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2017 Colorado Camping

Joined
Sep 4, 2009
Messages
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Location
Centennial, CO
First Name
Tim
Last Name
Shelfer
Wifey & I just got back from 2 weeks camping in Colorado. No bike involved, but the scenery is equally beautiful with a Jeep & trailer. My kids, who now live in the Denver area, were nice enough to come down & stay in our house to look after my mother so that we could leave.

The trip started with a bang – literally. Before we were even out of town on Sunday morning, we found ourselves in creeping traffic while merging from Loop 820 to I-35W North. When I glanced back to check the oncoming traffic (and there was none), the truck in front of me inexplicably picked that moment to stop suddenly. A 10-mph hit can be a show stopper, but the Jeep survived it with no damage other than Ugly-Bumper-Syndrome.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (86) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

At the other end, the shock did a number on my hitch. The shank and 2” ball were mangled and had to be replaced, in a parking lot, with parts from a handy Walmart.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (phone pix) (2) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

The receiver on the Jeep was slightly bent, too. I’ll replace it this fall. But for now, we were determined to get on with our trip.

Sunday night was at our favorite Super 8 in Raton. Always clean, always reasonably priced. The last couple of times I’ve been through, I’ve spotted this strange looking fellow on a homemade contraption. Essentially, it is two bicycles put together on a homemade frame, and powered by (I think) a lawnmower engine. This year, I managed to catch a picture of his rig, parked at McDonald’s. I noticed that he's grown a trailer since last year.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (phone pix) (3) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

Moving on down the road, we camped Monday at a favorite hideaway spot – a nearly unknown NF campground south of Saguache, and some 15 miles off pavement. This is the view of the valley from our front porch.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (5) - Copy by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

We love it because it is beautiful, peaceful, and blissfully empty.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (20) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

The place was alive with songbirds. But they didn’t cooperate with my camera, so I had to settle for a picture of this fellow.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (7) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

Lots of wildflowers in the campground, and along the road. Here are a few samples. Feel free to correct me if I misidentify one.
Dandelion bloom.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (10) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

Dandelion (which happens to be the official symbol of the Military Overseas Brat, of which I’m one).
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2017-0604 - Colorado (9) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

Wild Iris.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (12) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

Wild Mustard.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (57) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

Butter & Eggs. I’ve usually seen these in yellow/white. This is solid yellow, but as best I can tell from Rocky Mountain flower sources, it is just a variant.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (55) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

Out for a days’s drive. If you recognize this landmark, you know where we were camping.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (24) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

There are several abandoned ranch houses or line shacks along the way.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (25) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

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2017-0604 - Colorado (27) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

We encountered this trading post in Saguache. Outside, they have an impressive collection of old military vehicles from Jeeps to 1-tons. Calling M38A1, please. Scott, I thought of you when we spotted the Jeep line.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (31) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

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2017-0604 - Colorado (33) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

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2017-0604 - Colorado (38) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

Inside, there are uniforms and other military collectibles. As far as I can tell, everything is for sale or trade.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (46) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

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2017-0604 - Colorado (45) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

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2017-0604 - Colorado (43) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

The owner gave me a free tour, knowing full well I wasn’t going to spend a dime. So I promised I’d plug his business. He’s a military retiree, and he opened this place maybe 5 years ago. Seems to be doing fine.
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20170618_195655 - card by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

On the way back to camp, we picnicked in this meadow. Sadie, the wonder Brittany, guarded the Jeep against marauding chipmunks.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (50) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

We ate lunch, dangling our feet in this stream, watching 3” baby trout fighting their way up current.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (49) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

The southern approach to the road passes through this landmark, which is identified on NF maps as “Hellsgate.”
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2017-0604 - Colorado (71) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

Another Jeep drive took us up this road. Beautiful sights along the way.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (68) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

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2017-0604 - Colorado (66) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

We spent the weekend camping at our kids’ house in Centennial. Showers, hot water, & a real bed. On Monday, we headed up to the Cache la Poudre River area along Hwy 14, northwest of Ft Collins. We spent a few nights in the Dutch George NF campground, listening to the roar of the Poudre River day & night. Here’s a picture of our campsite from the river.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (136) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

The view up the canyon from our campground.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (110) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

The river is wild and rocky. It presents a thousand looks, each one scary awesome.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (88) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

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2017-0604 - Colorado (96) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

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2017-0604 - Colorado (121) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

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2017-0604 - Colorado (132) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

And it attracts its share of aquatic sportsmen.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (109) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

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2017-0604 - Colorado (126) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

I was actually trying to take a picture of a rock in the river when this kayaker literally appeared from nowhere in my lens.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (122) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

And right behind him….
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2017-0604 - Colorado (123) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

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2017-0604 - Colorado (124) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

The road itself is a twisty treat.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (98) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

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2017-0604 - Colorado (92) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

Naturally, there are lots of RVers on the move.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (141) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

But also riders. Most are on cruisers, but plenty of adventure bikes.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (143) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

And occasionally, one of our smaller two-wheeled cousins.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (142) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

