A Quick Trip to Colorado – Visiting Babies Felix & Owen plus a fun White Ranch Park outing (12-28-17 thru 12-31-17)

Christmas had come and gone.  The year was almost shot, but Lupe had a final chance for adventure in 2017.  Xochitl, Steve and baby Felix were flying into the Denver area from Chicago for a couple of days.  They would be staying at Matt, Cassie and baby Owen’s home in Parker.  Lupe and SPHP had an invitation from Joe and Andrea to come and stay in the Cowboy room at cousin Dusty’s home in Arvada.

Adventures with babies?  That was something new, and a rare opportunity!  Babies have a way of changing fast, and not being babies any more.  SPHP told Lupe that even though it would be a quick trip, there might be time for an outdoor adventure or two as well.  Even if Loop wasn’t certain about how adventures with babies might turn out, the year was going to end with bitterly cold subzero weather in the Black Hills.  Nothing was going to happen these last few days here at home.  So, did Loopster want to go to Colorado?

Cousin Dusty comes to visit the Black Hills every so often, so Lupe’s ears pricked up at the mention of Dusty’s name.  Loop hadn’t been to Colorado, though, for a very long time – not since November, 2015.  She could scarcely remember the Cowboy room at Dusty’s house, other than a vague sense that it had been a great place to stay.  There hadn’t been any babies around back then, but Lupe had climbed a couple of choice Colorado county high points.  That had been fun!

Babies in Colorado, with the possibility of an outdoor adventure or two?  Or stay home and spend the rest of the year laying on the living room rug staring bored-to-tears out the window at a subzero polar display?  Hah!  Lupe knew the answer to that one!

The novel adventure began on the frosty morning of 12-28-17 (6:58 AM, 16°F) when Lupe left home in the G6 comfortably riding shotgun atop her usual pile of pillows and blankets.  A Dingo Vacation in the winter was something completely unheard of up until now.  Lupe had great expectations!

At first those expectations were disappointed.  Hwy 471 S of Edgemont was snow-packed and slippery.  The day hadn’t warmed up a bit.  SPHP cancelled two possible short peakbagging breaks in the Nebraska panhandle, deciding to stay on main Hwy 18 which was clear to Mule Creek Junction in Wyoming.  No consideration was given to any other significant breaks the rest of the way.

Lupe arrived at cousin Dusty’s house in Arvada before mid-afternoon (2:06 PM, 39°F).  Dusty and Andrea were both home and answered the door.  Lupe dashed right in all excited to see them!  After the initial excitement, Loop sniffed around for a few minutes.  Yes, it was all coming back to her now.  The Carolina Dog did remember this place!

A lot of pent-up canine energy needed to be released.  Dusty, Andrea, Lupe and SPHP set out on a favorite walk around the 100 acre field out in back of Dusty’s house.

Andrea, Dusty & Lupe in the 100 acre field behind Dusty’s house. Photo looks W.
Cousin Dusty was sure surprised when Lupe showed up!

Cousin Dusty loves to fetch sticks.  The bigger the stick, the better.  She ran ahead of Andrea and SPHP looking for sticks to drop in their path, hoping to entice them to throw them for her.  Dusty would then zoom away after the stick, often catching it on the first bounce after a good throw.

Dusty waits for Andrea or SPHP to toss the stick she has carefully positioned out in front of her. Photo looks N.

Lupe never shows the slightest interest in chasing Dusty’s sticks.  Instead, she loves to act as defense on the stick’s behalf.  As soon as the stick gets tossed, she focuses entirely on barking and trying to herd Dusty.  While Lupe ignores the stick, Dusty ignores Lupe.  It’s a game they rarely tire of.

Dusty awaits the tossing of the stick, while Lupe awaits the opportunity to herd Dusty.

When the journey around the 100 acre field was over, Lupe was quick to reclaim the Cowboy room back at Dusty’s house.  Even though they like to spend time in the wilderness, American Dingoes are big fans of luxury, too!

