Our Epic Adventure pt 7 Gladstone

 In full recovery mode back at NO BEARS camp and Beau says

How about a little hike to tree line.... 

Well, I know what that means. We're going to the top of the mountian tomorrow.

 Taking a break at the what's left of one of the old miner cabins and already plenty of snow.

 What's left of an old stove that hauled up the mountain to one of the mines

 Making progress but not at tree line yet.

It was great when we could get on top of the snow until. 

 Buni vista

 above the tree line the winds picked up 

Both in good spirits.

some beautiful little blue flowers near the top

Our goal is in reach

The sumit and beyond 

It's been 7 years (2012) since Beau and I have been up to the top of Gladstone and once again we were rewarded with and elk sighting

Our Epic Adventure pt 6 Sand Dunes National Park

 Another Awesome National Park and Beau is getting his  money's worth out of his parks pass

 Just a day at the beach with the  mountain melt water stream running along side of 30 acers of  dunes

As always when we hike we choose the highest peak in the area.

This shot doesn't do it justice but we made it to the top of one of the largest dunes over 700 ft tall.

Kind of yoga like.

It's a lot quicker going down the dune!  Look out.

 after running down the slip-face

a little cool down

Our Epic Adventure pt 5 Durango

 Our side trip to the Cliff Dwellings ment we weren't going to make it to the Dunes 

 So, we made camp among the lupins

 We hiked the area looking for shed antlers we did find some bones and a picked carcass

 and this skull but no sheds.

 Beau's set up.

Time to kick back and relax after our evening meal 

and play some cribbage.

Tomorrow the dunes.

after a hot breakfast by the fire.

Our Epic Advunture pt 4 Kaibab and Mesa Verde

 We went North West toward the grand caynon and made camp in the Kaibab national forest.

 As we traveled east toward the four corners region we got side tracked and stopped to check out Mesa Verde.

 Here's a shot of the Cliff Palace home of the Paleo-Indians durring the 13th century ad

It's truely an amazing area.  The Anastazi and other indians lived in these remote cliffs of the masa for over 600 years.

Our Epic Adventure part 3 Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park and Flag Staff.

 Monument Valley

We did a driving tour on our way down to Flag Staff.

 Kimber ran down to Phoenix to pick up Barb

 So, Kensley thought we should bike to the park.

 We had a blast with her.  Two thumbs up?

 Jordan has a great selection of nice bikes, I went fat with this Cooker steal frame with 4" tires.

A stop at the brewery for a cool one and a pizza for the road.

We hit the farmers market grabbed a scone, some duck eggs and we're off.

Our Epic Adventure part 2 Arches National Park.

 All smiles as we head into the Fiery Furnace.

 Where yesterdays hike was long todays hike was vertical.

 Two thumbs up for arches.

 And windows.

Beau checked out some tight spaces.

 The trail wasn't always as well marked  as we might like but it gave us a chance to explore

and some places got tight

 There was something cool to see around every corner

and I thought we might have to follow the guy on the right hand side.  He said he'd been looking for the trail for about 3 hours.... not the guy to follow.  We pointed him in the right direction and worked our way back to the car after a 4.5 mile hike and 44 floors in elevation.

We did a drive by of the DelacateArch on our way back to camp.