Turkey Hunting-Spring 2009

So, as some of you know, Brian has been exercising his hunting heritage and completed his Hunter's Safety Course during the Winter in preparation for Elk Hunting in the Fall. Well, he has expanded on this desire for providing food via self-propelled activities to include Turkey Hunting. So, here's Hunter Brian is his get-up...hard to see right! :)

These are the turkey tracks Brian found while scouting, never did have a chance to shoot one though, they were no where to be found. Apparently Turkey hunting here, compared to Hunter, NY where Zak has hunted a lot, is much more challenging.

2009 Memorial Day Weekend-Arches National Park, UT

Over Memorial Day weekend Brian and I spontaneously packed up everything we could possibly need, in a whirlwind manner, including camping gear, road bikes, hiking stuff, Toby food, etc and headed Northwest on HWY 24 toward I-70. It was a STORMY week, so we just had to get out of the house and see what came across our path. We drove back roads through Avon, Beaver Creek, Edwards, and Eagle and then jumped on I-70 and headed west. Upon driving through Glenwood Canyon toward Glenwood Springs we pulled off at a rest area for Hanging Lake Trailhead because while driving we noticed a bike path paralleling the river. The clouds had been clearing up a bit just enough for the sun to peek out for about 2 hours, providing us with a perfect window to go for a ride along the high flowing - intimidating river! It was AWESOME!

This view is looking North from the Hanging Lake Trailhead parking lot.

Our fabulous, but low-riding, Volvo fully decked out for a spontaneous adventure-filled weekend! Looking back South toward HWY and river.

After stopping in Glenwood Springs for dinner we headed out West in an awful thunderstorm. Yes, there was some hydro-planning activity, but all was well. We drove until we reached Fruita, CO just past Grand Junction and parked in the Welcome Center/Rest Area to catch a few ZZZs in the back of the car. The three of us fit snuggly in the back on our thermarests and sleeping bags! The next morning up just after sunrise, we decided to head toward MOAB, UT and get some breakfast. It was a rather long wait for breakfast...but we ate at the Eckletica Restaurant, yummy quiches, fresh squeezed OJ, and patio seating! Then we headed to Arches National Park. We ending up buying an annual pass, which covers several of the nearby Parks for only $15 then the entrance fee, since we knew we'd be back!

Arches National Park, UT

Gossip..ladies? something, I'll look it up and edit!

Balancing Rock

Toby spreading the love!

Pine Tree Arch? I think. We hiked out to the Landscape Arch, and several others I'll add, but I'm going to go ride real quick and I'll edit this later... something like a 5 or 6 mile desert hike! Beautfiul...need to pack MORE water, and MORE food though next time!

Pretty Cactus Flower!

Toby enjoying the sunny weather...as soon as we left Arches and headed back to I-70 it started thunderstorming again! We're thankful for having a few windows of sun so we could enjoy our weekend!

MTB Excursion: Lost Canyon Road to Twin Lakes Loop

Brian and I decided to try and find a dry trail we could mountain bike on, and thanks to our friend/co-workers guidebook (Arkansas Valley Mountain Biking-by Mark Wolff) we were able to find a fantastic loop with beautiful scenery. This loop is just West of Granite, you actually turn West onto Lost Canyon Road from HWY 24, right by the convenient store/gas station in Granite. Then you drive until you see this sign 398-B and park in the triangular cutoff between the two dirt roads.

Then head West up the road, a nice warm-up climb and make sure you stay on the main road to the left.

This will be a beautiful ride in the Fall when the Aspen leaves are changing color!

As you wind around past the campsites and start heading North again keep your eye out for the CDT and CO Trail sign. This is where you turn right to get on the singletrack part of the ride!

There are several fallen trees to watch out for on the trail, so stay alert! You might also startle a turkey or two as you ride by, so don't be alarmed when you hear their flustered flapping wings.

Self-portrait taken about half way through, the East mountains toward Buffalo Peaks is behind me.

