Weekend Fiasco

On September 8, 2015September 8, 2015 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Colorado3 Comments

We decided to take advantage of the three-day weekend and go to Boulder Colorado, which is very close to Rocky Mountain National Park. We often tell people not to travel during busy holidays unless there is a compelling reason to do so, such as it is the only opportunity to view something special. This was not one of those cases and we should have listened to our own advice, we would have been much happier had we done so. Our goal was to go hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park, view the incredible scenery, hopefully get a glimpse of some wildlife, but mostly get into nature and away from the heat. That isn’t what ended up happening.

We should have known how the weekend was going to go when we arrived at our hotel. We belong to several hotel reward programs, something that anyone who travels frequently knows is an absolute must, and used points to book our room for the weekend. When we arrived at our hotel, we were told that our room was on the first floor, which is opposite of our preference as we prefer to be on the highest floor possible, we don’t like the noise of people above us. When we asked for a different room, we were told that we were in a smoking room and those are only located on the first floor. Our jaws hit the floor. We both have asthma and absolutely cannot stay in a smoking room, seriously didn’t even think there was such a think as a smoking room in this day and age. Then the next surprise, because of the holiday weekend, the hotel was sold out and this was the only room they had available. We were staying at a Hilton property, so we asked if there was another hotel in the Hilton family that might have rooms available, which there was, so they called and confirmed availability. However, since we were using points, we had to call the corporate offices, have our current reservation cancelled, redeposit the points, and make a new reservation, which was now not in a suite as we had originally booked. At least we had a room, so after an hour of dealing with the reservations, we were driving to our new hotel. Once there, the staff couldn’t have been nicer, they upgraded us to a suite and let us know that there was a complimentary shuttle to take us to the Pearl Street Mall, which is the heart of the shopping and restaurant district in Boulder. We dropped our bags off in our room and took advantage of the shuttle to go grab a bite to eat and enjoy happy hour at West Flanders Brewing Company, which was celebrating having just won two gold medals for their IPA at the Colorado State Fair. Maybe this weekend wasn’t going to be bad after all.

The next morning, we woke up and tossed our camelback and camera into the car and headed off towards Rocky Mountain National Park. As soon as we hit the small town of Lyons, we should have known what we were in for. Traffic was at a crawl as we made our way closer and closer to the only light in town where the local fire department was collecting donations for the annual “fill the boot” campaign. Once through the town, our pace picked back up and we thought things were back on track. As we neared Estes Park, the town just outside of the park entrance, we realized how foolish we were to think that we were going to get away from the crowds and get into nature. It seemed as though every other person in Colorado had the same idea as us. Another agonizing traffic jam as we moved through the main street of Estes Park lined with an art and craft fair, there was still some slim hope that people were there to visit Estes Park and not Rocky Mountain National Park. Once through town, we stopped at the visitor center just outside of the park to grab a trail map and talk to the ranger. There was a large group of hikers situated at a bus station outside of the visitor center, which we assumed were there for some sort of guided tour, we were about to find out otherwise. The ranger quickly informed us that there was no parking available at any of the trailheads and that they were busing hikers in to a single trailhead. Over a thousand hikers on a trail, not exactly our idea of getting into nature. In addition to going to the park on a holiday weekend, it was also the park’s centennial celebration and there were over fifty-thousand (we heard a hundred-thousand) people at the celebration the night before. We promptly got back into the car and headed back to Boulder.

After dealing with traffic and three hours driving back and forth, we were ready for a glass of wine. We took the shuttle back to Pearl Street and enjoyed some oysters at Jax Fish House. Pearl Street Mall is an outdoor shopping area that is closed to anything other than pedestrian traffic, which has a wonderful variety of restaurants, but on a holiday weekend, finding a seat without a reservation isn’t easy. We were lucky to get to Jax at just the right time, so we were able to get a seat at the bar. Only moments later there wasn’t a seat left in the place and reservations were booked solid until after 8:30 pm, so we weren’t about to give up our seats until we were done with dinner, which was a wonderful special of shrimp and grits. It was time to adjust our plans, so we enjoyed some people watching and the street performers that are all over the mall and decided that we would find a place near Boulder to go hiking the next day.

