The car mascot

My car mascot...well, it's more of a stuffed dog that I'm so attached to it's not normal.  Here's a picture of my dog...Puff Puff, on Mount Evans in Colorado last week.  I'll post more about our trip but here's a bit about Puff Puff.  

 My story of Puff Puff...I gave the original Puff Puff to my Dad when I was in kindergarten-ish.  He kept it in his truck on his dash for the remainder of his years.  He always had Puff Puff and always was careful not to let people mess with him.  Puff Puff would also go to the hospital with him when he was sick.  When I was in high school I started looking for my own Puff Puff for my car.  I searched Ebay, garage sales and even called Russ Toy Company to try to find one....with no luck.  Jon and I had been dating for a while and he was moving and cleaning out a closet when he threw this Puff Puff out onto the bed.  I screeched and was so excited to have my own Puff Puff...and from Jon, no less!!! It was awesome.  So Puff Puff became my mascot for my car too.  He always rides in the dash of my car just like Dad's Puff Puff did.  When Dad passed away this spring his Puff Puff was buried with him to always guide him along the way.  So, I decided when I'm out and about traveling Puff Puff will start to appear in some pictures...because he and Dad are always with me.  

Rocky Mountain National Park

People say that Yellowstone has a certain splendor that lures people back again and again, the Rockies can do the same. Our 3 days in the park just solidified that we will return...soon. The beauty of being absolutely surrounded by mountains is indescribable. It seemed around every turn we would be once again wide-eyed with our mouths open trying to find the right words. The mountain lakes a rich dark blue from a distance would change to a near black but when close would be crystal clear. The ever rushing streams with the occasional fish jumping would remind you that this is home for so many. The crowds can easily be left behind on the extensive trails.  We weren't able to enjoy the trails this time but next time is calling our name already. 

New review

Here's the link to a review I did while packing of the Coleman All-In-One Cooking System. Hope you enjoy. 

http://youtu.be/dyp4PasmJHM

Fun stuff

There are perks to a new trip. One of them includes new stuff. We are relatively new at hiking, backpacking and camping so we are acquiring new things still. Our first trip together was in the fall at Yellowstone so the temperatures are considerably different than our current trip - Colorado in July.  We have invested in some new clothes, attempting to purchase more versatile, timeless pieces. Along with the differences in seasonal preparations we are car camping this trip.  When car camping there is more space to pack larger items we wouldn't pack if backpacking.  Aside from our new campstove we just purchased the GSI bugaboo base camper medium. It comes with a 3 liter pot, 2 liter pot, a frypan, 2 lids a cutting board, a gripper for each of the pots and a bag that holds them all. We also purchased the GSI set of 4 plates that nestles in nicely with the plates. Here's a picture and I'll post a review when we return. 

                                    

Car Camping Stove

Jon and I have the MSR Pocket Rocket for our small stove that we take hiking but we were needing something for our upcoming 2 week car camping trip to Colorado.  I took a trip to Cabela's and found the Coleman All-In-One Cooking System.  I have an extreme love for items that are multi-functional.  I love Leatherman Tools, The Microdualist and naturally the Spork.  So the Coleman All-In-One Cooking system caught my eye and seemed to be the smallest and most functional cooking stove option at Cabelas.  Normally, I would do tons of research, watch YouTube review videos and compare online prices before buying but since we have spent the last week moving and my life is in boxes and we leave in 4 days, I had to make a purchase.  I will post again when we return after I have used the system but here is a few details I have read about it.

The Coleman comes with a grill grate, stove top grate, Griddle, and skillet.  You can purchase a larger stew pot if you would like.  I did not get the stew pot and don't really see myself needing it in the future.  It uses propane and has a self start button.  It came with a regulating valve to adjust your heat settings from low, medium and high.  It also has a locking feature as well.  Best of all it comes with a really nice carrying case that has two outer pockets for propane bottles.  

I can't wait to be able to use this.  If it works like it should I'm going to love it!!!

To check out the Youtube video on the Coleman website go to the link below.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5fvs2fyIkU

National Trails Day

It's June 1 and today is National Trails Day. Unfortunately, I will not be on a trail today. Due to a knee injury I am pretty much out of commission when it comes to hiking. Uneven ground is not my friend. I would love to at least be on my horse on a trail but that too is not an option. We have had several inches of rain in the past couple of days and the trails are just way too muddy for horses. So, I will be living vicariously through those without injury and not in a waterlogged location.  Let the immense feelings of jealousy begin.  

Colorado Road Trip

I'm working on tentative plans for the Colorado Trip that with the passing months has grown from a 3 day trip to 6 days to the current 11 days.  I can't imagine that it will get any longer than 11 days.
It has morphed from 3 days in Denver to avoiding the city scene all together and spending those days in the mountains.

The new tentative schedule:

Day 1 - Drive to Colorado and setting up camp at Rocky Mountain National Park
Day 2 - Enjoy some sites in and around RMNP, find somewhere to camp, as we could only reserve our campsite for one night.
Day 3 - Make our way from RMNP to Evergreen Colorado and check into our cabin!
Day 4 - Possible day trip to Garden of the Gods, return in the evening to Evergreen
Day 5 - Check out the sites around Evergreen, Concert at Red Rocks!!
Day 6 - Denver for the day then drop off cousin at the airport - possibly stay the night in Denver
Day 7 - Head toward Grand Junction via I-70
Day 8 - Grand Junction toward Durango
Day 9 - Telluride!!
Day 10 - Ouray up to Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Day 11 - Head toward home - with a few stops along the way!