Here's Brian catching up after investigating a problem with his chain. The singletrack was fantastic, besides a few fallen trees, it was a very distinct groomed-like trail.

Our view to the Southeast toward Buena Vista and the distant Sangre de Cristos.

There were a few patches of snow along the trail we had to walk through, but overall the trail was really dry and ready for summer hikers and cyclists!

At one clearing in the trees we realized we could see our car way down below.

Below is one of the larger creek crossings, there were about three or four total, but for this one we definitely had to get off the bike to walk across.

We realized we were getting closer to Twin Lakes as we pedaled up a ridge and came upon this view and studied how the trail sketchily wound back down the North side of the ridge.

We could just start to see the lake through the dense trees, but had to focus on the steepening trail and watch for our abrupt right turn ahead.

Brian, waited for me to take a picture of this turn, so I could include it in my trip report for my work blog-The Trailhead Register. He's a patient and photogenic spouse!

A view of the new trail heading Eastbound beginning to loop back along the South end of the lake. There was a cool breeze wafting from the lake which made it a bit cool riding beneath the shady pines.

Looking West toward Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive we watched the storm rolling in toward Leadville.

The Columbines were blooming with several different shades of lavender! Pretty cool to see them this early in the year!

A not-so-fantastic panorama stitch job of the lake. But you get the idea.

The trailhead we rode out at the end of the lake and then proceeded along county dirt roads back to the car at 398-B. We highly recommend this trail to intermediate riders! Can't wait to hike it next year when we hike the CO Trail!

Oh, and this is a random picture from March I felt like throwing in of when Jenni and I got our hair done during one of our Girl's Weekends! Cheese!

Leadville in May 2009

For one of Brian's last Geology Labs he was required to develop and complete a geology based field trip, accomplishing specific criteria, which led him to cruise around Leadville's Mineral Belt trail pre-Spring snow melt.

Here's a view from the Mineral Belt Trail, looking West toward town. This building is the waste water treatment plant currently in use because of the richly mineralized soil contaminates leaching into the water.

Mt. Elbert from the Mineral Belt Trail

Shadow of Brian on his cruiser-self portrait

The Stack/Slutzky household enjoying our back yard with a game of horse shoes.

A little air guitar solo from Zak!

Toby trying to understand why he can't go fetch the horse shoes after we toss them across the yard.

Tending to the stereotypical wifely duties, I meanwhile was running back and forth between the grill and the oven cooking organic burgers and oven-baked sweet potato fries!

Zak's birthday was May 2, so Brian made a cake in the shape of a Jack Daniel's Whiskey bottle, which if you know Zak, YOU KNOW how much he likes Jack! Zak was pretty pleased!

April Mischief-Bowling, video games, and chickens..Shh!

We finally got a chance to go BOWLING at the local Leadville Lanes! It is super cheap to bowl in Leadville, less than $4 per game, and only $2 for shoe rentals! The grill has pretty tasty cheesy fries and chicken tenders, not to mention a few cold beverage options to wash down the greasy food. This thankfully, for all of our waistlines, did not become a regular activity.

Brian and Zak testing their gaming skills on AREA 51. Zak having completed his Cop training about a year prior did, sorry Brian, have better zombie killing accuracy. :)

AND, then there were CHICKENS...before the egg, at least in our house. Here's one of the Rhode Island Reds, or as we like to call the gingers. SHH!

Sleepy time...they all at first huddled together when they slept with their beaks to the ground. There is a heat lamp on them to keep them warm, very important for baby chicks! In addition to the Rhode Island Reds, which there are three of them, we also purchased three Light Brahmas. Both breeds are supposed to great egg layers with the Brahmas being a little more welcoming of the cooler temps. We'll see? This is our first adventure in Chicken Farming!

Brian and Zak named the chickens, this little guy is McNugget, as he or she hopefully, is the smallest one in the group.

Zak bonding with one of the chicks, he's pretty good at that!