Lupe was quick to claim her spot in the Cowboy room at Dusty’s house, where she would stay the next 3 nights. American Dingoes love luxury in addition to the outdoors!

As sunset approached, Lupe, Dusty and SPHP took one more trip around the 100 acre field.  There was more Dingo excitement when Joe came home after work.  After dinner, Joe, Dusty, Lupe and SPHP went on a long evening walk on the bike path near Ralston Creek.  Lupe went all the way past Jungle and Utah bridges.

The next day, Joe and Andrea had to work.  Dusty and Lupe went on dawn patrol with SPHP around the 100 acre field to get the day off to a good start.  Lupe and SPHP then drove down to Matt, Cassie and Owen’s house in Parker, arriving late in the morning.

Babies Owen (6 months) and Felix (9 months) were up looking bright-eyed and happy, but the adults were about shot.  The plane Steve, Xochitl and Felix had taken last evening had been hours late, arriving in Denver after midnight.  Felix had then proceeded to cry and scream until 3:30 AM.  A bleary-eyed Xochitl was up, and so was Matt.  Matt was probably exhausted, too, but he is always so calm natured, it was hard to tell.  Cassie and Steve were both asleep.

Lupe with Felix. Lupe isn’t used to being around children much, especially infants. She sometimes eyed Felix suspiciously as he crawled toward her. Perhaps it was because Felix liked to whack her face, his way of petting her.

The afternoon was spent watching, feeding, and playing with Felix and Owen.  Lupe also played with Matt and Cassie’s dog, Maya.  She went on a neighborhood walk with Matt, Maya and SPHP.  Cassie eventually appeared, long before Steve finally regained consciousness at 3:45 PM.  By then, Felix was taking a nap.

Steve, Xochitl, Matt, Cassie and Owen all went out for sushi around dinnertime.  Lupe and SPHP stayed at the house with Felix.  Felix is known for not sleeping much, so he was expected to wake up at any moment.  Instead he was still snoozing when everyone returned from the restaurant at 9 PM.  Lupe and SPHP then headed back to the Cowboy room at Dusty’s house in Arvada.

Saturday morning was Lupe’s one chance on this short Dingo Vacation for an adventure in the Colorado front range foothills.  Joe, Dusty, Lupe and SPHP headed for the lower E trailhead at White Ranch Park, which was only 10 minutes from Dusty’s house.

Joe, Dusty & Lupe about to set out on the Belcher Hill trail from the lower E trailhead at White Ranch Park.

It was a chilly 14°F when Lupe and her pack set out on the Belcher Hill trail.  The trees and fields were frosty, wisps of fog and low clouds hung in the air, but the sky overhead was blue.  The trail lost a bit of elevation on the way N to a low spot, then started climbing gradually as it followed the dry Van Bibber creek drainage NW.

Joe leads the way on the brief initial drop down to Van Bibber creek (where the frosty trees are). The creekbed was dry down here, but contained a little flowing water higher up. Photo looks NNW.
Joe, Dusty & Lupe near the start of the climb. Photo looks NW.

The Belcher Hill trail starts out on an easement across private property that leads to the rest of White Ranch Park.  At first there were homes not far from the trail.  It wasn’t long before Lupe had gained enough elevation to be looking down on several Colorado shacks.

As shacks go, they were really quite nice.  No doubt one can be had for only a few million dollars.  Lupe liked the looks of them, and asked SPHP’s opinion.  SPHP liked them too, but sadly checked pocket change and came up rather short.

Looking down on several Colorado foothills shacks from the Belcher Hill trail. Photo looks NNE.

After 1.1 mile, Lupe reached a junction with the Whippletree trail.  She stayed on the Belcher Hill trail, which turned SW here.  By now it was clear that a huge expanse of cold air E of the foothills was capped with a layer of low clouds.  The city of Denver and all its surrounding suburbs were hidden from view.  Lupe could see the top of  North Table Mountain (6,570 ft.) off to the SE floating barely above the clouds.

