Playing in the mountains with Uncle Tom

At the top of RMNP, with Longs Peak in the background

About a year and a half ago, I went down to Phoenix on a job and stayed over a weekend to hang out with my Aunt Barb and Uncle Tom. Part of that trip included a ride up the Salt River Valley to Roosevelt Lake, and then over El Oso Road (I think) near Four Peaks on a dirt road. Talk about rugged beauty!!! Entirely different than what I’m used to, but just as photogeneic (no, I didn’t have my camera).

But I digress. I invited Tom to come up an play in the Colorado mountains with me someday. Well, last week, he took me up on that offer. He drove up from Phoenix (through Moab) and got into town Saturday afternoon. Given the drive from Phoenix, we kicked back that night and watched Football. A lot of college football… 🙂

On Sunday, we headed up for the tour through Rocky Mountain National Park. Up Fall River drive (a dirt road) to the visitors center where there were WAY TOO MANY people, then back towards home. Lots of stopping, gawking, but not too much walkin’ around due to the altitude. We stopped at the Baker Street Pub in Boulder on the way home for a beer and a good lunch/dinner.

Uncle Tom at the Leanin’ Tree Museum

On Monday, it was a quieter day. We went to the Leanin’ Tree Museum in Boulder (very cool for people who like old western art). We also tried to go to the Shelby Museum (as in Cobra) but it’s only open on Saturdays. We had a good Southwestern lunch at Serranos Southwestern Grill in Gunbarrell, and then headed down to Golden for a tour of Coors (hey, Coors, you still owe us a beer!!!). We wrapped up the night with Monday night football, and got ready for a high-mountain tour the next day.

Tuesday we went towards Mt. Evans, but got stopped at Spirit Lake. Apparently the string of 80 degree days and perfect weather doesn’t deter the Park Rangers from blocking the road the day after Labor Day. What a drag…We headed back down to Idaho Springs for lunch at the Tommyknocker brew pub (can you detect the brewery theme) then over to Berthoud Pass to get his picture taken in front of a Continental Divide sign.

For the way home, we took a little “side trip” to Alice/St. Mary’s Glacier, then drove over the top of the glacier on a 4×4 road, down Mammouth Gulch to Rollinsville, and then home for a good nights sleep.

It was a lot of travel, but well worth it. I love being in the mountains, and I think Tom did too, now that he can breathe again!