7/11-18/2008: Colorado Vacation

The seven of us left Dimmitt late Friday evening and drove to Trinidad, CO where we spent the night. Saturday we awoke, grabbed some breakfast and then set off for our trailhead outside of Westcliffe.

We arrived at the Comanche-Venable Trailhead a little before noon and loaded our packs. It was cloudy and cool , in the 50's. We started off following an access trail steeply up to the Rainbow Trail. We paused for lunch and then began to head north. The clouds slowly burned off, but the day remained pleasantly cool.

We reached the Goodwin Trail where we again turned north and climbed steeply.Mosquitos began to cause some minor annoyance as we walked through thick timber. The trail entered the canyon of Goodwin Creek where the grade began to moderate. We found the area we had chosen on the map to set up camp. It was depicted as a wide meadow on the map, but was in reality a swampy area of grass hummocks. We set up camp along the edge of the woods, loaded ourselves up with DEET and spent the rest of the afternoon playing. We heard occasional rumbles of thunder but managed to avoid any significant rain. The boys spent the night in their own tent, a first for them.

Sunday we awoke to clear skies and a temperature in the upper 30's. After breakfast we decided to hike up to the Goodwin Lakes. The seven of us started out with good intentions, but grouchiness prevailed upon many. Finally we decided that Colter, Zane and I would hike up to the lakes. We had a great time and I don't think Colter ever stopped talking. We had to cross a few late season snowfields which Colter didn't care for. We finally made Lower Goodwin Lake where we stopped to play for awhile. AS we had planned to move to another campsite we didn't visit the other lakes as I wanted to reestablish camp before the afternoon thunder storms rolled through.

We arrived back just as a light rain began settling in. We quickly broke down camp and moved about 1/5 of a mile down canyon to a dry meadow. The people who had been camped there the night before had left and we decided it was too good to pass up. We managed to stay mostly dry as we set up. The remainder of the afternoon was spent blowing dandelions, playing in the creek and relaxing by the fire.

Our improved easterly exposure allowed things to warm up much quicker on Monday. We fixed breakfast and broke down camp. The downhill grade for our walk out made everyone a little more cheerful. Low rumblings of thunder did more to help teh kids keep a good pace than any encouragement I could offer. We made it to the trailhead just as the heavens began to let loose.

From Westcliffe we drove on to Colorado Springs to spend one last night with my parents before they moved to Denver. Tuesday we headed south to Cuchara and Bear Lake CG in the San Isabel National Forest. We found a great site tucked next to a creek with a great view of the Culebra Range. Jen's parents arrived later that afternoon and we cooked hot dogs and smores over the fire. Jen suprised the kids by pulling out glow sticks with which they amused themselves.


Wednesday Jen's folks and the kids went fishing while I went for a mountain bike ride. While fishing they saw a black bear come down to the lake and take a few fish before ambling back up into the woods. Later Jen, Zane, Wyatt and I drove the truck up the 4WD road going to Trinchera Peak. WE cooked burritos for dinner that night before turning in.

Thurday we headed over to Great Sand Dunes National Park where the kids played in Medano Creek and the dunes for several hours. Jen's parents drove back to Lubbock while we spent one more night out.

Finally Friday morning we packed up and drove back to Dimmitt.