Monday, October 8, 2012

Our Colorado Wilderness Trip


Two weeks ago, our family went on a week-long camping trip in southern Colorado. I'd never been to the state before, but the guys in our family have been several years in a row elk hunting, and this was our chance to accompany them.
So, I'd like to share a few pictues from our adventure, with a bit of commentary here and there. :)
Even though pine forests (or spruce) aren't my favorite, parts were very majestic.


We camped in this meadow, rather far back in a 'wilderness' area, right on the edge of the country were no more wheeled vehicles are allowed.


The tiny, cold bubbling creek that provided water for us and our horses for the week.


Our camp.

Inside my tent. (this was at the first of the week, before things got messy!)

Little sis pretending to be asleep in her cot.

The first full day, Cim & Laredo took me up a nearby mountain on a very steep hike.
Our goal - to see the Great Divide.

Notice how steep the ground is behind us!

At last. The top!

Look across at the Divide.
Aspens turning yellow.
Hiking to an even higher point. I have to admit, just then I was very tempted to start singing
"the hills are alive....."
Everything was so beautiful.

Mom, Carolina, and I all did a fair amount of sketching and painting during the week.
It was nice to have so much free time to do just that!

Taking drawing materials out on a hike.

Painting a moss-covered 'fairy' stump.



Painting a forest scene.

Attempting to recreate the look of the creek.


The chipmunks! These adorable little creatures kept us amused all week. By the end of it, they were even brave and curious enough to venture into camp to explore our gear, and even enter our tents for a look around!
Setting off to explore a little.

This is our 'fairy house'. Having found a stump with two tiny 'doors' in the base, we decided to make it welcoming for fairies, cleaned it out, transplanted bunches of moss and ferns all around, and created pathways and porches.

Tiny mushrooms grow by the doorway leading to a room lined with pine needles.

Look at the intricacy and texture of a few square inches of forest floor. Look at it - and deny if you dare the existence of a loving Creator who took care to array even the smallest bit of his work in beauty and abundant life.




A porch side entrance, shaded by a huge mushroom-thingy.


Cooking over the fire, and in a dutch oven.

Mom stirs up some beautiful, fluffy biscuits.



We all enjoyed being in beautiful mountains for a whole week, soaked up lots of sunshine and made lots of memories.






12 comments:

Sarah said...

Beautiful! it looks like you all had a wonderful time.

Vicki said...

This looks like such fun! I'm not much of a camper, but these photos make me long for a trip to the mountains.(:

~Vicki
deckedoutinruffles.blogspot.com

Miss Kacy Pogue said...

Oh ya'll look like you had a great time. Thank you for sharing with us.

Rachel said...

Oh my! This looks so neat!!! And what REAL camping is!;) I've never been able to figure out how some people can consider going and parking a camper next to fifty other campers camping...:)
Colorado looks so beautiful! Did you "rent" the horses, or are they yours?
Your paintings are really great!
I just can't get over how beautiful all these pictures are and how fun and authentic it all looks!:)
~Rachel

Anonymous said...

Looks like you guys had an awesome time huh? =D I'm jealous! LOL
Glad you guys had a blast!

Rebecca Ann said...

Oh my word Atlanta this is what I call real adventure and camping! Could you take me with you sometime?? My family thinks I am crazy that I would love to camp and ride horses and explore without electricity and the like, but I think it sounds lovely. :)I also want to go on a canoe/camping trip sometime in the near future. Oh to be outdoors, its so so lovely. I am thankful even though I live in the city I can drive less an 30 minutes to get to the woods to hike. Colorado sure is a different picture from the mountains of VA though. Its beautiful! Thank you for taking the time to share pictures! Sketching and painting the landscape sounds so lovely too and cooking over an open fire is lovely too. Thats another reason I love reenacting, because you get to live without all the modern conveniences and just enjoy life.

SisterlyLove said...

So beautiful! What a lovely time.

Genevieve

Lilac Bud Gal said...

Oh, that looks so fun!!! I wish y'all could have swung by here on your way up, but I imagine there was a more direct route. :( We need to get together, though! :)
Looks like y'all had a great time!! Dad and Josh had an elk hunt up near Colorado a while back. They said it sure was pretty up there! :) Now I wish I could have gone. :)

PrincessR said...

How fun!! Where exactly did you go? I would love to tuck it away for future vacations!! I loved all the pictures- just drooled over them in fact! I am so glad your family got some good family/vacation time before your marriage. I know that everyone will cherish those moments!!!

xoxo

Krafty Girl said...

Oooohhhh! How beautiful! Looks like a great time! I love to cook at a fire with cast iron. Nothing better. Beautiful pics and scenery. God does well.
God Bless,
beth

Leah Oxendine Miller said...

Beautiful photos! It looks like you had a wonderful time! I would LOVE to go on a trip like this. That would be just about paradise I think. :)

Atlanta said...

Thank you so much, everyone!

Rachel - the horses are ours. :)

Rebecca and Sarah - We drove past Clines Corners, which is only such a short way from yall's place! We really wanted to meet up, and even called a couple of times on the way up, but we couldn't get ahold of yall. On the way back we couldn't stop. It would have been fun! We might make it an annual thing, hopefully.

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