For Labor Day weekend, we headed off to Granby Ranch to see if Maddy would enjoy some downhill mountain biking. We found a hotel with a nice pool and off we went.
The biking was a sucess, I think Maddy managed 5 runs, 900feet vertical each run. I'm claiming success. We also did a nice hike around Monarch Lake.
I started my ride by Echo Lake, at about 10,600ft MSL.
I started there because that is where the road is closed to motor vehicles. With COVID happening and parking at the top being limited and trails narrow, the road has remained closed all season, which makes it a dream to ride up. 
Looking north, the Williams Fork fire continues to burn. 
Bighorn sheep I think?, just the females.
Looking south and getting higher
Summit lake just below 13k.
Some snow that must spend most of its time in the shade.
Finally the parking lot at 14,160ft. Not so bad really, a pretty easy grade most of the way and I must be well adjusted to the elevation.
Meyer-Wobble Observatory soon to be decommissioned. 
I didn't realize this road is the highest paved road in the US. Since I'd ridden my bike, I was wearing my road shoes which are rubbish to walk in. I decided to bare foot the remaining 105ft to the real summit. It was worth it for the views, the high light of the ride really, I imagine a regular summers day would be crowded. 
Mountain goats just walking around, they are a wild species, but introduced from Montana in 1947. 
Jefferson Valley to the South. Virga was starting to fall and the temperature was dropping rapidly, time to get off the mountain. The ride down was surprisingly unfun with ruts every 40 feet or so. 
 |
| A big turn-out! ~160 pilots I think I heard. From the LZ looking up at launch and the Sangre de Cristo Range |
I didn't have sufficient time to do my homework for this trip. I thought the swifts fly in was a Hang Gliding class5 event -Ha Nope! Anyway I had decided to take it easy and not be too ambitious since I've barely flown in 16 months. Over launch looking south ~13k.
Over launch looking down at Villa Grove.
Over launch about 15k looking north toward Salida.
Over Villa Grove looking down on the LZ and Launch. A place I've heard about for years, but hadn't managed to visit until now.
Valley is around 8k feet MSL Peaks around 13.5k, previous day I flew down to the corner and back, flying the Freedom as I'm really out-of-practice. This glider is much easier to land and more forgiving of mistakes.
Looking south down toward the Great Sand Dunes National Park. What a great fun weekend, so nice to see (at a distance) so many friendly faces I've not seen in months/years. Somehow I was so busy catching up I didn't take a single group shot.
Here's a ride I've been eyeballing a while, uncertain as to the condition of the road and level of difficulty. The map at least showed it's a legitimate bike trail, however without going one would know the size and lose-ness of the rocks in the trail bed up from the Mountain Research Station.
The trail starts at 9500' MSL. Here's looking south toward Eldora ski resort and Silver lake down in front.
Looking south-east to Boulder reservoir and the Flatiron range.
Around 11,500' MSL just another 700' climb to go.
Just peaking over Niwot Mountain.
And finally the top at 12,250'. Time to go check out the hard earned views. Perfect temperature, no wind or storms.
Isabelle Glacier at the southwest end of Brainard Lakes, under Shoshoni and Apache Peaks.
The trail passing Isabelle lake.
All downhill on the way back...
Time for a wonder in the hills. This time Mount St. Vrain, a relatively short and steep hike ~3.5hrs
I went up the rocky creek route, the trail is sometimes tricky to follow, of course easy with a GPS. The wild flowers were out in full. 
Still a little snow in north facing pockets, but definitely well passed max melt.
Leaving the house the temps were ~90'F on top blowy and ~50'F. great views even though it was hard to stand up in the gusts. This is looking south at Paiute Peak across Peaceful valley and Coney flats.
Ogalalla Peak (left) Copeland center, and Isolation peak back right.
Longs Peak (left) and Meeker (right).
Buchanan pass trail. Pettingell peak in the back ground.
Paiute peak and Shoshoni over its shoulder.
Yellow paintbrush just below Vrain peak.
Looking over the Flatirons and boulder onto the plains. Beaver reservoir in the foreground.
Scarlet paintbrush in an alpine meadow with some daisies. Back down to the truck from here.
