I can’t recall a time when my sisters and I have ever done something together – just the 3 of us. That is going back maybe 20+ years. I don’t want to sound too dramatic, as we do in fact see each other once or twice a year – although typically not all 3 of us together. Nevertheless, we live in 3 different states and life gets busy.
So when I found out my sisters were planning to meet up in Colorado, I adjusted my plans. I realize as time goes by, and clearly based on our own history, these opportunities don’t come around very often. So I’m seizing this one and going to soak up a few days of quality time with my sisters.
We head up to the mountains and stay at Julie’s condo in Silverthorne. Jenny’s arrival also coincided with cooler temps and the first snowfall. I’m managing this visit around a couple days of work so I have to skip the spa/shopping day my sisters had planned.
However, I am able to join in on a late afternoon snowy hike at nearby Lilly Pad Lake.
Lilly Pad Lake
Distance: 3.3 miles
Time: 1.5 hours
Trail Type: Out & Back
Difficulty: Easy
Total Climbing: 396 ft
Max Elevation: 9,917 ft
The weekend has arrived, and with it some beautiful fall like weather – mid 60’s. We have a couple bigger things planned today. We drive to Glenwood Springs and make a day of it – starting with this classic Colorado hike.
Hanging Lake
Distance: 2.8 miles
Time: 3 hours
Trail Type: Out & Back
Difficulty: Moderate
Total Climbing: 1,204 ft
Max Elevation: 7,040 ft
After our hike we rest a bit, grab a quick lunch, and then head back out to tackle another hike. This quick and easy hike in town also offers a glimpse into the past. Glenwood Springs is the final resting place of one of the most famous gamblers and gunfighters of the Old West – Doc Holliday.
Doc Holliday’s Grave
Distance: 0.7 miles
Time: 30 min
Trail Type: Out & Back
Difficulty: Easy
Total Climbing: 216 ft
Max Elevation: 6,131 ft
After an afternoon of hiking we are ready to kick back and relax. No better place to do that than the nearby hot springs.
Hot Springs
It was a very quick few days. No matter how much time we spend apart, when my sisters and I get together we tend to act…in a word – goofy. Even if that’s not how we “normally” act around others, we revert to this behavior around each other almost subconsciously.
Julie brings out her loud laugh, Jenny gets giddy, and I am usually in the middle stirring the pot. These past few days reminded me of growing up with my sisters – and that wasn’t all bad.
