Post by Lily on Aug 13, 2014 15:36:29 GMT -5
I had a quick weekend getaway to Colorado last Friday through Sunday. I visited my brother's son, my nephew CJ and his g/f Jackie in Fort Collins, where they moved last fall. I visited my sister's daughter, my niece Amanda, her husband Joe, and their 2 young daughters, my great-nieces, Tennessee (4) and Nikola (2). Amanda is pregnant with Saysu, a 3rd girl, in November. They live in Loveland.
We did a lot in 2 1/2 days. We went to a sculpture garden park which I thoroughly enjoyed.
We went to Estes Park and toured the historic Stanley Hotel that The Shining, although not filmed at, was inspired by. Stephen King wrote the novel there at the Stanley, apparently quite drunk. It's a haunted hotel and we saw room 217, which room 237 is based on, and my brother and sister-in-law are actually staying in next week, as a surprise to my SIL!
We drove through the Rocky Mountains and sat around a fire it hanging out - we were going to shoot but didn't get time to find the right spot. We hung out and enjoyed.
But the highlight of the weekend for me was hiking my first "CO summit" with my nephew CJ. We hiked in Rocky Mountain State Park, Roosevelt National Forest, the Twin Sisters peak - to the summit, which is at 11,448 feet. Now I did this (including 3 scrambles) without getting altitude sickness! How? I've no idea. I guess I can only attribute it to running that I managed so well and never even got a headache. At the top, we had a 360 degree view of snow-capped mountains (yes in August) and it was about 40 degrees so I was freezing! We sat there about 1/2 hour and I began to feel a bit dizzy so I suggested we head down although I could have sat there all day for the view. We hiked down and ate a huge lunch and I felt great, not even a headache! I did have weird, vivid nightmares though LOL and CJ tells me that is part of altitude effects. I grew up at sea level and live in Phoenix at about 1300 feet, I've only ever hiked as high as 7,500 ft and typically I get lightheaded at that height, so I was really, really jazzed. Not ready for the famous "14'ers" yet, but I've now gone from saying outright "NO" to seriously considering training for one.
I plan to make a hiking video from the photos but going to share a few quick pics now.
Lily xo
We did a lot in 2 1/2 days. We went to a sculpture garden park which I thoroughly enjoyed.
We went to Estes Park and toured the historic Stanley Hotel that The Shining, although not filmed at, was inspired by. Stephen King wrote the novel there at the Stanley, apparently quite drunk. It's a haunted hotel and we saw room 217, which room 237 is based on, and my brother and sister-in-law are actually staying in next week, as a surprise to my SIL!
We drove through the Rocky Mountains and sat around a fire it hanging out - we were going to shoot but didn't get time to find the right spot. We hung out and enjoyed.
But the highlight of the weekend for me was hiking my first "CO summit" with my nephew CJ. We hiked in Rocky Mountain State Park, Roosevelt National Forest, the Twin Sisters peak - to the summit, which is at 11,448 feet. Now I did this (including 3 scrambles) without getting altitude sickness! How? I've no idea. I guess I can only attribute it to running that I managed so well and never even got a headache. At the top, we had a 360 degree view of snow-capped mountains (yes in August) and it was about 40 degrees so I was freezing! We sat there about 1/2 hour and I began to feel a bit dizzy so I suggested we head down although I could have sat there all day for the view. We hiked down and ate a huge lunch and I felt great, not even a headache! I did have weird, vivid nightmares though LOL and CJ tells me that is part of altitude effects. I grew up at sea level and live in Phoenix at about 1300 feet, I've only ever hiked as high as 7,500 ft and typically I get lightheaded at that height, so I was really, really jazzed. Not ready for the famous "14'ers" yet, but I've now gone from saying outright "NO" to seriously considering training for one.
I plan to make a hiking video from the photos but going to share a few quick pics now.
Lily xo