Nothing is set in stone - We are intentionally not making any hotel reservations, train reservations or anything that ties us to a specific place at a specific time.  We may end up doing something completely different.  We will be car camping and just enjoying the sites.  As I mentioned earlier I won't be able to do any significant hikes due to my knee injury but I'm sure we will have lots of future hiking and camping spots scouted out!!!

The Next Trip

We are in the midst of another trip planning session.  I absolutely love trip planning.  It gives me time to research somewhere beautiful and when I finally get there it seems like such a reward because it is always so much more beautiful in person than the pictures I'd imagined.  I am a type A personality and I love to be prepared.  I am a firm believer that if I am taking time to go to a new place I want to be sure to catch the best of the best while I'm there.  I am not the type of person that starts out for a place just knowing where it is on the map and relying on luck to help me find those beautiful views or awesome little known spots.
Our next trip is to Colorado.  Jon has been to Colorado several more times than I have due to his geological studies but I have only been once and that was to Steamboat to snow ski.  Speaking of Snow Skiing....I tore my ACL in January of this year while skiing.  It has been quite the annoyance, which has only been exacerbated by the upcoming hiking season.  My ortho doctor says I can do anything my knee will allow.  The bigger restriction is my husband.  He tends to restrict me more than my knee does.  I haven't had surgery yet and I'm planning on delaying it for a while.  I have several reasons, none of which are related to the fun of hiking so I'll leave them out!
Anyway, back to our trip planning.
COLORADO!!!!
I'm very excited to check out a state that my husband has raved so much about.  We started out with Colorado based on a bucket list item -  See a show at Red Rocks Amphitheater.  It just so happens that Jon's favorite band - The Avett Brothers - are going to be at Red Rocks.  The tickets were purchased before I knew it with the bribe of being able to spend a little time in Colorado seeing the sites!
I took an extra couple of days off work and we are going to have 6 days after the concert, unaccounted for to spend road tripping beautiful Colorado!
Since I have the knee issue I think we will be spending this trip with more tourist-y activities, car camping and checking out sites that we want to return to for hiking.  I especially want to find some sites to hike with our dogs.
I have been sifting through all the posts on TripAdvisor's website and starting my needs list.
I decided since our Yellowstone/Tetons trip that I need a wide angle lens for my camera.  I have been wanting one since I upgraded to a DSLR camera for family group photos but when we went to YNP I realized my current lens couldn't capture the views I'd hoped.  Don't get me wrong I have amazing pictures, that many people think I stole from various websites, but they just don't capture the grandness like I'd hoped.
I also will need to boost up my wardrobe for summer hiking/outdoor attire.  Our maiden voyage was in the fall at YNP so the weather was 50's during the day and 8-20 degrees at night.  I'm hoping Colorado in July will be a little warmer.
I do have a 30 degree Kelty sleeping bag that will serve just fine.  Jon will absolutely need a cooler bag.  He has a Zero degree Marmot Down Bag.  It was amazing for him in YNP.  He was toasty warm and almost hot a couple of nights.
Our tent is perfect.  Our sleeping pads will be perfect too!  We just need a few summer adjustments to our gear and clothing.

The best thing about planning for trips, other than finally going, is the little break from reality it gives you.  I can have a terrible day at work and hop on the computer for a few minutes, search a few fun options for our trip and my mind is instantly transported to a new place.  I guess it just takes away from the day to day and gives me hope that no matter how bad something is now, it will get better.  In just a few short months I will be in the car with my husband, listening to great music and enjoying an even better view!

Everything they said was true

We went to Yellowstone National Park in October 2012.  When I was reading blogs and various internet sites about YNP there was a repeating theme...."You will become addicted to this place."  You would see it over and over.  People would blog about their first trip, then their second, third and their future trips that were in planning.  They would start out with these great intentions of going to other parks and would somehow end up back at Yellowstone.  They would go at a different time of year, focus on a different part of the park or search for a different animal.  Every time they would have an excuse why they needed to go back and what they missed from their previous trips.
My husband and I went in October.  It was near perfect weather.  It was 50-60's during the day, which was perfect for hiking, but around 10-20 at night which was a little chilly but survivable.
We have all these wonderful future plans of hiking Grand Canyon, Arches and Yosemite someday but we are still gazing at pictures of YNP.  We still follow their facebook pages admiring all the beautiful pictures from different times of year.  We still relive beautiful memories and so many times wish to return to Hellroaring Creek for lunch.  I understand why people want to return to this magical place.  It seems very different every time we see new pictures.  Every season seems like a new park is being displayed.  When we watched the educational videos at the Old Faithful Visitors Center it talked about the park is very different with the change of seasons.  I didn't believe this at first but looking just at pictures I can't imagine the park this time of year.  I like so many others can't wait for my next trip to YNP.  However, I can't decide which time of year to go!