Until college stress went away
With sun on our cheeks
And snow on the peaks
We've not been this happy for weeks!
In the morning, we hiked in Aspen and discovered the reason for the name--
so many stands of Aspen trees, reaching high up into the blue sky.
so many stands of Aspen trees, reaching high up into the blue sky.
Mary and Bonnie stand on a bridge over troubled water...
(can you tell we've been listening to that Simon & Garfunkel CD a lot?)
In the afternoon, we tried to drive up to Maroon Bells but the road was closed. We walked for over three miles on the road, enjoying the beautiful views, but then found out we weren't even half-way. With sadness, we turned around and walked back to the car, Mary in bare feet and Tanner happily trotting along.
Our last exploration was at a ghost town in Ashcroft, a silver mine that went bust. The following poem, written nearby, depicts the hard life that the miners were trying to hold onto:
(can you tell we've been listening to that Simon & Garfunkel CD a lot?)
The Prospector
When our grub pile's slim and scanty
Not a dollar in the shanty,
And our threadbare garments letting in daylight:
The pay-streak still eluding,
And barren dykes intruding,
And we are chased by harsh collectors day and night
When our efforts lose their footing,
Our pard's insults sure cutting,
And misfortune's cruel jeers and sneers are keen
From our Ashcroft habitation
We behold bleak desolation
When scar Autumn's gold's transformed to silver gleen.
(-Jack Leahy-)
When our grub pile's slim and scanty
Not a dollar in the shanty,
And our threadbare garments letting in daylight:
The pay-streak still eluding,
And barren dykes intruding,
And we are chased by harsh collectors day and night
When our efforts lose their footing,
Our pard's insults sure cutting,
And misfortune's cruel jeers and sneers are keen
From our Ashcroft habitation
We behold bleak desolation
When scar Autumn's gold's transformed to silver gleen.
(-Jack Leahy-)
Tomorrow we're on to the Grand Tetons! Woot!
About 1/2 mile down the road you took to Ashcroft (Castle Creek Rd.) is where the music school is! On your way up to Maroon Bells you passed Aspen H.S., where a lot of my rehearsals were. Also, I walked the whole road from Maroon Bells back to town (9 miles!) my first year - walking that far on pavement was not the smartest thing I've done. Have fun in the Tetons!
ReplyDeleteI was so thrilled to have two adventurous souls to show around this beautiful place I call home. Thanks for coming to visit girls, and blessings for the voyage ahead.
ReplyDeleteHooray for going to Ashcroft! What food for the imagination is there! Did you see any dippers, or Richardson's ground squirrels (look like big chipmunks without the stripes)?
ReplyDeleteThis is a very nice blog.
ReplyDeleteHey...those places look familiar! Cool! Isn't Ashcroft awesome? Nice pictures, too, btw.
ReplyDelete