We talked to the staff at the hotel and they recommended a trail that only the locals knew about, so after a quick lunch, we were finally going to get our long awaited hike. We ended up hiking Sunshine Canyon Trail and then connected to Lion’s Lair Trail, which turned out to be just what we were looking for. Although there were houses on the surrounding hills, we only came across a couple of other hikers, so we got the tranquility that we were hoping to get. After several hours of hiking, it was back to the hotel and one final visit to Pearl Street. We love the oysters at Jax so much that we had to join them for happy hour once again. We walked the streets and enjoyed our final night of the weekend, finally relaxed and fulfilled.

Even though we didn’t listen to our own advice and stay away from the crowds, in the end we got what we needed, which was some down time and a chance to get into the mountains. It certainly wasn’t what we had initially planned, but we were together and that was all that mattered.

Making the Most of a Road Trip

On August 19, 2015August 21, 2015 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn New MexicoLeave a comment

Several years ago, we had taken a road trip to Carlsbad Caverns National Park and when taking long trips by car, we will often stop at places of interest along the way. On this particular trip our journey took us past Fort Sumner New Mexico, which is the location of the tombstone for the infamous Billy the Kid, as well as Roswell New Mexico, the site of a supposed UFO crash that the government is covering up. We knew that we wanted to stop at Roswell, but stopping at Billy the Kid’s tombstone was a spur of the moment decision when we saw signs on the road for the attraction. While visiting the caverns was definitely the purpose of the trip, those added stops made the entire trip that much more interesting.

There isn’t much else to see in Fort Sumner other than Billy the Kid’s tombstone, but for a quick detour while traveling through New Mexico, it was fun to see. With all of the technology that surrounds us in our modern world, it is somehow relaxing to reflect on just how recent it was that our world was not so complex. According to legend, Billy the Kid shot and killed twenty-one men, although current belief is that it was only eight men, before being gunned down by Sheriff Pat Garrett in 1881. From Fort Sumner, we continued on to Roswell and we went from life in the old west to space invaders in the span of less than an hour.

Do aliens really exist? We’re not sure if they do, but we are positive that there are more than enough unique individuals on earth that we don’t need to import them from space. As it turned out, it was the annual UFO Festival when we arrived in Roswell, so the town was crowded with enthusiasts. After spending a few hours surrounded by people in costume, wearing tin foil hats, ufologists, and vendors trying to sell us UFO memorabilia, we were ready to jump into a spaceship and head to the rugged terrain of Carlsbad.

We were just there for a weekend trip, so our time in Carlsbad was fairly short, but we definitely enjoyed the caverns and the town. One of the more unique things, other than touring the caverns and learning about stalagmites and stalactites, was learning about the bats. Hundreds of bats make the Carlsbad Cavern their home and at sunset they all fly out over the heads of the tourists seated in the amphitheater to watch the spectacle. It is quite impressive to see as there are so many of them that they literally look like a swirling black cloud as they zoom off to feed. The kids enjoyed making bat guano jokes throughout the return trip home, but at least they listened to the ranger talk during the tour.

So, whether making a drive across country or just getting away for the weekend like we did, it is certainly worth making little detours along the way. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Life is a journey, not a destination” and so should your travels. Make the most of the journey and you’ll enjoy the destination that much more.

Top 10 Tips for Visiting Yellowstone

On July 30, 2015July 15, 2019 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Yellowstone2 Comments

We have been fortunate to have been able to visit Yellowstone National Park over a dozen times in the past fifteen years and through those visits we’ve definitely learned some lessons. It seems that most visitors to the park drive the various roads that traverse the park, stopping at each of the various landmarks as well as stopping whenever they run across a large number of vehicles pulled off on the side of the road, the sure sign of a wildlife spotting. Especially during the summer, there can be hundreds of people crammed around the walkways to get a glimpse at Old Faithful, Mammoth Hot Springs, the Grand Prismatic Spring, or the Paint Pots. If you want to make the most of your visit to Yellowstone, here are a few things that we recommend.

Hike one of the many trails that are in the park. When hiking, the park recommends that you go in groups of three or more, make noise, and carry bear spray, but we’ve found that just the two of us is fine. It never ceases to amaze us at how many people cram into the walkways and viewing stations, but as soon as we step onto a trail, we’re virtually alone in the park. Some of the most beautiful sites can only be seen by hiking to them and it also greatly increases your chances of seeing wildlife in the park. Some of the trails can be strenuous, so be sure to know your limits and always hydrate appropriately.
Hiking on a trail
Talk to a ranger at one of the visitor centers or ranger stations located throughout the park. The rangers will be able to tell where certain wildlife is more likely to be seen, which trails are the best to hike and which ones should be avoided or are closed, as well as just provide great information on the park itself. The rangers are there to assist people and are always extremely friendly and proud of the park that they serve. Don’t be afraid to ask them questions, whether it is about where to go and what to see or questions about the various animals, plants, or geological wonders that abound throughout the park.
Grizzly Bear
Visit the park during the off-season. Having been to Yellowstone in all four seasons, we enjoy going almost anytime other than summer. Fall is probably our favorite season as the Aspens have turned to a spectacular gold and the animals are all very active as they prepare themselves for the upcoming winter. During winter, though, you are more likely to see wolves or some of the more reclusive animals, but be prepared for snow and check for road closures as not all roads are open during the winter. Spring is also a wonderful time to visit the park as the wildflowers start to bloom and you will likely see some newly born wildlife with their parents.
Moose in Winter
Go on a ranger led hike. It is worthwhile checking on the availability of the ranger led activities in advance as some of them book out weeks in advance. Ranger led hikes allow limited numbers of participants, so you really get a one on one experience and learn things about the park that you never would otherwise. The rangers all have vast knowledge about the history of the park as well as everything within the park and they are enthusiastic to share that knowledge with you.
Ranger on a Hike
Don’t approach any of the wildlife. It amazes us every year to hear about people approaching wildlife in the park and then being seriously injured or killed. None of the animals are tame, they are all wild animals and this isn’t a petting zoo. The elk and bison may seem docile, but any animal that is startled or protecting its young can be unpredictable and aggressive. We all want that amazing photo to share with our friends, but it isn’t worth risking injury or death for it, having a telephoto lens is a much safer way to get that special shot.
Wolves at Play
Take your time in the park and give yourself several days to see everything. There is too much to see in Yellowstone to try and cram it in to a single day or even a couple of days. Despite all of the times that we’ve been to the park, we’re still finding new places to hike and new beautiful sites to see. Especially if you visit the park during the summer, expect plenty of traffic on the roads and around all of the major attractions. Don’t be one of those people who stop at one of the various geological wonders like Old Faithful or the Grand Prismatic Spring, take a couple of quick pictures, and jump back in the car. Take time to look around, read what information is available about what you’re viewing, and look for ways to view it that are different. Perhaps you’ll capture a picture that is truly different than what most park visitors see.
Mammoth Hot Springs
Don’t over plan, see the main attractions, but give yourself time to explore. There is so much to do and see in the park that you could put yourself on a tight schedule and try to see it all, but then you’d miss out on some great opportunities. Give yourself a chance to take a boat out onto Yellowstone Lake or go horseback riding in the park or Grand Tetons. Have dinner on a covered wagon excursion or pack a picnic lunch to eat on a long hike. The best memories are usually those that were made because of a spontaneous decision, so let yourself find one of those memories in Yellowstone.
One of the Many Waterfalls in Yellowstone
Visit the park near dawn or dusk. If you’re going to Yellowstone, it is likely that you’re hoping for the opportunity to see some of the wildlife that is abundant in the park. Although the bison and elk are easy to see in the park, especially in summer, other animals can be harder to find. It is well worth getting up early or staying late in the park because the wildlife is more active during those times. We’ve been fortunate to see bears, both black and grizzly, moose, wolves, elk, bison, bald eagles, coyotes, beavers, and many others during our various visits.
Black Bear
If you have younger children, have them do the Junior Ranger program. We’ve had the kids participate in the Junior Ranger program at several national parks and earn the Junior Ranger badge at each of them. The Junior Ranger program is a great way to entertain the kids, while also helping them learn about the park and the animals that reside there. They are given a booklet with several pages to complete (simple games like word find or match this animal to its environment, etc.) and when completed and returned to the ranger station, they are awarded their very own ranger badge.
Park Entrance
Be very observant and always scan all around you whether you’re driving through the park or hiking. You’ll likely run across a large group of vehicles pulled over on the side of the road with people out with their cameras taking pictures of some sort of wildlife. If you want to be the first vehicle to stop for that wildlife encounter, pay close attention to your surroundings at all times. You’d be surprised at how often you may run across something very interesting just by having everyone in the car, obviously not the driver, looking through the trees for anything that might be an animal. It is even more important to be observant when you’re hiking because you don’t want to surprise an animal while on a trail. Always look as far ahead as possible as well as scanning in all directions, just to be sure that you see any animals before they see you.
Coyote