
We were excited to discover that birds wanted to nest in our geranium hanging basket again this year. T
he other day, I heard quite a ruckus out in the front yard. A pair of Robins and a pair of Mourning Doves were noisily discussing who was permitted to build a nest in one of our hanging baskets. Keep in mind there are two baskets, one on each corner of the house. Apparently, only one is suitable for nesting.
The birds dove at one another and squawked loudly shoving each other out of the basket. Finally, they all flew off. I figured they’d be back for further negotiations. However the next evening the Robin pair started carrying grass, twigs, string, straw and a shoestring to the hanging basket and began building their nest.
The Mourning Doves nested in that basket for years and years. There was only one summer several years ago, that a pair of Robins made it their home. Sadly, for the last two summers the hanging basket remained unoccupied.
Mourning Doves are quiet tenants and hatch three sets of two eggs during the summer. You wouldn’t know they were there unless you looked up as you walked in the door or saw them fly out of the nest. Never heard a peep out of their chicks either.
Now the Robins are a different story. They hatch only one set of three eggs and then they are gone. Robins are very noisy while building their nest, as if discussing the placement of every twig. When the chicks hatch, they cheep loudly every few hours and even while the parents feed them. The bigger they get the louder they get. If the parents are late, you can hear the chicks venting their displeasure.
My husband and I enjoy watching the progress, from the nest building to the hatching and then when the parents teach the chicks to fly.
There are several bird feeders in the back yard and lots of birds teach their young chicks to eat from the feeder as well as forage for food in the area. It is amusing to watch the parents try to teach the babies to eat at the feeders. The baby birds want the parents to feed them, and raise holy heck until the parents give in and fed them.
This only works for a little while and soon the parents refuse to feed them. This forces the baby birds to try to balance on the bird feeder’s pegs and eat at the same time, usually resulting in losing their balance and flying off. At that point, the parent birds will follow and feed them. They try over and over until the baby birds get the hang of it.
Since the Waldo Canyon and Black Forest wild fires, we seem to have a much more diverse population of birds than ever before. Have you noticed a change in the birds visiting your feeders or yard?
Our dog watches all this, never bothering the birds. But let a squirrel enter the yard and its game on!
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Posted in My Say What Blog, Uncategorized by Tena Stetler with 4 comments.
