Breckenridge Part 1

During the week of September 8 we were in Breckenridge, Colorado for a family vacation. We could hardly have timed things better to catch the spectacular fall colors there, a blessing for which we were quite grateful.

We arrived that Saturday night. Sunday morning we went to church before heading back to our place, making a failed attempt at a nap, and then heading up a scenic drive. We went part way up the Boreas Pass, which turned out to be beautiful.

When the sunlight made it through the clouds on the way back, the lighting was particularly beautiful.

The next day we stopped by the visitor's center in Breckenridge and learned that the Boreas pass was once the route of the railroad. That railroad was the reason why Breckenridge was such a successful mining town whereas neighboring mining towns (including Preston which is now a ghost town that we hiked to), struggled a lot more. The museum at the visitor's center was actually quite informative and fun. The kids even enjoyed it and had fun listening to information through the phones and dressing up in old-timer clothes.

We also did a scavenger hunt around town Monday morning and learned a bit about the history of the place.

Strange piece of outhouse "artwork" that the kids
thought was pretty fun.

After a messy lunch during which I had nearly everyone's cup of soda accidentally spill on me, we headed off to hike Preston Ghost Town. Apparently this town was once home to about 150 people. The "trail" was really more of a jeep road that had once been the stagecoach road accessing the area.

Jessie Mill - built in 1893-94. Now all that is left of
it are the wooden shafts that once housed storage
bins and 800 lb. iron stamps that crushed the rock.

At the remnants of a boarding house. There were even old bed wires nearby.

We had planned on this hike being just over three miles round trip, but we misunderstood and thought we were supposed to head down the Upper Flume Trail. This added about an extra mile to our hike, but at least we figured it out and got back on track to see the main section of the ghost town. 

Extension Mill

Austin at the Extension Mill

 

As it turned out, Emma was particularly enthusiastic about this hike. She was so excited every time she found some small metal piece left behind in the town from long ago. Afterwards, she happily informed us that she had liked the hike more than anyone else.

Shakespeare Festival

The last week of August, we headed to Cedar City with my parents for the Shakespeare Festival. Unfortunately, on our way there we were delayed by a minor accident on the freeway when, while traveling in the center lane, a little white car that was going very dangerously slow pulled out in front of us from the carpool lane. As soon as she was in the center lane, she put her brakes on and stopped. I didn't have time to stop despite my best efforts, so we ran into her. The worst part was dealing with her after that though...I have never been in an accident with such a cranky person before. She insisted that the accident had been our fault and refused to exchange information and move on unless we signed something accepting full responsibility. She would barely allow Nate and I to talk to each other or our insurance without being in our face. Despite the fact her car appeared unscathed and damage to our car was minimal, the police ended up having to talk to us even after they had told us it wasn't necessary, because she wouldn't leave sooner unless we said we were at fault...

Notwithstanding this aggravating incident, we arrived in Cedar City in time to visit one of Nate's cousins and go out to dinner before our show. We took the kids to watch the green show beforehand, which they seemed to enjoy. My parents even bought everyone a tart as a treat.

Then, another of Nate's cousin's generously babysat Austin and Emma while we stayed with my parents to watch The Merchant of Venice. This was one of Shakespeare's plays I was less familiar with, but ended up enjoying. It had some seeming antisemitism running through it, but such was common during Shakespeare's time. The themes of vengeance and self-interest vs. mercy and love, and the way these traits came through in the characters was intriguing.

The next morning we went on a short hike to Cascade Falls. This was a short easy 1.2 mile round trip hike to what turned out to be a very tiny waterfall. Apparently going at the end of the summer after a really dry year results in visitor's seeing just a small trickle of a waterfall. We still enjoyed it though, and there were some grand views from the trail.

After eating lunch back near the visitor's center, we headed back. We stopped at the Red Barn for some ice cream first though! My parents were generous enough to buy us all a cone!

Wrapping Up the Summer

Our summer was full of lots of various hikes and other activities that deserve mentioning. For example, both Austin and Emma took swimming lessons and were able to pass their class to qualify for the next level up. Emma loves to swim and is pretty good at it, and we were delighted that she was happy to jump off the diving board voluntarily after a week of learning. However swimming is a good deal more difficult for Austin, who impressed us with his efforts ultimate success.

It was fun to observe Venus glinting next to the moon one night in the middle of July. It is fun to have a father that follows and informs me of such things so we can also see them.

On August 18, Austin played in another piano recital. Since his piece was called "Noah's Arc," he dressed up as an animal...specifically a mouse...to go along with his piece.

Additionally, we went on a number of hikes. Waterfall Canyon, Adams Canyon, Davis Creek...

At the Waterfall in Waterfall Canyon

At Waterfall Canyon

Adams Canyon Waterfall

Nate was even able to come with us when we did the Davis Creek/Triumph Trail Loop. It made for a fun Labor Day hike.

I was fortunate enough to be able to go on one additional hike with my good friend's daughter. She needed someone to go on a ten mile hike with for her cross country assignment during the summer, and I was more than happy to do so! We headed up to Rudy's Flat for the occasion. It felt so refreshing to not be hiking with the usual chaos that often comes from hiking with younger children...

Rudy's Flat - a good camping area and the high point of the trail

Unfortunately, it was a smokey day, or else the view of the Bountiful Temple would have been better, as well as all the other views along our way.

Lucy did spot a gopher snake along the trail though, so we got a nice view of him.

And as we headed out of summer and into September, we celebrated September birthdays in the family, including Nate's.

There were lots of other summer activities here and there too...from swimming to going to play at the park. It was a good summer, though a challenging one as we have figured out and adjusted to the changes in our family.