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Sunday, July 8, 2007

Rocky Mountain High

Here are highlights from our annual July 4th family camping trip to Snowblind Campground, northwest of Monarch Pass, in Colorado.

Our tent with screened porch, and the car with the trailer it took to carry all of our camping gear.


Over the past 50 years, I've evolved from sleeping on the ground, in a tiny two man tent (our under the stars when it didn't rain), to this spacious two room tent with stand up headroom, sleeping on an air mat on a foldable cot. I have dearly loved it; but these days with a trunk full of oxygen, a generator to run the travel oxygen concentrator, Bernie, my oxygen cart, and Ursula, the shoulder pulse dose oxygen pack (which I can't use in the mountains, because I have to have constant flow oxygen at high altitudes), not to mention arthritic joints that make it exceedingly difficult to get up several times a night from the low cot; I fear that my days of tent camping have come to an end.
See Granny Fran attempt to keep warm at the campfire, while the kids show no sign of freezing.
Since I'm on oxygen I have to keep six feet away from the fire, which gives me a good excuse for not helping with the cooking.





Here are the kids' tents and the fireplace circle.









The aspen grove across the road and next to the privy.

















The swimming hole (brrr! Water melting from snowbanks) in the Tomichi Creek running next to our campsite.












Gathered around the fire; Greg grinds limb stubs off Mandy's aspen walking stick with a rough stone; note that Coloradoans do drink their own Coors beer; the tarp over the woodpile and the poncho on the back of Joe's chair indicate the rain that blew over the mountains every afternoon.









Doug, Joe and Greg enjoy the fire.













Jennie demonstrates how to cook breakfast biscuits in a Dutch oven, the way the cowboys did (well, they probably didn't use charcoal briquets.)
















Come and get 'em while they're hot! With sausage gravy and fried potatoes they were delicious (no, we don't stick to our diets while camping.)












Mandy and Evan celebrate Independence Day with battery operated fireworks. We love the forest too much to risk burning it.












Wild roses and other native flowers were bloooming all over the area.













A Broadtailed Hummingbird partakes from the feeder we always provide for them.













Mr. Chipmunk is overjoyed to find the raw peanuts that Evan liberally spread around the site.













Evan playing with some of the local Fauna.

13 comments:

Deborah M. said...

That looks wonderful. What a great way to spend the 4th!

Debra Dixon said...

Except for the camping part, it all looks fun!

allie aller said...

Have you got soul or what! I LOVE that pic of you bundled up in your chair.
I so enjoy reading about your family gatherings. This looked like another wonderful one...thanks for posting.

Rian said...

Looks like a grand time out in the wilds. You must be one heck of a trooper. I adore camping, but I'm "too far along on my journey" now to relish the idea of climbing in and out of a tent to trek to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

McIrish Annie said...

I always loved camping. We did it for years when my son was younger with two other families. It has provided us with some great memories! We just sold our camper since it was not being used anymore but I do love a good night around the campfire!!

Looks like you all had a great time

Paula, the quilter said...

CarGuy and I went camping (in a pop up camper on the truck) the weekend of June 23. In Wyoming, at a lake on a finger of land surrounded by blooming willows. Being Wyoming, the wind was blowing. I'm allergic to tree pollen. Get the picture? I'm still paying (physically) for that camping trip. I'll probably be like this until first frost. TheKid went to college in Gunnison and stayed in a dorm the first year called Tomichi Hall. You brought back memories when you mention Tomichi.

Jo Raines said...

What wonderful memories you've created over the years. Hope your camping days aren't over. Hang in there!

Sandra said...

Difficulties aside, it looks like a WONDERFUL time with family and something the little ones (and big ones)will always cherish. I haven't done it for several years, but I love camping and miss it quite a bit.

Susan @ Blackberry Creek said...

Looks like a good time was had by all. But I'm with Debra, I don't care for camping.

Micki said...

Wow, that was some campout. Looks like everyone had a great time.

Fruit Jar Nicky said...

I expect you'll be camping for years to come. You go girl!!

laura west kong said...

Looks like a lot of fun!

Juryizstillout said...

I admire the fact that you don't let your limitations limit you. You rock, Fran!