Our Grindstone Escape

 Grindstone...

Doesn't that sound relaxing to you?

Ok, maybe not at first but after the last couple months filled with road trips, a wedding, a graduation, family visits and work crammed in between Grindstone was just what Jim and I needed to reconnect.  The idea came about on our trek into the high country to cool off last month.  Often times as we hike we see trail signs and intersections with names that look familiar but we have never had the time to explore.  Such was the case when we stopped for our lunch on the aforementioned outing.  When we arrived home that day I poured over maps and books.  I came up with a loop and an alternative route for bad weather.  I planned out an approximate camping area just over half way. We set it in our minds that the next time I scored two days in a row off we were hitting the trail.  Well, low and behold, the schedule came out on a Wednesday and I had Saturday and Sunday off.  Short notice, but we 're good like that!  Beef in the dehydrator for jerky, bake some quick savory cheddar/pecan energy cookies, mix up breakfast makin's and we were on our way out of civilization bright and early Saturday morning.

 

 ~needless to say but I will anyway... click to enlarge photos~

 

 Driving up to the trail head, the flowers pay their respects the the rising sun.

 

 Columbine - our State flower

 

 Jim with our new found friend from New Jersey and his dog.

On our way up the canyon, we came across him and offered him a ride to the top.  He had driven as far as he could in his car and gladly hopped in the back of our truck for the rest of the trip to the trailhead.

 

 Entire Loop - 17 miles

Well, add in the distance from the trail head to this sign, then the fact that there was a tree downed across the road so we had to hike to the trail head and our "Entire Loop" ended up becoming over 21 miles!

 

 Look at the variety of wild flowers at almost 12,000 ft!!

 

Where's the safety railing?!

I'm calling OSHA.

 

 It's an eerie feeling while hiking a ridge line the way the clouds catch and hover right over you, not to the left or the right but dead center down the ridge line.

 

 Jim disappearing into the sky.

 

 Descending?

Don't be fooled, only a short down then another up - you can see the trail winding up the next climb across the saddle.  Averaging above 12,000 ft for most of the ridge line, we wouldn't dip down and out of the clouds until lunch.

 

 Another stunning Columbine

 

This is where we stopped for lunch, about 6.5 miles into our first day.  The storm clouds along the ridge stayed at bay until we were down.  Stopping for lunch amongst the trees we listened as the thunder rolled around us.  Ahh... the sound of nature letting us know whos' really in charge.  This is also where we saw the last person we would encounter for the next 27 hours.  From here on it was the Jim & Seana Show, no other hiker, biker, hunter, etc.

Let the Real Escape Begin!

 

Check back for the rest of our weekend adventure,

too many pictures for one post.

To Be Continued...