Montgomery Pass & lots of butterflies (Rocky Mountain Parnassian & the Northern Blue Butterfly)

Views from the pass:

The Montgomery pass hike starts with a swampy muddy area (perhaps due to recent weather) then runs along a stream for a ways before heading up and up.

 The stream was a good place to get the mud off of their feet.

 The Indian Paintbrush were out in full force with almost every color available for your viewing pleasure.

Marsh Marigold:

 Cow Parsnip:

  Groundsel

 Tall Chiming Bells:

 Bitter Cress:

 The saucy one and the rest of us made it to the top.

 I don't think I've seen so many butterflies/moths in the tundra before.  Look at the variety!
Rocky Mountain Parnassian

Northern Blue Butterfly (Plebejus idas):

Yellow Stonecrop:

 After the hike we stopped in the stream by the side of the road across from the parking lot to clean our feet and just relax.

 Yellow Monkeyflower:

 These strawberries were growing right next to the side of the road!  I didn't know they could grow at 10,000 ft.  I couldn't figure out why some bird or animal hadn't eaten them.

Hike: Montgomery Pass
Trails Used: Montgomery Pass around Cameron Pass

Distance: 4.33 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Overall average: 1.9 mph
Overall Time: 2 hr, 17 min
Total Ascent: 1152 ft.

Pretty Little Lake and a Magnificent Moose in the Colorado State Forest: Lake Agnes

It's not as pretty as it could be on a sunny day but it's still a nice lake and luckily I've seen it a couple times on a beautiful day.  I've got great memories to go with it.  The first is hiking around it with my parents dog Lunk (part Lhasa, part Poodle) in my backpack since his little legs were too short to do the bouldering.  The other is hiking around it with my two dogs when one of them (the one you would have expected to do this) fell off a cliff above us into the water.   We didn't think it was going to end well but thankfully he wasn't hurt but I'm pretty sure his pride was.  And lastly, this was the first stop on a girls weekend to Steamboat which unfortunately has been too long in recreating.

The hike is short but steep getting up to the lake.  If you want to hike around it you should be prepared for a lot of bouldering.

The good news with the bouldering is that you have a high chance of spotting some marmot if you take the time to pick your head up.  Be careful that you stop walking or you are going to trip!  The picture below is a little like a Where's Waldo book....except Where's the Marmot?

We crossed a pretty stream and had a view of a nice waterfall across the way.  That's where C is pointing.

Tall Chiming Bells:

Mountain Laurel:

Spot another marmot:

Columbine with Nohku Crags in the background:

I just had to take a selfie by my selfie since my family took one without me.  I 'might' have been taking too long taking those awful flower pictures as they call them.

Indian Paintbrush:

Early Larkspur:

The icing on the cake for me was spotting this moose heading back to our campsite on the road that takes you up to Lake Agnes.  Typically if you head up to the Colorado State Forest you get to see a moose but it's never a guarantee!  I love looking at these ungainly creatures!!

Hike: Lake Agnes
Trails Used:  Lake Agnes in the Colorado State Forest

Distance: 2.87 miles
Difficulty: Easy but steep
Overall average: 1.6 mph
Overall Time: 1 hr, 49 min
Total Ascent: 633 ft.

One night of camping....is it worth all the effort?

 For me it was since I got to see my moose.  However, it is a lot of work.  We kept it simple with sausage, coleslaw, and beans (I'd already cooked these at home) for dinner that night.

When we pulled in to our campsite (Aspen Campground, Site #3, in Gould Colorado) it was a beautiful sunny day...even a little bit on the hot side since there isn't much shade there.  It's a pretty area with Aspen (not tons) and wildflowers.

 After setting up camp we headed to the Colorado State Forest Visitor Center.  This sculpture is too cool!  It never gets old.  The sculptors did a great job with it.  I think even the kids appreciated it.

 After our hike at Lake Agnes we headed back to camp for snacks and 'special' drinks.  It finally decided to rain so we postponed dinner, hung out in the back of the truck (~20 minutes), and then restocked the fire, started dinner and hung out around the campfire eating s'mores.

 I got up early the next morning and went for a walk with my camera and lo and behold what did I see right outside of our campground?  Another moose!!

 Saw these two deer on the way back just as the sun was coming over the mountains.  Hard not to appreciate being out in the great outdoors when you start your morning like this!

 View of the Colorado State Forest, Nohku Crags, and Lake Agnes area: