For the next four days we stay in Grand Lake visiting with a number of old (and getting older) friends from college. We have been getting together annually for the last 35 years or so, and we visit various parts of the country each year. It’s our own Big Chill weekend, but we don’t wait for someone to die like in the movie. This year seven couples attended and we, as always, had a blast.
Our first outing on Wednesday evening was a short hike near Betty’s Barn in Rocky Mountain National Park. Susan scored the bargain of a lifetime—a lifetime pass to all national parks, forests, and recreations area for only $10. I’m not sure how much we saved on our trip by having the pass, but it was a bundle. Anyway, here are a few shots around the Betty’s Barn area.
Notice the gray trees in the background—a beetle has wreaked havoc on many of the pine trees in the area. The beetle is always present, but the trees produce a sap which the beetles don’t like; however, due to this year’s drought, the trees have not produced enough sap and thus the beetles have destroyed them. At some point they will have to be cleared and burned.
A small mountain stream that eventually feeds into the Colorado River.
Most of our group—a little wine and cheese makes any hike more enjoyable. That’s Susan in the green vest. I’m behind the camera.
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