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Travelog for: Squab

Healy Pass, Canada - 8th August 2015

By: smaug

Hi Mum,

Today the weather was gorgeous again, so we went for a lovely hike near Banff :). After a bit of walking in the trees we started having a nice view of the Monarch (that big mountain, not the queen :rolleyes:)…

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN0894_zpsgroc3dml.jpg

…and of the mountains in the south.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN0893_zpspsv7ssx1.jpg

With a little extra effort we reached Healy Pass where we could see Scarab and Egypt lakes in the north,…

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN0903_zpsx7rcgbhp.jpg

…and more mountains to the south :).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN0908_zpstpqtupf5.jpg

That ridge leading to the Monarch is called the Monarch Ramparts, and sammino told us that we were going to walk along it.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN0909_zpsdfwwkclr.jpg

From the Ramparts we could see Healy Pass behind us,…

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN0918_zpsj5gwhwjt.jpg

…the little tarns dotting Healy Meadows :)

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN0938_zps6iq4tk87.jpg

…and the forested valley that we followed this morning.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN0939_zpsk742gkij.jpg

Eventually we got off the Ramparts and reached beautiful Eohippus Lake.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN0948_zpsvrsytukn.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN0953_zpsmni1msh7.jpg

Later on we passed by another nice small lake :)

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN0959_zpsxijmavfk.jpg

…before diving back into the forest.

* Posted Aug 24, 2015, 2:05 am [Quote] [View just this post] Go to the top of the page


Calgary, Canada - 12th August 2015

By: smaug

Hi Mum,

Today we gathered to say goodbye and wish a safe trip to Batyr, who is travelling back home to Russia :).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino5/DSCN0963_zpsqrml0xln.jpg

* Posted Aug 24, 2015, 2:22 am [Quote] [View just this post] Go to the top of the page


Dillon, USA - 15th August 2015

By: smaug

Hi Mum,

Guess what, I’m in the States :D! I’m not sure how it happened. This morning, as usual for a Saturday, smaug tried to wake us up at fairly ungodly hour :rolleyes: and threw us in the backpack, where we continued sleeping assuming that we were going to the mountains. A few hours later we woke up driving on a highway in the Rockies, but we were in Colorado rather than west of Calgary as we expected :stare:. smaug was busy driving and was not inclined to stop often for taking photos, so we just snapped a few shots of the lovely surrounding :)

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN0967_zpshafqke5y.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN0968_zpsvy9optzr.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN0969_zpsmoigiigy.jpg

…before arriving at our accommodation for the week where we found a lovely spot where we could analyse the situation and question sammino about it ;).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino5/DSCN0979_zpsbuofq6dc.jpg

* Posted Aug 24, 2015, 2:53 am Last edited Aug 24, 2015, 3:35 am by smaug [Quote] [View just this post] Go to the top of the page


Loveland Pass, USA - 16th August 2015

By: smaug

Hi Mum,

It appears we will be spending the week here in Colorado road cycling in smaug’s backpack :D. Today, to start getting used to the altitude, we went for a ride out of Dillon up to Loveland Pass and we spent most time riding in a very nice valley :).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN0990_zpsvmca863d.jpg

Eventually we reached the pass, which sits at 3655 m above sea level on the Continental Divide :o. This means that on this side, the north side, water drains towards the Atlantic Ocean (by the way, the view was great ;)),…

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino5/DSCN0980_zpsq4pb4ybx.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino5/DSCN0981_zpsheaui0jh.jpg

…while on this side water drains in the Pacific Ocean.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN0984_zpswrjbdajf.jpg

Whichever way the water goes, those dark clouds were about to drop a lot of it :rolleyes:, with hail and lighting as sides :stare:, so we hastily made our way back into the valley.

