June 5, 2012, Lake Granby, Arapaho National Forest

June 5, 2012, Lake Granby, Arapaho National Forest.  We moved today from Leadville to Granby.  The drive up Highway 91, our first time, was beautiful.  Green fields, whitewater rivers, snow capped peaks reaching to the heavens.  Just west of Granby, the Colorado River is both placid and churning.  In places it is as still as a lake.  Twenty miles further, it has cut a 300-foot canyon.  It isn't the Grand Canyon, mind you, but it is impressive. 

Some readers. you know who you are, have told me that I've been too hard on Annie the last few days.  So, today, I'll be good.  I'll limit my remarks to the scenery.

Some of the pictures require an explanation.  Several of them were taken at Snow Mountain Ranch.  There is a seven-bedroom cabin like the one we will have the week after Christmas when the family comes to SMR.  Another photo shows the old farmstead at SMR and another the devastation wrought by the pine beetle.  That critter, more accurately, millions of those critters, have destroyed hundreds of thousands of acres of lodge pole pine trees in this  area.  SMR has not escaped.  The 5000 acres there has been decimated.  Beautiful green pine forests have been destroyed.  The locals try to put a positive spin on the tragedy.  They'll tell you that the vistas are "breathtaking" and that the clear land allows visitors to enjoy the flowers and the aspen which were passed over.  I still miss the pine forest.  

Another photo shows the old Silver Creek ski area, now named SolVista Basin.  It is where our kids learned to ski before moving on to Winter Park and other large ski resorts.  It is where some of our grandchildren will learn to ski this winter.  To borrow a phrase from Daniel Webster, "She may be small, but there are those of us who love her."  Of course, he was referring to Dartmonth College.  For Angie and Carrie, I have included a photo of Camp Chief Ouray.  I don't know where the tepees are. 

We settled tonight in Stillwater Campground on Lake Granby.  It is a lovely place and we were able to take our first shower in three days.  Annie smells a lot better.  The picture of the sun setting over the mountains is just for you.