Grouse Hollow Journal for the weeks of September 5 and 12, 2013 by Ellen and Greg Koelker

Grouse Hollow Journal for September 5, 2013 by Greg Koelker

Colorado continued . . . 
On Thursday morning, we met Ben and drove to a shooting range in Minturn.  The road into the range was made for cattle and mountain bikes, not for small cars.  El had made a special trip to Burton to borrow one of her Brother Bill’s muzzle loaders for Ben to use to fill a black powder elk tag this year.  The camouflaged synthetic stocked, inline black powder rifle comes up nicely and sights in quickly.  Colorado doesn’t allow scopes for hunting with black powder rifles. But this one has luminous green and red fiber optic markers on the sights, making it really easy to zero in on a target.  Anyway, Ben was able to nail his target at 100 yards half-a-dozen times from the get go, so he feels confident with the firearm.  He will get out shooting it a few more times too.  He had to have a lesson on cleaning a black powder gun later. 

While we were at the range, there was a large helicopter circling about across the valley while we were shooting.  We could see that it had a long cable hanging from it.  Eventually, it dropped down over a hill and then climbed noisily skyward with maybe 5 long pine logs dangling from the cable.  The chopper crossed the ridge and disappeared into the trees.  When it climbed up again, the logs were gone, apparently dropped on the other side of the hill.  Ben said that was a pretty common way of logging hard to reach places where the logging footprint was to be kept to a minimum.  Later we learned that those logs were probably going to be turned into wood pellets for heating.  

When we drove back into Minturn, main street (and pretty much the only street) was blocked by a fire engine and firemen and city workers were scrambling to keep people back and repair a gas main that had been punctured during some road construction.  Ben is a professional photographer and had been hired to photograph the Vail Valley section of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge from up in Beaver Creek.  He had to bet back to get his press pass and get up the mountain and time was running short, so he phoned his buddy Drew Rouse who drove in from the other side of the road block and gave Ben a ride back.  (He made it in time and you can see some of his photographs of the race at: http://mtnweekly.com/usa-pro-challenge-stage-5-winner-tejay-van-garderen-544960 or at: benkoelkerphoto.com if you like.

After Ben left us to hike around the road block, we waited another half hour and decided that we didn’t really need to see the race and we didn’t really need to wait for the road to open, so we turned around and headed up into the mountains toward Leadville.  We had another delay for road construction not far from Minturn.  We visited with the friendly highway flagman who suggested that we may be in for a hard winter as the elk and deer appeared to be down lower earlier than usual and birds and insects were doing late fall things. 

The drive to Leadville is beautiful and full of history.  We wound up the mountains past the mining ghost town of Gilmanton and then past Camp Hale, home of the 10^th Mountain Division during WWII.  The camp is just a patchwork of roads and foundations now, but still pretty impressive.  Up on the crest of Tennessee Pass (10,424 ft), you'll find the entrance to the Ski Cooper resort, but right by it are several monuments to the division, one listing the names of the 999 soldiers from the 10^th lost during WWII.

We bought lunch at the deli in Leadville and drove to Twin Lakes Reservoir to eat it. The “bathtub ring” is really deep. While the Vail Valley has been getting a shower in the afternoon almost every day, things are dry in much of the area we saw at least. We spent several days by Twin Lakes last summer and I think the level is even lower than it was then. Anyway, we crawled up the passes in the Mt. Massive national forest over Independence Pass (12,095 ft) to Aspen and then past Snowmass on down to Carbondale and finally Glenwood Springs before heading back east to Avon. It is a long, but incredibly scenic drive.

On Friday the USA Pro Challenge had time trials up Vail Pass (10,662 ft). We dropped Ben and his camera off up on the pass so he could shoot some of the event. The weather looked pretty sketchy. Later that day, when he called us to come and pick him up, Ellen and I drove up the pass facing some threatening clouds. We no sooner got turned around when huge raindrops began pelting our car. Then it hailed. The hail was fairly small, but it piled up. Ben called us. He was huddled under a pine tree down the mountain wearing his rain gear and protecting his equipment. The traffic was stopped but finally began inching forward. Lightning creased the sky and thunder boomed. People were climbing the pass on the bike trail pushing bikes, baby carriages, or lugging back packs and holding back rambunctious dogs. We were finally able to get down near him and pull over for our pickup. He was cold but otherwise unscathed. I think he was more concerned that he wouldn't be able to make music that night outside in Minturn. He called and they said they still wanted him, so we drove him home for some dry clothes and headed out to Minturn and Magusto's, a bar and pizza place. Ben did a solo performance with his guitar for a Friday night crowd of people headed home from work and stopping by to have pizza. We enjoyed his song list of Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson songs as well as some Eagles and Beatles. The crowd hooped and hollered a bit and called for this or that song and Ben accommodated if he could. Anyway, he introduced us to the crowd and people clapped and smiled at us. A few came over to comment on how much they enjoy his performances. Nice for us for sure. The pizza was really good too. More from Colorado and Utah next time . . .

Until next time, get out - I got the Mississippi Queen ready today to get out this week. After over $500 worth of engine repairs that is, still it hasn't been in the shop for almost 10 years, so . . . I was so impressed with those fiber optic sites on Bill's muzzle loader that I bought some for my old Thompson Center .50 and called upon our old friend, gunsmith Ron Stokke, to get them put on correctly. I've got to go out now and shoot my bow. Nephew Chet said he was coming out tomorrow to check the 6 trail cameras he and Eli have out on the farm. I am feeling it, fall and hunting season coming up that is. We had my favorite summer dinner last night: grilled T-bones, sweet corn and tomatoes and cucumbers from El's garden, and some peach crisp (made from Palisades peaches brought from Colorado.) It just don't git no better. Enjoy.


