Our initial intention was to explore Crested Butte or Telluride, but we are weary of riding in the car, so we decide to check out the Colorado National Monument, which is not a monument in the sense of a structure, but acres and acres of sandstone buttes and mesas, lava rock and gneiss. We are out of the house by 8:15 with sandwiches packed and are excited to drive a different direction and see different scenery.
We are hiking the No Throughfare Trail, which is sandy rather than dirt and roots. Geologic formations surround us, yet we are hiking alongside beautiful wildflowers, cacti and aromatic shrubs (stay tuned for an episode of Flora of Colorado).
I’m hiking slowly scanning the hills for BigHorn sheep, but the most I see is humans.
About a tenth of a mile before the waterfall we are hiking to, the big black rain cloud I’ve been eyeing ahead of us lets out a large clap of thunder and it starts spitting rain. The crew is ahead of me on the trail but I have to stop and stow my camera out of the elements, get my rain coat and hat out. By the time I maneuver everything into place and make it to the waterfall, they are done taking pictures there and we turn around and start hightailing it it back.
I’ve had a bad hiking experience with thunder and lightning before, so I am a bit tense about being out in the thunderstorm. So, when we get a super loud clap of thunder, I scream like a little girl. I don’t feel bad because Kim is letting a choice four-letter word fly.
Soon the rain turns to hail. Good Gravy it can only get worse if we get stuck in a flash flood! But we don’t, that’s just my mental drama, the rain and hail stop in about ten minutes and my heart rate goes back to normal.
We stop for a picnic lunch and grab some corny group photos, then head to Peach Street Distillery in Palisade for a much deserved adult beverage. Then back to Olathe for our last night in our superb accommodations. We reminisce about family road trips of our youth. The gas station bathrooms where you had to get the key inside and it was on a long piece of wood, the disgusting cloth towel roll to dry your hands and the dads who wouldn’t stop for a bathroom break until the car needed gas!
It’s our last night in Olathe and we have truly been blessed with great weather, great friendships, and more fun than humans should be allowed to have. Tomorrow, we drive to Boulder.
Kim, Vicki and Caroline all earned trail names today. Kim: “Pockets” because she is always wearing pants/shorts/tights with pockets, and her phone always pocket dials or starts the Garage Band app when it’s in her pocket. Vicki: “The Gneissest” because she truly is the nicest. She goes with the flow, doesn’t bust our chops like the rest of us do to each other, and is truly the nicest person. Caroline: “Cupcake” because she is the best hostess. She has provided home made meals for our stay, helped with the itinerary, chauffeured us around…..we are in such a better state than if we’d been left to our own organizing.
Adventures in Colorado, 2023 edition 