Leaf update.

Well, we had frost the last couple of nights here in the high country and that means the leaves are beginning to show color. The days have been lovely, highs in the 60s so it is a great time to dash to the mountains.

Another rainbow but not much fall color yet.

Our pattern of afternoon showers is continuing. Yesterday the sun broke thru just as it was setting in the v up the valley. This gave the valley sunshine while leaving the mountains in shadow.

As you can tell, the aspens have not started to turn, though the willows down by the stream are just showing some yellow. The cool crispness of this time of the year is wonderful and refreshing.

Bears love company

Here's a picture from mid August and this is what happens when you put out a little bear. He wants company and so invites his friends in. Some of our guests were quite excited when this fellow came up on their cabin porch in the middle of the morning. Our bears usually only come around at night. After checking us over though he has returned to regular bear behavior and he has not returned.

Where did August go anyway? Here it is the end of the end of the summer holiday and cars are streaming by my office window. Weekend vacationers are headed back to the cities and their regular worlds. In the meantime, we are enjoying a nice fall rain storm and more water, which we love to see. We hope all this great moisture will translate to LOTS of snow for this winter.
Hope it doesn't take me so long to post next time.

Gone Fishing

Last week Scott and I were able to sneak away and go fishing up the North Fork of Lake Creek, just above the lodge. Lake Creek is a lovely small high mountain stream at that point and the fishing was great for small brook and cut-throat trout on dry flies.


Scott was kept quite busy with these fun treasures of green. Not quite pan size yet, as you can see, so they all were quickly returned to the creek.

Meantime, Laura was checking out the wild flowers and taking pictures to add to our North Fork Trail information on our web brochure.

Summer's in full swing here and we are enjoying the humming birds, the mountain flowers and even a visit from an area bear the other night. Guests have been hiking up Mt. Elbert reporting snow is not an issue, and the views are fantastic. Here is a view of La Plata Peak from the top of Mt Elbert.

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Busy getting ready.

Lewis running the mile in a Manitou Springs track meet.

Well, I have been lax in my posts, partly because we have been following this guy around to his school meets and partly because we've been busy getting all the cabins and the place in readiness for all our guests; painting and redoing floors and other good things

I am pleased to report the humming birds are back and dive bombing anyone moving too close to "their" feeder. Weather is warming now, though we did have 3" of snow about May 24th. The moisture should bode well for the show the wildflowers put on later in the summer.

Hiking wise, we had a group go up Black Cloud trail a day or so ago and reported "significant snow" in the saddle between South Elbert and Mount Elbert. They opted not to go on over to the top because of the conditions.

No posts for a couple weeks again as I am headed over to the UK to spend time with son Kendrick and Scott doesn't make entries. Till then, come on up, aspens have leafed out, the pass is open and it's "Springtime in the Rockies."

The neighbors looking in.

These ladies (Big Horn Sheep) were captured on film by our guest Barbara Kellogg whilst she was visiting here on her spring break. They have been in evidence all winter as they don't move lower when the snows come.
Well, just like a lot of the country, we have returned to winter with 5 more inches of nice wet snow. Lewis ran a track meet in Leadville yesterday and even though it is "spring track", the meet was run indoors. 5" of snow and snowing hard was not an appealing setting for running outside.
Still though, I am rooting for spring. We had 4 goldfinches at the feeding station this am and they are BRIGHT yellow, a good indication that they also think spring is on the way. Our UPS driver says he's heard we may have 16" more of snow before Saturday.... hmm, maybe that's why you all are staying home this weekend?

Still on the topic of Spring.

There are lots of Rosy Finches at the feeders these last couple of days. They always come in a big group whenever a storm is on the way or if it's snowing. Currently, it is snowing lightly though the clouds have lifted enough that I can see Bull Hill but not the top of Mount Elbert.
Actually, the snow is great for us as far as our winter moisture goes. If you would like to see what kind of water winter we have had, here is a link to the Brumley reporting station just up the road from us. NWCC-SNOTEL Water Year 2007 Graph

Keeping track of the family, Kendrick sent a quick email to say he made it safely to London in spite of only having an hour layover for his Houston connection and landing nearly 50 minutes late in Houston. He is off on another adventure.

Great new snow for our moonlight snowshoe this weekend.

Good Morning,
We have 2 inches of new snow here today, the sky is overcast and light snow continues to fall. This is great news if you are coming up this weekend to take advantage of the nearly full moon (full moon is April 2) with a moonlight snowshoe. Scott will be walking up the pass road Saturday night and guests are welcome to go along, check out our special at http://www.mount-elbert.com.
Other news from the lodge, oldest son Kendrick is headed of to London today for spring term at Lawrence University's London campus. He'll travel to Houston and then overnight to London. We wish him a great trip and term.

Did I mention spring?

Good morning, This is the view out my window today! Sorry to all of last weeks spring breakers who were so wishing for some of this lovely snow. Yippee if you are headed to the ski slopes tomorrow.
We woke to 2 inches of new spring snow this morning and now have 5 inches of the white stuff with more coming as I write.

Can it be spring?

The view out my window still shows lots of snow on the mountains but the Mountain Bluebirds have returned to the Twin Lakes so spring can't be too far behind.
Happy Birthday Lewis!