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05/31/2006 04:55:46 PM · #51 |
Now this is why this site is so cool.
All you have to do is ASK and ye shall receive!
Much appreciation for all of the suggestions for travel in Colorado.
My sister and I are going to take a ''Thelma and Louise" trip soon (sans gun and fishing gear)
and even tho Colorado was our ''must see'' state, we didn't know where we wanted to go there.
You all have given us so much information, we can't miss!
Thanks to all!
Message edited by author 2006-05-31 16:56:56. |
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06/01/2006 12:18:18 AM · #52 |
Originally posted by blemt:
In Colorado Springs for food I'm partial to La Baugette in Old Colorado City. |
Also, the Briarherst in Manitou Spgs. is excellent, a bit pricey though. And for family fun Giesippi's (sp?) in the Old Railroad Depot in downtown Colo. Springs has great Italian food.
Also, If you like hiking, I have hiked almost all of the trails in RMNP. When I was in high school, my brother was a ranger there and I stayed with him a month each summer for several years. Let me know if you like hiking, I can get you on the right trails for fun, wildlife and photos.
Message edited by author 2006-06-01 00:22:18. |
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06/01/2006 12:47:51 AM · #53 |
Originally posted by ButterflySis:
On somewhat of a sidenote...talking about phobias and all...how often do you Coloradans(?) see snakes? I don't mean the little 2 foot kind...I mean the man-eating kind. Maybe I don't even want to know... |
Not sure that I ever did.....
I am a native......lived there till I got married at 20 :)
Message edited by author 2006-06-01 00:51:17.
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06/01/2006 03:58:25 AM · #54 |
Cool information abour lightning strikes
Strike linky
Colorado is not #2, it is #26 for lightning strikes.
There ARE rattlesnakes in CO but not likely where you will be taking pics. In the low, dry lands around Coolado Springs and Pueblo there are quite a few. Much of that land is barren looking with cholla cactus and a good portion of it is on Air Force Base (but not the main tourist area, down in the low lands where you will not go). Up in the mountains, where I spend lots of time, I have seen no snakes or heard of any snake problems. Too cold in winter I guess.
Enjoy your trip! It'll be lovely! oh.... watch out for deer/elk crossing roads near dusk, that'll be you most likely hazard! Mule deer are large but elk are bigger!
Message edited by author 2006-06-01 04:08:25. |
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06/01/2006 04:34:19 AM · #55 |
Originally posted by Ristyz:
Cool information abour lightning strikes
Strike linky
Colorado is not #2, it is #26 for lightning strikes.
There ARE rattlesnakes in CO but not likely where you will be taking pics. In the low, dry lands around Coolado Springs and Pueblo there are quite a few. Much of that land is barren looking with cholla cactus and a good portion of it is on Air Force Base (but not the main tourist area, down in the low lands where you will not go). Up in the mountains, where I spend lots of time, I have seen no snakes or heard of any snake problems. Too cold in winter I guess.
Enjoy your trip! It'll be lovely! oh.... watch out for deer/elk crossing roads near dusk, that'll be you most likely hazard! Mule deer are large but elk are bigger! |
Guess them folks on the cog rail are mis-informed.
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06/01/2006 08:16:35 AM · #56 |
Originally posted by Ristyz:
Colorado is not #2, it is #26 for lightning strikes.
There ARE rattlesnakes in CO but not likely where you will be taking pics. In the low, dry lands around Coolado Springs and Pueblo there are quite a few. Much of that land is barren looking with cholla cactus and a good portion of it is on Air Force Base (but not the main tourist area, down in the low lands where you will not go). Up in the mountains, where I spend lots of time, I have seen no snakes or heard of any snake problems. Too cold in winter I guess.
Enjoy your trip! It'll be lovely! oh.... watch out for deer/elk crossing roads near dusk, that'll be you most likely hazard! Mule deer are large but elk are bigger! |
To clarify, most people in Colorado who discuss our status as #2 for lightning strikes are usually missquoting our fatality numbers. We usually run in the top 5 for fatalities. Colorado Springs and the Front Range in general leads most areas in the country in terms of fatal hits. But that's not so good for tourism. Saying we are #2 in lightning strikes rather than fatalities sounds better. :)
No joke, if a storm is coming- get thee inside. If you want to do storm photography, hop into your car and do it from there.
Clara |
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06/01/2006 08:28:25 AM · #57 |
If you have time, I'd go to the south, past Pueblo to the sand dunes.
While your there, stop off in Alamosa. It's a sleep college town with a farming background and a spanish flair.
You'll be inbetween two mountain ranges. The air is clean, and clear and at night you can see the whole universe with the occasional satalite passing by.
