Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

So there I was perusing Facebook as my day was winding down, and that’s when I stumbled upon Osprey’s Blues and Brews Giveaway. I’ve always wanted to attend Blues and Brews, so entering the giveaway was really a no-brainer; the incredible tent by Colorado Yurts along with the 2 Osprey packs only sweetened the deal and added to the already incredible prize pack!

I spent several minutes (okay, maybe a bit longer) daydreaming about the possibility of winning the contest, picturing myself in Telluride Town Park listening to legends like The Black Crowes and Otis Taylor while sipping on (or maybe chugging) tasty glasses of Colorado microbrews. I thought about what colors my new Osprey packs would be – I thought about how wild it would be to even win two new Osprey packs - and I thought about how serene and luxurious it would feel to “glamp” in a tent referred to as, “a dwelling for the soul.” Then reality hit me and my fleeting thoughts reminded me that I’ve never won anything, and I likely wouldn’t start now – it was a nice dream though!

It was only once I completely forgot about even entering the contest that I received a message from Osprey saying, “Congratulations! You won the Blues and Brews Giveaway!” Well, holy guacamole, Batman – the odds were definitely in my favor this time. I quickly began making arrangements to pack up and head to Telluride for what would turn out to be an unforgettable weekend thanks to Telluride Blues and Brews, Osprey Packs and Colorado Yurt.

While I was still riding high on a wave of, “is this really happening?” the mail man assured me it was when he delivered a great big box of new Osprey packs right to my door! My plus one and I packed up our new Porter 46s with all of our overnight glamping essentials and our new Talon 22s with our daily festival supplies and headed out the door for our trip to Telluride!

The tent by Colorado Yurt Company was pitched in a prime camping location in the far corner of the campground behind Telluride Town Park. We could even see the stage from our patio (and yes, you read that right – there was a patio)! In true glamping nature Colorado Yurt Company ensured we had all of the essentials – and then some. It was luxurious to camp in a tent so big you could walk around in it; the tent included a full-size bed with two comforters, a leather chair, a power strip, a heater, a rug and more.

This year was Telluride Blues and Brews’ 20^th anniversary, and they did not disappoint. The music kept people dancing even when Town Park turned into a mud pit and the rain had no end in sight. The grand tasting was incredible; we were able to sample a couple dozen different microbrews in the course of 3 hours, and let me be the first to tell you they were all unique and delicious. Old man winter even made a debut during the grand tasting as the snow capped peaks surrounding Telluride came out of the fog – it really was the icing on the cake. 

This unforgettable weekend came with a little bit of everything: we ran into some old friends, made some new friends, danced in the rain, got sunburnt, enjoyed killer views complete with rainbows and snow, drank just the right amount of beer and enjoyed the local scene.

Thanks to Osprey Packs, Telluride Blues and Brews and Colorado Yurt Company for a truly unforgettable experience! 

Hanging Lake

Hanging Lake is one of Glenwood Canyon's most popular hikes and destinations. People from across the country - and across the world, surprisingly - make sure to hike Hanging Lake when they're in the area. And let me be the first to tell you: they're in the area, a lot!!

If you've ever hiked Hanging Lake in the summer or fall, you know just how crowded it can get. The parking lot tends to fill up before noon and, often times, you end up hiking the trail to Hanging Lake with 100 of your closest friends. If you want to forgo the crowds and find a bit more solitude on your nature walk I suggest being on the trail early, around 6:00 or 7:00am. Chances are still slim that you'll be completely alone, but you'll likely miss out on the general over-crowding that occurs by noon everyday.

I've now hiked the Hanging Lake Trail three times: once at the end of November 2012 (it snowed), once in January 2013 (we snowshoed up) and most recently in September 2013. My sister was in town visiting, and visitors always want to hike Hanging Lake.

We arrived at the parking lot at 9:00am and easily found a parking spot, which was a relief. We walked down the bike path to the trailhead and began our hike upwards. Believe me when I say it's a rather difficult uphill climb. Don't be fooled by the low mileage - the trail itself is only slightly over a mile each way; however, be prepared for that mile to sufficiently kick your butt!

The official Glenwood Springs website explains of Hanging Lake, "Geologically speaking, there are few places in the world that can compare to this marvel of Mother Nature. Hanging Lake is a rare example of a lake formed by travertine deposition where the natural geologic and hydro-logic processes continue to operate as they have done throughout the history of the lake. The site is also noteworthy for its thriving hanging garden plant community. Because of these qualities Hanging Lake was designated a National natural Landmark by the Secretary of the Interior in 2011."

Don't forget to take the short detour up to Spouting Rock just above and to the left of Hanging Lake. The beautiful waterfall shooting out from the canyon wall is simply put: not to be missed. You won't regret the short trek up to Spouting Rock, trust me on this one.

The Hanging Lake trail-head is located approximately 10 miles east of Glenwood Springs along Interstate-70 in Glenwood Canyon.