The flat top of North Table Mountain could be seen floating like an island above low clouds. Photo looks SE.
Joe and Dusty on the Belcher Hill trail a little beyond the junction with the Whippletree trail. Photo looks NE.

Shortly after bypassing the Whippletree trail, the effects of a powerful inversion became evident.  The temperature started changing rapidly, sometimes quite noticeably within only a few feet.  Overall it was getting a lot warmer out, but Lupe came to pockets of cold air, too.

Joe, Dusty & Lupe nearing the end of the Belcher Hill trail portion of the hike. It was already a lot warmer out, mostly due to a powerful inversion. Joe & SPHP were soon shedding layers. Photo looks SW.

The Belcher Hill trail steepened, and made a switchback shortly before coming to another junction, this time with the Longhorn Trail.

North Table Mountain again from the Belcher Hill Trail. The low clouds were just starting to clear out, moving slowly off to the E. Photo looks SE.
Lupe still along the Belcher Hill trail. She had started out near the frosty trees seen way down in the valley below. Photo looks SE.
Joe and Dusty pause for a look around near the end of the Belcher Hill trail section of the hike. Photo looks W.

At an intersection 1.8 miles from the E trailhead where Lupe had started, Joe and Dusty led the way onto the Longhorn Trail.

Lupe at the intersection of the Belcher Hill and Longhorn trails 1.8 miles from the trailhead. Joe & Dusty are already leading the way on the Longhorn Trail. Photo looks NE.
As clouds moved off to the E, it became possible to get a good look at Ralston Reservoir (R). Photo looks NE from the Longhorn Trail.
Ralston Reservoir (L) from rocks near the Longhorn Trail. Photo looks NE.
Another look at Ralston Reservoir from some different rocks. Photo looks NE.

After a short steep section, the Longhorn trail leveled out and became more of an up and down affair as it headed N.  After 0.4 mile, a junction with the Shorthorn trail was reached.  A longer loop could be made by taking the Shorthorn trail.  It was such a nice warm day this high up due to the temperature inversion, longer was definitely the better choice.  Everyone hit the Shorthorn trail.

The Shorthorn trail gained a bit more elevation, but only gradually with both up and down stretches along the way.  At first it headed NW.  This was a unique part of the hike, because the trail went through a shady forest of large pines.  Later on the trail turned NE, and wound around a series of ravines on much more exposed sunny slopes.

Joe and Dusty on the Shorthorn trail. Photo looks NE.
Dusty on the Shorthorn trail. Photo looks E.
Cousin Dusty again. North Table Mountain is seen on the R, still partially hidden by clouds. Photo looks SE.
North Table Mountain from the Shorthorn trail in White Ranch Park. Photo looks SE.

A 1.1 mile trek on the Shorthorn trail led to a different point on the Longhorn trail.  Shortly after reaching this junction, Joe discovered he had forgotten his walking stick about 0.33 mile back while shedding layers due to the near 60°F temperatures.  Everyone doubled back to retrieve it.

Joe, Dusty & Lupe near a second junction of the Shorthorn & Longhorn trails. Photo looks SE.
Heading back on the Shorthorn trail to retrieve Joe’s walking stick. Photo looks SW.

The walking stick successfully retrieved, it was back to the second junction of the Shorthorn and Longhorn trails.  A short hike up the Longhorn trail led to a tiny creek in a ravine.  At a big rock beside the little stream, it was time for a break.  Lupe and Dusty shared some Taste of the Wild.  Joe and SPHP had apples.  Dusty enjoyed polishing off the apple cores.

At the break rock near the tiny stream along the Longhorn trail.

After the break, it was time to head back down to the trailhead.  Joe and Dusty lead the way, using the Longhorn and Whippletree trails to complete a loop back to the Belcher Hill trail.  By the time Lupe arrived back at the trailhead, the air had warmed up some down here, but it was still only 30°F compared to near 60°F higher up.

Joe and Dusty lead the way down the Longhorn Trail on the way back to the trailhead.

