Fort Collins Winter Snow Storm...Finally!

After waiting 3 years for a decent dump in Fort Collins we finally have one.  So far we've had about 6-7 inches with a little more expected tonight.  Maybe the kids will finally get to sled on something more than lightly covered grass! Took the Jeep out today and had fun with the camera.

An Unusual Day @ Mohawk Lakes

We knew the weather was going to be iffy even before we started.  It's monsoon season and had been acting like it for the past two weeks.  We decided to give it a go anyhow since if you wait around due to weather in Colorado you'll never get anything done.  Another saying is "wait five minutes and the weather will change.'  We made it down the long, bumpy 4 wheel drive road only to be greeted by the sounds of thunder.  We decided to wait it out in the truck.  The kids hung out in the back, Poppa took a nap (he's like a dog and can sleep anywhere), and then it started to hail.  Luckily, it was only small hail so we didn't get any more dents on my poor red truck!

After 20 minutes or so the hail and rain stopped.  We decided to brave the weather.  There's a nice cabin part of the way up.

The falls are pretty!

Little Red Elephant:

This was the signature J face when she was ready to be done going uphill:

Aster:

Our lunch spot:

Poppa and T went fishing on the far side of the lake...

and caught something!

The clouds were all over the place.

Bistort:

Star Gentian:

Mining hole:

King's Crown:

Indian Paintbrush:

Arctic Gentian:

Sheep fur:

One minute it was this beautiful:

and then it turned downright ugly.  We decided to high tail it out of there!

Hike: Mohawk Lakes

Trails Used: Mohawk Lake

Distance: 3.28 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Overall average: 1.3 mph
Overall Time: 2 hr, 36 min
Total Ascent: 1228 ft.

Christmas Break is ending...a last blast of fun!

The kids went with the neighbors to Miramont Park for some sledding before school started on Tuesday.  It was cold but fun!

Christmas spent with family!

Christmas seemed to come too quickly this year for me but I don't think it was quick enough for my kids.  They had an action packed week with their four cousins, aunts and uncles, and one set of grandparents.

A visit with Mr. & Mrs. Claus

Finally, a real hike again: Horsetooth Falls

Don't let the above shot fool you...there wasn't that much water coming down the falls.  If you expect to see more water then the optimum time to go to Horsetooth Falls for a hike would be in May.  There were many wildflowers in bloom (which is nice since Flora Hiker has been lacking on the wildflower pictures lately).

Sulpher Flower:

Sun Rose:

Rocky Mountain Beeplant/Scarlet Guara

Tufted Loco/Vetch:

Boulder Raspberry:

These were beautiful flowers (below) but once you take a picture of wildflowers from far away you start to lose that 'beautiful' quality.

My little hikers:

Wallflower:

Wallflower:

Geranium:

Wallflower:

Horsetooth Falls:

Enjoying the top of the falls for lunch:

Spiderwort:

Evening Primrose:

Aster:

Milkvetch:

Groundsel:

Prairie Cinquefoil:

Orchid Penstemon:

Vetch:

Hike: Horsetooth Falls

Trails Used:  Horsetooth Falls

Distance: 2.91 miles

Difficulty: Easy for adults, Moderate for children (can get hot out there so start early)

Overall average: 1.7 mph

Overall Time: 1 hrs, 44 min

Total Ascent: 583 ft.