Check out the Purple Pig for drinks.
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06/01/2006 08:52:22 AM · #58 |
Originally posted by blemt:
Originally posted by Ristyz:
Colorado is not #2, it is #26 for lightning strikes.
There ARE rattlesnakes in CO but not likely where you will be taking pics. In the low, dry lands around Coolado Springs and Pueblo there are quite a few. Much of that land is barren looking with cholla cactus and a good portion of it is on Air Force Base (but not the main tourist area, down in the low lands where you will not go). Up in the mountains, where I spend lots of time, I have seen no snakes or heard of any snake problems. Too cold in winter I guess.
Enjoy your trip! It'll be lovely! oh.... watch out for deer/elk crossing roads near dusk, that'll be you most likely hazard! Mule deer are large but elk are bigger! |
To clarify, most people in Colorado who discuss our status as #2 for lightning strikes are usually missquoting our fatality numbers. We usually run in the top 5 for fatalities. Colorado Springs and the Front Range in general leads most areas in the country in terms of fatal hits. But that's not so good for tourism. Saying we are #2 in lightning strikes rather than fatalities sounds better. :)
No joke, if a storm is coming- get thee inside. If you want to do storm photography, hop into your car and do it from there.
Clara |
Mesa Verde is the 2nd most lightning struck spot in the continental U.S. They even mention it at the visitor center.
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06/01/2006 11:49:30 PM · #59 |
We had a high schooler biten by a rattler in his yard in Pueblo (edge of prairie) Saturday. If you stay above 8,000 ft you will not see a rattler. I've run into many rattlers through the years of field work. If you are active in morning or early evening, you may see them suning. In heat of day, they are in cooler areas, shady. I wouldn't hike much at night in rockey areas below 6,000 ft. Luckily their poison isn't as nasty as other poisonous snakes.
If you get above timberline, like on top of Pike's Peak or on Trail Ridge Road in RMNP, and you see any ugly cloud approaching head inside. Pike's Peak has at least one fatality a year do to strikes. |
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06/02/2006 12:06:30 AM · #60 |
Originally posted by vtruan:
If you stay above 8,000 ft you will not see a rattler. I've run into many rattlers through the years of field work. If you are active in morning or early evening, you may see them suning. In heat of day, they are in cooler areas, shady. I wouldn't hike much at night in rockey areas below 6,000 ft. Luckily their poison isn't as nasty as other poisonous snakes. |
We've seen numerous Rattlers above 8000 feet around the edges of the San Luis Valley, Van - do they naturally live higher here as the whole place is so high? |
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06/02/2006 10:44:42 AM · #61 |
Sammie, I was think of 7,800 feet where you see them in southern SLV. SO I added a couple hundred feet. Maybe they do get a bit higher, but not too often in other areas of the state. I know the area you are talking about, I saw five one morning crossing the county roads. Van
P.S. Sammie, I met your sister and neice at a wedding the other day. That was quite nice. Now I have faces for my other Cornish Cousins. |
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06/02/2006 10:49:16 AM · #62 |
Originally posted by Sammie:
Originally posted by vtruan:
If you stay above 8,000 ft you will not see a rattler. I've run into many rattlers through the years of field work. If you are active in morning or early evening, you may see them suning. In heat of day, they are in cooler areas, shady. I wouldn't hike much at night in rockey areas below 6,000 ft. Luckily their poison isn't as nasty as other poisonous snakes. |
We've seen numerous Rattlers above 8000 feet around the edges of the San Luis Valley, Van - do they naturally live higher here as the whole place is so high? |
I think the point is that generally, above 8000 ft, you don't have so much desert territory. Rattlers don't live in the more alpine climates.
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06/02/2006 11:02:43 AM · #63 |
If you're in RMNP, I'd reccomend going up fall river road to the top, and then trail ridge road back out, it's one way, dirt, but there's tons of places to stop for photo-ops that you can't get without some serious hiking other places...
I wonder if I can sneak up there this weekend. |
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06/02/2006 11:24:02 AM · #64 |
I'd make a mountain town my base - Boulder is also likely to be "pricey" and is at the edge of the foothills and the plains. Breckenridge (one of my home bases) is a charming old mining town - between Breckenridge, Dillon, and Frisco you can find reasonable accomodations. And your dining choices there are excellent - from fast food to gourmet.
Colorado has enough sight seeing to last a lifetime - if you only have a few days, pick what is your favorite type of view.
Rocky Mountain National Park is filled with wildlife and mountain views. The east side around Estes Park is dryer with Ponderosa Pines and pinyon - and some red rock formations. There are valleys filled with elk. Trail Ridge Road is one of the most beautiful drives in the world - and you have gorgeous panoramas and alpine wildflowers. The west side of the park is wetter - and there are moose on the west side.
From Estes Park going east is Big Thompson Canyon - a lovely drive next to a swift river. I've gotten mountain sheep photos right by the road here.
Taking the gondola to the top of Vail Ski area is another beautiful place, but the same is also true at Breckenridge and Keystone.
At Mount Evans (off I-70) many people get great photos of mountain goats. Also along i-70 is an area where you can see big horn sheep.
Near Buena Vista - Cottonwood Lake and Cottonwood Pass. St. Elmo is a well preserved ghost town (although there are not as many buildings as there were 20 years ago - I think a few of them burned.) There are LOTS of jeep roads around St. Elmo.
And a trip to Colorado really deserves time on the jeep roads - above Montezuma (near Keystone) and above Tiger Run (near Breckenridge) is some incredibly beautiful country - you can spend all day on the jeep roads above the timberline.
North of Estes Park and west of Loveland is a national wildlife refuge and there are some gorgeous mountain drives there.
Too far for your time span . . . . Alamosa with the Great Sand Dunes - and a Nature Conservancy area as well as two wildlife refuges. Pagosa Springs with its natural hot springs. Durango - with the scenic train ride to Silverton. (Another less known train leaves from Chama - and it is a LONGER run) Silverton is charming - and there is a great campground at 11,000 feet (Mineral Creek). Tons of jeep trails around Silverton and Ouray.
Around Colorado Springs - Garden of the Gods, Cave of the Winds, Pikes Peak, Royal Gorge, Silvercliffe and WestCliffe (gorgeous mountain panorama), river rafting down the Arkansas River (especially around Salida).
I could keep going - around Denver - the new wildlife refuge Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, i-70 west with the big red cliffs . . . . Southwest - Mesa Verde and the Four Corners area - desert.
I've spent most of my life making runs to Colorado - finding new "favorite" places - coming back time and time again to older "favorites." Enjoy your time there. |
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06/02/2006 11:36:12 AM · #65 |
With only four days . . . . I'd pick one area - and fully enjoy that rather than trying to drive all over the state. Estes Park makes a great home base for Rocky Mountain National Park, Breckenridge is a more charming town than Vail (and less pricey). You can rent bikes at Breckenridge and take the lift up the mountain and ride down - also at Keystone! You can also ride the bike trail from Breckenridge to Frisco (mostly downhill), bike around Lake Dillon and then take the bus back to Breckenridge. Take time to enjoy time by one of the creeks or rivers or at the top of a pass. Or you can stay in Frisco, take the bus to Breckenridge and bike back. All the buses in Summit County are free.
You'll enjoy whatever you choose to do. |
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06/02/2006 11:50:29 AM · #66 |
I would definetely recommend Boulder - it's quite different from the rest of Colorado. From Denver, it's on your way to Estes Park or Rocky Mountain NP - so it's a great stop for a couple of hours. Try taking in Pearl Street Mall.
I lived in Boulder for 2.5 years so I'm rather partial to it. :)
Have fun...
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07/12/2006 02:45:20 PM · #67 |
Back from Colorado. In late last night. Stayed in Broomfield and daytripped from there. Friday was the GotG and and poor choice trip to the Gorge Bridge. Saturday (rain) was Breckenridge and a meal at Fatty's. Sunday (rain) was the 1st trip to RMNP via 119, Ward, and Hwy 7. Made an ascent up trail ridge road (in the fog) until above 11,000 feet and no guard rails...enough for me. Monday was a brief return to RMNP via 119, Nederland and this time sunshine. Monday afternoon was for the Mrs. at the Pearl Street Mall and her "retail therapy" session.
My D70 had electronics problems and never worked for this trip. Luckily I had an old film body as backup and a dozen rolls of film. Will pick up the negatives this afternoon and will post pics if anything is noteworthy.
Good solid time in the Colorado Rockies. Beautiful country. I'm certain I only glazed the surface, however, sometimes "time" is the determinant. Glad you Coloradoans got some rain, however, I wish the sun would have been a bit more present over the weekend.
Will try to get some pics posted tonight.
Flash
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07/12/2006 06:24:09 PM · #68 |
Perfect timing on your part to show up for the 2 best days of rain we have had in awhile. :) Thats alright
You didn't like TrailRidge Rd? I love driving that.
Up Hwy 7, guess you saw this then. 
Can't wait to see some pics.
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07/12/2006 10:40:58 PM · #69 |
My version of Colorado...
      
There are a few more in my portfolio folder "Colorado"
Message edited by author 2006-07-12 22:51:24.
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