Dear Isaac, Maia, and Virtual Travelers,

The last 3 weeks have taken us from wildflowers to wildfires. On June 29th, we headed for our annual trip to the Grand Mesa and Vega State Park. I would have preferred to go the week before because the wild columbines would have been at peak. And, those columbines are about 90% of why I like to go hiking at Vega every year.

We headed out on a Sunday afternoon and drove up over the Mesa to the State Park. The air felt notably cooler than it had when we left. The lake looked so beautiful and cool. The first night was mellow – we just chilled at the tent. I read my book. Vega doesn’t have cell service, so it forces me to actually read and get off of social media.

I carry a Garmin InReach device to check in with folks when we are out of cell range. So part of the evening was playing on that for the first time this year. It has never paired with my phone, so it is a little cumbersome to toggle out a message, but also adds to the feel of the trip. A step back in time.

The second day we were off to the Vega Lake Hike. This is one of my favorite hikes of the year. Colorado doesn’t have tropical forests, but this comes close. The foliage is dense and provides shade to the pups. This year we went late and it was hotter than I remember our other trips. I needed my sweatband, for sure.

I think the pups and I could win a slow hiker award for our hike every year. First, the foliage slows you down. Then, there are a million wildflowers to photograph. And, short-legged, old, rescue dogs on a snuffari don’t exactly win many races. My favorite columbines start popping up about halfway through the hike.

There are 3 bridges on the hike. Two are basic boards over water, one is a more formal bridge with a railing. These create a great photo op for the dogs. I would say the first bridge is at about the halfway point. The last two are closer to the end of the hike. We take the road back because it is faster and by now I am hungry. The entire 2 miles takes us about 3 hours. And, sweet Koko just gets covered in pollen every year!

To celebrate finishing the trip, we head in to Collbran for real food from the Colbran Cafe. This year, we shared a hamburger and milkshake. I like Collbran because it has benches and shade for the pups to sit and savor a bit of small town food while watching the world drive by.

By late afternoon, we were back to our site. It was warm, but not hot. The sun was bright. What do you do with those couple of hours before it’s time to eat? Sometimes I read, but there was no shade at the Oak Point campsites. Too much glare. So, I pass the time watching nature. So many flowers and insects to enjoy. And, boats gliding through the peaceful waters. Don’t forget the goofy dogs taking naps. I eventually laid a blanket on the ground and laid down because watching them made me sleepy.

I love that I was socialized to “just be” in nature. I think it is a forgotten skill. We are always plugged into our bubble on social media. But, what peace is there with all that chaos and noise? This afternoon, like many camping afternoons, I just sit and watch. It’s lovely.

The evening cooled and was another lovely reading night. The morning brought the mania of feeding dogs and packing up camp. I am thinking how much better I feel than the trip a month earlier with the headaches and other health issues. I also think back on getting a black eye in Collbran by tripping over the sidewalk a couple of years ago.

I planned to stop at the Grand Mesa Lodge for lunch. It is a favorite spot to enjoy good food and more columbines. However, the restaurant was closed (looked to be for sale) when we were there. We did hike around for a bit before heading home. Sometimes I stop for photos at the overlooks and I have some great pictures from past years if you search the blog for Vega.

Wildfire on the South Rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison

We got home to all the 4th of July celebrations and daylilies blooming everywhere. If you haven’t visited my daylily blog you are missing out on my big July adventure every summer – come visit ColoradoKidDaylilies.com and check it out.

Just days later, on July 10th, we had a dry lightening storm in the early hours of the morning that set off multiple fires in the region. Initially, there were two on Grand Mesa that were quickly controlled. But, three fires became large and are still burning in my own county. The closest is at my beloved Black Canyon of the Gunnison. This is less than 10 miles from my house.

I wanted to camp at the Black Canyon this year but the sites were booked way out because of delays in opening some other area campgrounds. I had such a great time taking the dogs up there the last couple of years. We enjoyed the Colorado National Monument instead this year. It is hard to believe that the Black Canyon won’t have it’s gorgeous foliage back for decades. At least not in full.

I wanted to share a photo of the fire in the early days and a couple of the photos shared by the Montrose Daily Press of the aftermath.

I wanted to camp at Pearl Lake last week, but with so many fires burning and road closures, I decided to wait. Plus, I am volunteering the summer and that was also a factor. I think we will pack up either this week or next to spend a couple of days at Curecanti National Recreation Area. While I will miss a trip to Grandma’s lake this year (I took 2 last year), I also love the Curecanti. We haven’t camped there in a couple of years, and it is a good way to honor the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

Love ya’ll, GM Cathy and the Pup Crew