The White Ranch Park adventure was over, but more good things were about to happen!  Joe, Andrea, Dusty, Lupe and SPHP were soon on the way back to Matt and Cassie’s house in Parker.  It was time for more fun with babies!  Owen was the only baby there at first.  Steve and Xochitl had taken Felix with them to visit friends.  Felix hadn’t woken up until 7 AM this morning, a recent personal record of 16 consecutive hours of sleep!

Knowing that SPHP was certain to sneak her some, Lupe was especially pleased at the news that Matt was going to smoke a huge chicken and ribs this afternoon!

Oh, boy! Smoked chicken and ribs! Let’s make this a tradition after every adventure! Whad’ya say SPHP?
Andrea with momentarily camera shy baby Owen.

Lupe had fun with Maya.  Eventually Steve, Xochitl and Felix showed up.  Mark did, too.  SPHP built towers with Owen’s blocks.  Felix had a good time knocking them down.

Lupe kept wanting to wrestle with Maya. Maya did a little bit, but finally retreated to her doggie bed for a respite from the over-active Dingo.
Felix eventually showed up at Matt & Cassie’s. Felix liked knocking down towers of blocks that SPHP built for that very purpose.
Adventures with baby Felix!

The big chicken and ribs took a long time to smoke.  Steve, Dusty, Maya, Lupe and SPHP took a walk at dusk.  Upon return, the smoked chicken and ribs were nearly ready.  The feast was soon served.  The smoked chicken and ribs were delicious!  Everyone had a great time!  A certain sly Dingo feasted on both chicken and ribs.

Felix & Mark.
Steve, Xochitl, Mark & Felix.

All too soon, it was time to head back to the Cowboy room in Arvada with Joe, Andrea and Dusty.  The next morning, Lupe left Dusty’s house after one last spin around the 100 acre field with Joe, Dusty and SPHP.  The trip to Arvada and Parker, Colorado had been a quick one, but a fun time!

By the time the sun set for the last time in 2017, Lupe was back in her Black Hills of South Dakota.  The G6 said it was 5 below zero when Lupe finally got home.  2018 was destined to get off to a frigid start.

In Wyoming on the way home on the last day of 2017. Photo looks W with the Laramie Range (R) seen faintly on the far horizon.
Looking S at I-25 from the rest stop near Orin, WY as 2017 draws to a close.

Related Links:

White Ranch Park trail map

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Belcher Hill & Upper White Ranch Park, Colorado (11-8-15)

On Sunday afternoon, 11-8-15, Joe and Dusty were free to join Lupe and SPHP for a little adventure in the mountains W of Arvada, Colorado.  Joe suggested hiking some of the trails in upper White Ranch Park, which wasn’t too far away.  Unlike the trails in the lower part of the park, the trails in upper White Ranch Park don’t lose or gain an awful lot of elevation.  It would be a pleasant, relaxing afternoon outing.

Naturally, Lupe and cousin Dusty were both eager to go.  Everyone piled into the G6.  Even though the Broncos were playing, it was such a nice afternoon for November that lots of people were already at the park when Lupe and Dusty arrived.  The parking lot closest to the old ranch headquarters was completely full.  Luckily, Joe did find an empty spot for the G6 in the parking lot near the Belcher Hill trail.

The first, and longest, trail that Lupe, Dusty, Joe and SPHP took was a clockwise circuit of the entire Rawhide trail, which makes a loop.  At the far N end of the trail is a bench with a little roof over it.  There was a view toward a high snow-capped peak far to the N from the bench.

Upper White Ranch Park from the Rawhide trail. Photo looks SE.
Upper White Ranch Park from the Rawhide trail. Photo looks SE.
A high, snow-capped peak is seen far away from the bench at the N end of the Rawhide trail in upper White Ranch Park.
A high, snow-capped peak is seen far away barely poking up over the ridge line.  This photo was taken from in front of the bench at the N end of the Rawhide trail in upper White Ranch Park.  The bench is about 2.5 miles from the parking lots.  Photo looks N.

