But the next morning I wasn’t feeling so great. This has been the nature of this mystery sickness…I can feel OK, then it can quickly change, particularly if my BP drops down into the 70’s, but these days it’s still all over…BP can be up & I feel like shit or BP can be in 80’s & I feel OK. Sometimes I’m OK for hours, sometimes I’m down for hours.
Today, we’d planned to do our big hike up to the top of Scarp Ridge. It’s one of my favorites & someday…hopefully a long time from now, I’ll have my ashes thrown off the top of this ridge. The climb up is 2.3 miles with a 1,400’ elevation gain; the whole loop is only 3.9 miles. As the morning wore on, I was feeling worse. We hit the trail going slowly but making our way up. I was having lots of chest pressure but I was determined to get to the top. Poor Danny was stopping at every level space turning around asking how I was doing. He was my cheerleader, knowing how much it meant to me & really to both of us for me to do this hike.
About 1/2 way up, the pressure let up & I began to feel a bit better. At the top, I was greeted with a giant hug from Danny that went on for a long time. It seems like such a little thing to be so very very grateful to do a hike I’ve done so many times before…multiple times each summer. It was hard, emotional & so gratifying to get to the top. The day was clear, the wind was barely blowing & the views were more spectacular than ever. We stayed at the top for a really long time, neither of us wanting to leave. So much love & thanks to Danny for having as much hope as I did for getting to the top of this magnificent ridge.
Looking down on Blue Lake.
We took the loop down & still saw snow overlooking Peeler Basin.
Heading down the trail that overlooks Lake Irwin.
Another great night in camp, & watching the alpenglow on Mt. Crested Butte…..
& on the lovely Whetstone.
This morning was another lazy morning in camp. Today would be our last day to hike here, & I wasn’t sure I had it in me. I’d planned two short hikes, but the weather decided it would be a day to just chill out. We ended up driving down Gothic road to a pull out I really like, parked & just took in my favorite mountains. With dark clouds & sometimes heavy rain, I just sat & watched & was a very very grateful woman…so happy to be here.
The giant massive Gothic mountain…amazing!
Avery…red & bare of trees at the top, wasn’t as bright today with rain. It’s a unique mountain on this road & I love looking at it.
In between our hikes, I got to visit with more of my friends. Kate (on the left) is such a talented artist & always fun to be around. Susan (on the right) & I got to hike Oh Be Joyful last year together. This year the three of us sat & visited about life, CB, & her travel plans. I know so many strong, independent women….I am really fortunate to call them my friends.
Our last morning in camp & it was time to say good bye to Talie, my mountains & the lovely Crested Butte. Talie is the most positive person I know, & she has had some huge challenges to deal with & continues to deal with them daily. We have kept in touch & she is such a gift to everyone she meets. It was so great camping with her & hopefully, I’ll be back sooner than later to spend time again here with her. Today, she was headed out early on a 13 mile bike ride & then a trip to a climbing wall….so much love, respect & admiration for this woman!
Tracy & her husband John camped with us last night in their cute little camping bus. Tracy & I met years ago while she was working at the Brick & I was there drinking & eating all the time. We both love big beers & enjoy tasting them together while out here camping. Last year, Joanie, Tracy & Talie & I all got together for way tooooo much fun! But this trip was a bit more mellow, but I’m super glad she came out to camp for a couple of nights. So many awesome people in this town.
We took our time visiting this morning over coffee & tea, then it was more hugs & good byes. Danny & I broke down camp & drove into town for the last time. Over the days we were here, we’d managed to eat at what’s left of our favorite restaurants in town…Paradise Cafe for breakfast once, the Stash for pizza with Joanie , Bonez for their margaritas & great food with Talie & Joanie. On our way out of town today, we got a To-Go-Mo from Momo’s for the road trip east.
It’s not unusual for me to have a few tears every year when I leave Crested Butte…I know life is short & unpredictable & I always leave with a wish & hope to return next year. But this was definitely a harder year to leave….but we did so with the same hopes & wishes to return next year…for a normal year & for much longer with many many more hikes & me back to my normal healthy self.
We took the beautiful road over Cottonwood Pass, a quick trip to try to find camping (we didn’t) at Twin Lakes, then up to Leadville (not my fave town) to score a Melly for each of us. Then we took the back way into Buena Vista still trying to find camping. It wasn’t that we couldn’t find a spot, it was that we couldn’t find a Danny-approved spot (we differ on this issue alot). But, as I was driving, I spotted a big dirt parking lot with “no camping” signs so I made a fast turn into the lot. Then I saw the signs all about campfires & a rough dirt road leading up the mountain. I took it. I could see there were dispersed sites along this road, but then we found a free BLM campground that was really lovely. How did I not know about this?
Turtle Rock. The campground host came by to visit with us & told us that next year this would be a paid & reservations only campground….I wasn’t surprised. Alot of places like this are headed that way. I’m not a fan of reservation camping…planning your travels out so far in advance like that leaves no room for spontaneity. And, I’ve been to so many, that will end up having open spots when people don’t show up at the last minute (so you can’t camp there & they remain empty). But he also told me the whole road had dispersed sites along it….that was great news!
The sun sets over the Collegiate Peaks.
View of the Arkansas river from our perch on the rock.
My human mountain goat!
We walked around during the evening, made dinner & cocktails & continued our discussions about Danny’s retirement, my health issues & what all that is going to look like in the future. By late that night, my BP was dropping which makes me a limp noodle, but I was ready for bed anyway. Hoping that I could sleep well & those stupid symptoms would go way for the night.
The next morning I made a big breakfast as we broke down camp, packed the Thule & the 4Runner with everything. We’d be in a hotel once we landed in Denver, so no need for any more camping gear.
I stopped on the way out of BV for my fave Cambric drink at the Brown Dog Coffee House, then we headed through beautiful South Park on our way to Denver.