And this being Colorado, an occasional throwback from the Age of Aquarius.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (145) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

And there’s always some dunderhead like this. Only 20 feet away there was a whole row of empty parking places that didn't block the path to the river.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (131) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

I spent a morning hiking up this canyon.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (139) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

Again, lots of wildflowers. This area was dominated by Blue Flax.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (82) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

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2017-0604 - Colorado (83) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

Penstamon.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (102) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

A white Lupine.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (111) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

Jacob’s Ladder, I think.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (103) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

We did some Jeeping….
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2017-0604 - Colorado (115) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

And found some beautiful vistas.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (116) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

And we found Pride Rock. Who knew it was in Colorado? Apparently, Simba and Nala were not in residence at the moment, or so Rafiki told me.
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2017-0604 - Colorado (119) by Tim Shelfer, on Flickr

We also spotted, of all things, the Wheel of Fortune bus on 287, north of Ft Collins. Unfortunately, I couldn't get a picture. I have absolutely no idea what their destination would be along that road. Taping Wheel of Fortune in Laramie???

And then it was over. On Friday, as the weekenders were flowing in, we hitched up and drove back down to Centennial to spend the night in our kids’ house. We unhitched the trailer and left it so that they can enjoy the summer camping with it. Saturday we made the 800-mile run home to Arlington so that the kids could drive home Sunday, and my son-in-law could be back at work on Monday.

And another camping year gone by. My profound thanks to my kids, Becca and Mitch, for babysitting Grandma, thus making this trip possible. And thanks to Walmart for having a riser shank and a 2” hitch ball in stock when I needed it.
 
Thank you for the report Tim. Love the road to Saguache. Just not in the rain.
 
Thanks Tim, would like to be there right now. Unbelievable beautiful pictures.
 
Thanks Tim, would like to be there right now. Unbelievable beautiful pictures.

Me too. I'd still be there, but my rotten kids insisted I come home so that Mitch could go back to work. How inconsiderate! :lol2:
 
Rats, my secret's out. I was just telling KP that this year, for the 1st time ever, we didn't have the campground entirely to ourselves. I love the seclusion of the area, so I don't advertise the location. That road is a ball in the Jeep; I've never had the pleasure on the VStrom.

And I do have some pictures, from our last trip there, of me holding up the rock.
 
Rats, my secret's out. I was just telling KP that this year, for the 1st time ever, we didn't have the campground entirely to ourselves. I love the seclusion of the area, so I don't advertise the location. That road is a ball in the Jeep; I've never had the pleasure on the VStrom.

And I do have some pictures, from our last trip there, of me holding up the rock.
Yeah,looks vaguely familiar.
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Nice. Less than three weeks and I'll be up that way, also bikeless. Not camping though, maybe a little bit of glamping as the wife doesn't camp. Can't wait.
 
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This is interesting! I see a wool blanket rolled up like how they packed in the 1800s. On a scooter!

Thanks Tim, lots of pictures, something for all. Like the jeeps too.
 
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This is interesting! I see a wool blanket rolled up like how they packed in the 1800s. On a scooter!

Thanks Tim, lots of pictures, something for all. Like the jeeps too.

Yeah, she was college aged. She putted by me going west (uphill) while I was walking along the road, and she had a pretty good load on that little scooter. As I was headed back, she putted by again, eastbound, maybe half an hour later. If she found a campsite, I hope she slept warm; it got down to 45* that night.
 
Great pics. We really want to go, but I don't have time think we can get away until Sept or October.
 
Danny, if you're not camping, that's a GREAT time to go. The other tourists have mostly gone home so nothing's crowded, and around the first week of October the leaves start turning. Plus, if you're in the right area, the elk start getting really noisy and amorous. :oops:
 
Great pictures.... thanks for the report.
Now, how do I get one of my kids to move to Colorado so we can visit them all the time?
 
Great pictures.... thanks for the report.
Now, how do I get one of my kids to move to Colorado so we can visit them all the time?

You buy yourself a retirement house there, then let your kids live in it instead of you. Not that I'd know....... :rolleyes:
 
Nice Tim. My 94 year old mother in law lives with us. I sneak out on a fairly regular basis, but it's much harder for my wife. I'm going to show her your report. Thanks.
 
Nice Tim. My 94 year old mother in law lives with us. I sneak out on a fairly regular basis, but it's much harder for my wife. I'm going to show her your report. Thanks.

Our situations are similar. My mother is 93. In the best of times, we can't be gone for more than half a day unless somebody is in the house. When she's not doing well - which comes in spells of a month at a time - we can't reasonably leave the house together at all. We can't eat out, go to a movie, heck we can't go to the same church service. So a year ago our kids moved to Denver (into a house I actually own), but have agreed to come south for 2 weeks a year and give us a vacation. On their schedule, of course. My sister-in-law gives me about a week a year. At her convenience, of course.

My wife & I take turns being gone. She'll dash up to Denver to visit the kids. I'll alternately make a Denver run, or take 3 days for a bike trip somewhere. Taking separate vacations really stinks.

We are truly the meat & cheese of the sandwich generation.
 
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