Joe and SPHP sat on the bench contemplating the view and munching apples, while water from a bit of melting snow on the roof dripped in front of them.  Lupe and Dusty shared some Taste of the Wild, which Dusty devoured with special relish since she doesn’t ordinarily get it.  Dusty polished off the apple cores, too, when they became available.  As far as Lupe was concerned, Dusty could have the apple cores.

The E section of the Rawhide trail stayed more in the forest than the W part of the trail had.  Along the NE section of the trail, there were occasional views across the deep Ralston Creek valley toward the high rocky ridge to the E.  Lupe passed by another bench commemorating a visit by Princess Anne.  Trees had grown up to mostly obscure the view from there.

Looking ENE across the deep Ralston Creek.
Looking ENE across the deep Ralston Creek valley.
The rocky ridge across the Ralston Creek valley from the E portion of the Rawhide Trail in upper White Ranch Park. Photo looks NE.
The rocky ridge beyond Ralston Creek from the E portion of the Rawhide Trail in upper White Ranch Park. Photo looks ENE.

A little way S of the Princess Anne bench was a nice view to the SE toward North Table Mountain (6,566 ft.).

North Table Mountain from the Rawhide trail in upper White Ranch Park, Colorado. Photo looks SE.
North Table Mountain from the Rawhide trail in upper White Ranch Park, Colorado. Photo looks SE.
Lupe, Joe & Dusty on the Rawhide trail. Photo looks WNW.

Except near the N end, the Rawhide trail was pretty busy.  There were hikers, runners, dogs, and especially mountain bikers.  By the time Lupe was getting close to the parking lots again, though, the crowds were beginning to thin out.

Upper White Ranch Park from the Rawhide trail.
Upper White Ranch Park from the Rawhide trail.
Lupe near the Rawhide Trail not far from the parking lots.
Lupe near the Rawhide Trail not far from the parking lots.

When Lupe reached the parking lot again, the sun was starting to get low in the W.  Since it would still be up for at least another hour, SPHP suggested taking the trail to Belcher Hill (7,949 ft.).  Joe, Dusty and Lupe were all up for it.  From the parking lot near the old ranch headquarters, Lupe took the Sawmill trail to the Belcher Hill trail.  There were views of the ranch headquarters and North Table Mountain along the way.

Looking N at the White Ranch headquarters from the Sawmill trail.
Looking N at the White Ranch headquarters from the Sawmill trail.
North Table Mountain from the Sawmill trail. Downtown Denver, CO is seen on the L.
North Table Mountain from the Sawmill trail. Downtown Denver, CO is seen on the L.

From the Sawmill trail, the Belcher Hill trail headed WNW up a forested ridge.  The trail eventually leveled out near the high point on the ridge.  Lupe climbed up on the highest rocks on the ridge to claim another peakbagging success.

These highest rocks were in the forest, so there wasn’t much of a view from the top.  However, back closer to the trail, there were some lower rocks along more open ground.  From these lower rocks were pretty views from the S around to the W.

Lupe on the highest rocks on the Belcher Hill ridge.
Lupe on the highest rocks on the Belcher Hill ridge.
Looking WNW from rocks near the Belcher Hill trail.
Looking WNW from rocks near the Belcher Hill trail.
Looking SW from Belcher Hill, CO.
Looking SSW from Belcher Hill, Colorado.

From the high point on the ridge, it was a short pleasant stroll through the forest to the junction with the Mustang trail.

Lupe and Dusty at the trail junction.
Lupe and Dusty at the trail junction.

From the junction with the Mustang trail, the Belcher Hill trail headed N down the ridge to the parking lot.  There was just enough packed snow on the trail on the N side of the ridge to make things a bit slippery.  It didn’t take long to reach the parking lot, but the sun was down behind the mountains by the time Lupe and Dusty got there.

Back at Dusty’s house in Arvada, it turned out that Lupe, Dusty, Joe & SPHP had a better afternoon at upper White Ranch Park than the Denver Broncos had in Indianapolis.  The Colts defeated the previously unbeaten Broncos 27-24.

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