Grouse Hollow Journal for September 12, 2013 by Ellen (and Greg, a little) Koelker

Beaver Creek, Colorado - August 25: “Nine and a half hours; fourteen miles, almost 3,000 vertical feet UP.” On Sunday morning I was awake at 0530 in anticipation of the family hike to the Turquoise Lakes. It was another beautiful Colorado morning, sunny and dry. Most of my gear had been readied the night before so I only had to make a sandwich for lunch while I had some coffee and decided what to eat for breakfast.

Our guides: Mountain men and woman, Ben, Mark, and Whitney, arrived all chipper and ready to go. They drove us the short distance from our condo to the trail head to Beaver Lake. We shouldered our packs and started what would ultimately be a 14-mile round trip hike during which we gained almost 3,000 vertical feet. Counting our lunch break on the exquisite shore of Upper Turquoise Lake, we were gone about 9 1/2 hours. Besides guiding us on the right path, our kids offered lots of encouragement, advice, and interesting information about our surroundings. Come to think of it, it's kind of a role reversal! (They do a masterful job of spreading out and setting a reasonable pace from the front, offering encouragement and a “push” from the rear.)

Besides our guides, our family group consisted of Whitney's mom and dad, Dawn and Randy Swenson, and Whitney's aunt and uncle, Jewel and Dick Root. (Greg opted to be our base support, but he planned a fun day as well.) Randy's plan was to stop and fish for trout at Beaver Lake. He took along a telescoping fishing rod and spinning reel. While we were climbing on up to the Turquoise Lakes, Randy spent the time casting spinners for the cold water trout. All three of the lakes we visited that day were pristine, the water so clear you could see the bottom and trout swimming about and occasionally rising to the surface. I'm sure that they could probably see us as well so Randy would have his work (or should I say fun) cut out for him.

At Beaver Lake, Ben left us and headed back down the mountain to meet a friend. They had previously made plans to camp that night up by the Missouri Lakes. Since there was rain in the forecast, Ben wanted to make sure they got their camp set up before the rain started.
The rest of us started the next leg of our hike, 4 1/2 miles, to Turquoise Lake with the assurances of our guides that the steepest part was behind us. Later on, Dick started to question some of their assurances!

Most of the time the trail was near the creek and we enjoyed the sounds of the water as it tumbled over the rocks and logs. There was the occasional crossing requiring careful footwork over rocks and also half a dozen manmade bridges consisting of a big pine log with one side planed off for easy walking. The surroundings were lush as there have been almost daily afternoon showers.
The trees, bushes, and flowers were green and gorgeous. There were ripe raspberries along the trail too. Besides taking in all the beautiful sights and keeping an eye on where we were putting our feet, we also had to watch for porcini mushrooms. Ben and Mark had found some the previous week while hiking in the Gore Range. Porcinis are valued by their chef friends and other mushroom aficionados. We found all sorts of fungi in a wide range of colors and shapes. Finally, “Porcini!” Mark exclaimed. It was huge and quite water logged. I think Whitney spotted the second , slightly smaller one, also water logged. After picking them, we decided to leave them under a tree to pick up on our way back down.
The lakes were worth the effort. They are surrounded by ridges which reach above the tree line. It was so quiet and peaceful. The trees and rocks were reflected in the water and we could again see trout swimming about. Our sandwiches and fruit were welcome and delicious after our all morning climb. This hike had added significance because it helped symbolize Dawn's defeat of cancer. She was diagnosed in January, 2012 and has battled through surgery, chemo, and radiation. There were many days of feeling lousy so it's great that she is “back in the saddle.” After photos and some time for quiet reflection, we shouldered our packs and headed back down the trail. It was pretty obvious that it would soon be raining, but we were grateful that it had waited this long.

Mark led me on a “short cut” so that I could experience walking off the trail like he and Ben do while elk hunting. We saw some some fresh sign but no elk. Our little band of travelers had not been concentrating on quiet, but that's ok. We were enjoying the company and the mountain valley.
It started raining, pretty hard at times, but we all had rain gear and made it back down to Beaver Lake at a good pace. We speculated if Randy would still be there and were pleased to see him in his blue rain gear coming from the lake shore to meet us. He had just put away his fishing gear after catching three trout. He had released one, but had two to take back to the condo for dinner. After a few more photos, we resumed the three miles back down to the vehicles. We were all plenty tired and looking forward to a shower and a good dinner by the time we reached the trail head. It's a great feeling.

Once again thanks to our mountain kids for making our family hike happen. I can't wait for the next one!

Until next time, get out. While Ellen and the gang went up the mountain, I walked up to Beaver Creek Village. Along the way, I saw two small mule deer bucks in velvet in the yard of one of the condos. (I probably would have missed them if another passer by wasn't taking pictures of them.) Back at the condo, I took a shower, drank some more coffee and read a couple hundred pages in the novel (Fall ofGiants, by Ken Follet) I started before the trip. I drove down the mountain and over to Vail to get some dessert for supper at Fuzziwig's. I didn't know there would be a farmer's market and jazz festival at Vail, but I wandered through the stands and sat and listened to a smooth sax and piano player for a while. I purchased a variety of chocolate covered carmels topped with sea salt for everyone. Back at the condo, I wrote some for my column and worked on my novel some more. I also took a nap. I woke up when the hikers showed up at supper time. I know some of you are agreeing with me that sounds like a good way to spend a Sunday, too. Enjoy.