Hiking Hanging Lake

So this post is waaaay overdue since I actually did this hike about a month ago but nonetheless...here it is. Hanging Lake is a hiking favorite for many in this area and I for one try to do it at least once a summer. This year, I did it with someone I never thought I would hike it with, because frankly I didn't know she liked to hike. And truth is, she doesn't--especially after doing it! But I would like to go on record as saying, it was HER idea; she asked me to do it as a part of the 'Amazing Race: Curves version' she was a part of and I happily obliged. It was a beautiful day when we went, not too hot.. perfect. And of course hiking Hanging Lake is always an opportunity for a photo op as you will see :)


We saw some chipmunks on our way up.. they were so cute. And very used to people. I got really close to one and it didn't even bother him.



Gorgeous shot of the lake and waterfall...


Angie and I at the top. She said the last time she had hiked up here was like 10 years ago so we're making history here.. :)

So at the top of Hanging Lake you can hike up around the top to Spouting Rock. I told Angie she didn't have to go up there, but she was such a trooper and went everywhere I went. It was fun.


Spouting Rock. It's actually more of a waterfall than Hanging Lake is..


This is right on the edge of the Hanging Lake waterfall up by Spouting Rock


Angie in the same spot. I love this pic of her :)

So, it was a fun outing. I was proud of Angie for making the long trek up there. Don't think she'll want to do it again for a long time...if ever, but I'm glad we got to do it together once :) And if you're ever in the Glenwood area in the summer, this is definitely something you should do. I've heard of people even doing it in the winter...

Where Have All the Golfers Gone?

Aspen Glen Golf Club has not been exempt (and as an employee neither have I) of the affects of the economic decline. I've been back a week and have only worked two days so far. The tee sheet is strangely devoid of yellow highlighter marks indicating golfers who have shown up for their tee time. Several people I used to see all the time last year I've found are no longer members. Depending on the member though, it's not an entirely bad thing.
I suppose I do have the option of sitting around and worrying or complaining about my lack of work and a few other not-so-ideal-for-the-employee changes being made to the Club. But instead, I thought what better thing to do than to take advantage of playing for free the perfectly good golf course that none of the members seem to be able to afford anymore? So that's what my friend Lisa and I did today. Can't let it go to waste can we?

Lisa setting up on # 6 with Mt. Sopris in the background

Tee box on #7. From this hole you hit off of hill down on to the fairway.

Me lining up the putt on #7 green

Sinking the putt :)

Retrieving the ball from its 'home'

Coming 'Home'

There's something about coming back to the place you grew up. Places and people are familiar; memories from days gone by jump back to you.
Remember when we used to...
At the same time though, coming back after being gone for the school year at college makes me realize that things change. I've changed. This is my 3rd year to come back to Glenwood Springs for the summer. The first time I came back, people from church would say, "Welcome home!" My parents had moved to CO Springs earlier that year, but to me, Glenwood was still home. But this year, the greeting has been mostly, "Welcome back!" Someone at church today even corrected herself: "Welcome home! Well, i guess it's not home, but welcome back!" Not really sure when it happened, but apparently sometime during the past 3 years of being in college, Glenwood went from being home to the place I come back to for the summer. An interesting thing about that is it doesn't bother me.
I guess at this point in my life, 'home' is a very fluid concept. I move or travel every few months, either to school in AR or back to CO Springs for breaks or Glenwood for the summers. I'm not really 'established' anywhere yet. But one thing I realize is that in each of these three places that I spend portions of the year, Searcy, CO Springs, and Glenwood, I have great memories and people that I love and care about and who love me. That's enough to qualify as home for me right now.
So for the next two and half months, Glenwood is 'home'. A summer of working at Aspen Glen golf club...free golf...hanging out with friends and people from church...not a bad thing to come back to. Welcome home indeed.