Cross Mountain Loop

Lizard Head Wilderness can be accessed between Telluride and Rico, CO. I can't tell you how many times I've driven by without stopping; I decided it was finally time (long past time, really) to explore. After doing some research, we decided on hiking the Cross Mountain Loop, which takes you from Cross Mountain Trail to Lizard Head Trail.

It's not a traditional loop as the trailheads are two miles apart. We had two cars, conveniently,  and were able to park a car at Lizard Head Trailhead and shuttle our group up to Cross Mountain Trailhead. If you don't have two cars, you'll have to walk parallel to the road for an extra 2 miles once you pop out at  Lizard Head Trailhead.

Cross Mountain Trail is rather steep, and we found ourselves above tree-line before we knew it. Well, our lungs and legs definitely knew it and felt it! The Cross Mountain Trail takes you up the face of Black Mountain at the base of Lizard Head Peak before connecting with Lizard Head Trail. We went right on Lizard Head Trail and walked around the base of Lizard Head Peak and then dove back down into the trees.

The trail quickly climbs back out of the trees and up onto the ridge of another mountain. The 360 degree views from the highest point of this trail, an unnamed knob, are phenomenal, and provided a dramatic backdrop for our beef jerky and granola bar lunch.

After the knob, the trail winds down the mountain with the help of TOO MANY switchbacks. We tried to keep count, but gave up around 20. We popped out at the Lizard Head Trailhead around 1:30 pm, just as the afternoon clouds were rolling in.

The Cross Mountain Loop was a great taste of the Lizard Head Wilderness, which boasts miles and miles of pristine, seldom traveled wilderness; I plan on backpacking there in the years to come. Until then...

Blue Lake, Telluride

Blue Lake is a must-see for any outdoor enthusiast who stops over in Telluride. It's a stunning, picturesque lake tucked into the high country. The hike starts on top of Bridal Veil Falls, the road to the trailhead requires a truck, SUV or another vehicle with a bit more gusto (and clearance) than a Toyota, Corolla.

Luckily you can park at the bottom of the road, if necessary, and walk or hitchhike up to the trailhead. The trail itself follows an old mining road and weaves it's way into the high country. We unknowingly took a detour, which lengthened our hike substantially, but turned out to be spectacular with lush green mountains, waterfalls and fields of wildflowers.

We made it to the lake around noon, and were quite impressed with the incredible color of the water. The old buildings nearby and the rusty metal mining equipment show the area's rich history, and gave me the opportunity to get extra artsy while photographing the lake!

I'll definitely be returning to Blue Lake in the future. In the meantime though, I'm off to find adventure elsewhere!

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!