January 2012: Above & Beyond 5,280 Feet


Though we usually go as a family of 4 (3 girls, 1 guy), it's always special heading to the mountains just with Dad.  We stop in the small mountain town of Empire for hamburgers, cajun chicken sandwiches, fries & soft serve ice-cream cones.  Winding our way over and down Berthoud pass, past Winter Park ski resort, we reach the town of Fraser, where our condo, nearly unchanged since its construction in 1974, awaits.  Seat belts on bunk beds, a giant relief map of Colorado, less oxygen, 900+ channels, an outdoor pool & 2 hot tubs most accurately characterize the condo experience.   

On this specific winter trip, Dad & I took an afternoon walk through a snowy meadow, talked hoarding with a man in the hot tub, made pork ball soup & buttermilk pancakes, ate ice-cream, drank beer, watched countless episodes of "Criminal Minds," snowshoed through the trees of Rocky Mountain National Park, picnicked in the snow & remembered a career in pediatrics, as well as growing up at 5,280 feet & beyond.   


      
(Dairy King, Empire, Colorado [8,615 ft]) 
-Legacy Pro 400-



Ladies' Man
(Dairy King, Empire, Colorado [8,615 ft]) 
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(Dairy King, Empire, Colorado [8,615 ft])
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Yonder
(Fraser, Colorado [8,574 ft]) 
-Legacy Pro 400-



(Tonahutu Spur Trailhead [8,720 ft], Rocky Mtn. National Park, Colorado) 
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Gaitors
(Photo Taken By WFK, Kawuneeche Visitor Center [8,720 ft], Rocky Mtn. National Park, Colorado) 
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Four Eyes
 (Tonahutu Spur Trail [~8,720 ft], Rocky Mtn. National Park, Colorado)
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Wooden Arch
(Tonahutu Spur Trail [~9,000 ft], Rocky Mtn. National Park, Colorado)
-Legacy Pro 400-

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Ladies' Man" is pretty good with the giant ice-cream phallic symbol in the middle there.

Anonymous said...

ladies man is awesome. made me laugh

Jess said...

You are good at getting people when they are eating.

Anonymous said...

i love talking hoarding with men in hot tubs--sounds like a great trip.

SK said...

It's a hot topic these days.

Anonymous said...

Enjoyed the wonderful photos & super narrative!

ADH said...

Your Dad is such a great subject! I like the first two the most.

WFK said...

I had no idea there was no urinal in ladies restrooms. Some great pictures on our memorable trip to the mountains. Your driving back over the pass was great! (better than I usually do.)

Sandra said...

I bet your Dad also thinks you are a character, SK. Nobody ever looked so good.....eating!

Anonymous said...

The first 3 are great. I especially think Ladies' Man with the giant ice-cream centered & the symmetry of the doors makes it an excellent, interesting shot. Not to mention your DAD!