Chasing My Joy

My journey to becoming an Ultra Runner and Ironman

Kids Hike – Gem Lake – Rocky Mountain National Park

We decided to join some friends today in checking off a bucket list item of hiking Gem Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park.

We got up early piled all the kids in the car and got to the trailhead around 9 am.

The trail was not too crowded which was not surprising given it was a Tuesday. There was plenty of parking and toilets at the trailhead.

The trail is rated moderate and there is a lot of climbing on the way to the lake but the views make it worth it.

Gem Lake is gorgeous!

Unfortunately the chipmunks have been fed so much by people that they have lost all fear and are almost aggressive in begging for food. Remember to never feed wildlife, it’s not good for them no matter how cute they are!

On the way out we decided to add onto our hike to see the Twin Owl rocks.

It made for close to five miles of hiking. Cannon (at 6 years old) hiked this with no issues or complaints. Emmy (at 4) also did really really well but did get tired towards the end, I think this is the furthest she has ever hiked without having to be carried.

This hike gives me hope that Emmy will be able to hike 6 miles, mostly downhill, to see the Matterhorn in Switzerland.

Do your kids like to hike?

Wildflower Festival – Crested Butte Colorado

We woke up excited to visit Crested Butte during it’s peak wildflower season, I had seen online that Crested Butte was hosting a wildflower festival this weekend. 

We started our day by driving from Gunnison to Crested Butte then up to the Peanut Lake area for a hike to see the wildflowers.

IMG 8881

We did the Uper/lower Loop hike and loved it so much!

IMG 8888

There were meadows full of flowers and stands of Aspen Trees. 

IMG 8884

IMG 8892

The views were amazing. 

IMG 8885

IMG 8905

After our hike we went into historic Crested Butte for some time at a playground. 

 

IMG 8910

Then on to find ice cream. 

IMG 8918

IMG 8932

Humphry enjoyed lots of attention. 

IMG 8917

We decided to go check out the camping nearby to scout out spots for next summer. 

IMG 8944

We stumbled upon Lake Irwin and spent some time playing in the water. 

IMG 8942

We are hoping to get a \spot next July here but you need to reserve it six months in advance. 

IMG 8940

Then we drove back to Gunnison for pizza before a little climbing in our campsite. 

IMG 8953

This is one of Cannon’s favorite campsites! 

Have you been in Colorado for Wildflower season? Where is your favorite place to see the flowers? 

Kids Hike – Fountain Valley Loop Trail In Roxborough State Park

We were so excited to have our friends join us for a hike this week! Our goal has been to get out on at least one hike a week (on average) so 52 hikes for the year. I need to go back and count up how we are doing since the year is almost half over already.

We decided to do Fountain Valley Loop Trail in Roxborough State Park.

It’s about a 2.6 miles without too much elevation gain.

There are a couple overlooks you can hike to and they are well worth it.

Our kids range in age from 4 to 9 years old. They all hiked the entire way and did SO well! The hike in the rocks is so gorgeous. We also did this hike back in November and it was equally as beautiful.

In the afternoon we cooled down with a trip to the pool. Hoping these kids turn into fish by the end of the summer.

Do your kids like to hike?

Rainbow Lake Hike – Frisco

We decided that we needed some time in the mountains and it is officially hiking season! We have tried twice to complete this hike and were turned around both times. We decided on Rainbow Lake Trail in Frisco for an easy two mile hike.

The first time we got caught in a rain/hail storm in August, then the trail was icier than we expected in December and we didn’t have traction. The mountains here are always unpredictable.

August 2021
December 2021

This trail is so easy to get to and right outside the town of Frisco.

The sun was shining and the weather was perfect.

We love this boardwalk portion that takes you through a little wetlands, full of snow melt.

There are many bridges and fun rocks to climb. I really love this hike, it’s so good for kids.

We actually made it to the lake this time and enjoyed some time wading and making new friends.

After our hike we went down to main street in Frisco to grab some lunch.

This was about five minutes from the trailhead.

Little downtown Frisco is SO cute.

SPRING BREAK ’22 | Trail Through Time

It’s almost always a good day when we wake up in our trailer.

We had about four hour drive home so we decided to get a hike in first to stretch out legs.

The Trail Through Time is right below where we camped so it was easy to do before hitting the road. There are many spots where you can stop and see real dinosaur bones along the way, touch them and learn about the dinos they came from.

This trail is always so fun, and it’s nice that dogs are allowed.

And the views are pretty good too!

Then it was time to drive home.

What is one of your favorite hikes?

A Winter Hike – Barr Lake

During the winter I always miss our sunny mountain hikes. We tried out a new to us hike around Barr Lake to see if it would fill the space missing during these winter days.

We visited Barr Lake Nature Center and trails. We were hoping to walk all the way around the lake but they had a section closed off for nesting Bald Eagles.

Trail snacks are key to happiness!

The Nature Center had lots of fun things to explore and the kids really enjoyed spending some time there.

There are some beautiful boardwalks around the lake.

The friendship these two share is one of the best things in my life. It’s nice to always have your best friend with you.

The area was beautiful and we enjoyed our visit but it didn’t really scratch the itch for mountain hikes. We will continue to seek out adventure.

A Day Trip to the Paint Mines

We had the best day yesterday exploring the Paint Mines , the Paint Mines are a natural feature south of Denver.

“The Paint Mines Interpretive Park is one of El Paso County’s most unique open spaces. The Paint Mines are named for their colorful clays that were collected by American Indians to make paint. Brightly colored bands, caused by oxidized iron compounds, are found in varying amounts throughout the many different layers of clay.

The Paint Mines Interpretive Park is located in the northeast section of the County near Calhan with approximately 750 acres. The paint mines have evidence of human life as far back as 9,000 years ago. The park features fantastic geological formations including spires and hoodoos that form through erosive action that creates incised gullies and exposed layers of selenite clay and jasper. The park includes a restroom facility, four miles of trails, interpretive signage, and many natural wonders.” – SOURCE

There is so much to explore.

Cannon and Emerald loved climbing around and finding hidden caves.

If you are in the area I highly suggest a visit.