Well, where to begin.

The trip was amazing, being up in the mountains, spending the days hiking and on horseback taking pictures was just this intensely peaceful and relaxing feeling. The first night there I arrived in the mountains too late to do much but have a campfire and cook dinner and start taking pictures of the mountains and the area around the campground. Mostly different birds and plants, cactus (cacti?) that were flowering, things like that. An osprey, (I think), some gophers , and the majestic mountains. The second day I was up at 6:30, cooked a quick egg breakfast over the fire, hand an apple with it and hiked down to the shuttle that took backpackers between trails. I hiked to a place called fern falls, saw a bear lol, (thankfully from a distance) and saw plenty of elk and other critters.

Second day I spent I horseback, going up and down trails and taking pictures along the way. I hadn’t ridden in 2 years but it all came back quick and easy and it was so much fun. Saw mule deer and elk, awesome views, some neat flora and fauna, and of course, different views of the mountains. Third day I was again up at 6:30, did some hiking, a little fishing, then went on a jeep ride up and down some trails and holy cow, that was wild, learned a great deal about the mountains, took tons of pics, including some from an observation tower with a 360 degree view of the mountains and plains. That night I also got to take pics in the Stanley Hotel where the Shinning was written (and based off of).

Forth day in the mountains was spent during even more hiking, bear lake and beaver lake trails, its so peaceful up there before tourist season hits, I can’t wait to go back but the next itme I go will be with a backcountry pass so I can hike even further into the mountains.

Each night, being able to sit about the campfire was awesome, I got a ton of notes on all of my stories written, things plotted out, decided on some directions and did a ton of writing while on the bus as well.

So, in regards to my stories, I just need to sit down now and type up new chapters for all of them. I’ve had a pretty busy few days since being back, its felt like a whirlwind in comparison to my laid back vacation. Finally replaced the living room couch today, YEY, the old one was slowly becoming a death trap of springs and broken recliner parts.

There’s 3 pics up from the trip, I’ll prolly put more up later. Gonna start a chapter now, hopefully finish it tomorrow, Iowa is hot, I already miss the cool of the mountains.