* Posted Aug 24, 2015, 3:33 am [Quote] [View just this post] Go to the top of the page


Mt. Evans, USA - 17th August 2015

By: smaug

Hi Mum,

Today we were on the road very, very early :stare: to ride up Mt Evans. Since it was a tad cold :rolleyes:, smaug was reluctant to stop and take photos and when we eventually had a chance to look around we were surrounded by a treeless landscape :o.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1030_zpsf2odnosa.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1029_zpscmitudmc.jpg

From there we could already see the summit :).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1028_zps2ueu5aw2.jpg

Later we reached Summit Lake, which, as it happens, is still well below the summit :rolleyes:.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1010_zpsiwhyoad2.jpg

The view there was great :)

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1020_zps8rtlgysp.jpg

…and the summit was getting closer and closer.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1011_zpsywjsicyv.jpg

Nevertheless, as we gained altitude, we were starting to be short of breath, so we let sammino go outside scouting the route while we stayed comfortable in the backpack ;). And after some time we eventually reached the end of the road which, at an elevation of 4307 m above sea level, is the highest paved road in North America :o…smaug pointed out this was very likely as high as he will ever ride a bycicle :rolleyes:. The view, of course, was great :D…a bit hazy maybe :rolleyes:.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1008_zpsk2j9fpct.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1007_zpspgm8zjht.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN0994_zps5nfl0oie.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN0993_zpsbglviqt8.jpg

* Posted Aug 26, 2015, 4:55 am [Quote] [View just this post] Go to the top of the page


Hoosier Pass, USA - 18th August 2015

By: smaug

Hi Mum,

Today we hit the road again and after some time we could see the in the distance Hoosier Pass’s saddle.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1054_zpspfq1b4iv.jpg

On the way we also had nice views over Quandary Peak :).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1050_zpsewtzmyo8.jpg

Some km later…

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1044_zpsqglj11cf.jpg

…we reached Hoosier Pass, which sits on the Continental Divide :o, just like Loveland Pass that we visited a couple of days ago.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino5/DSCN1042_zpsxr9ixq5q.jpg

As you might have noticed on the sign, here everything is measured in strange units like feet and miles :stare:. Since none of us is very familiar with the imperial system we were a bit confused :rolleyes:. Luckily sammino had anticipated the problem and installed on smaug’s phone a conversion app, so we spent a lot of time checking it out ;).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino5/DSCN1209_zpsjmjunrif.jpg

Anyway, feet or meters, from the pass we had a lovely view over the Mosquito Range and the South Platte River valley :D.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1035_zpswkszbs6m.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1034_zpsdnzckyqw.jpg

* Posted Aug 28, 2015, 3:49 am [Quote] [View just this post] Go to the top of the page


Leadville Loop, USA - 19th August 2015

By: smaug

Hi Mum,

Today we rode a nice loop between Copper Mountain, Leadville and Vail :). The first thing we saw in the morning were these big ponds. Apparently they are part of a giant molybdenum mine :stare:.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1061_zpsh2fc715y.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1062_zpsirs7yvjc.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1063_zpsysuwr3cx.jpg

Further on we reached Fremont Pass, which sits on the Continental Divide, a feature that we started believing applies to all mountain passes around here :rolleyes:.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1068_zpse83ylpmw.jpg

At the pass we saw the actual mine. The photo does not do justice to its size (and the sun in our eyes did not help ;)), but it looked like half mountain had been already mined out :o.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1072_zps5tmprlkp.jpg

Later on we skirted Leadville and turned on US Route 24 just before entering town.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1077_zpsbzwkubwj.jpg

The road took us through this wide and beautiful valley :)

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1081_zpsx80zrxu6.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1082_zpsgcea2oer.jpg

….which eventually lead us to Tenessee Pass. And guess what, this pass is also on the Continental Divide :rolleyes:.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino5/DSCN1087_zps0adcejrv.jpg

Going down from the pass we had beautiful views…

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1089_zpsbzjbkrxa.jpg

…and crossed this lovely bridge. I better remember to mention that the bridge crosses the Eagle River, or sammino will never talk to me again ;).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1093_zpswdrfbj6p.jpg

Later we turned again and had our first look at the valley that leads to Vail Pass…

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1099_zpsk9kzhbqg.jpg

…that we reached a bit later…and, believe it or not, this pass is not part of the Continental Divide :rolleyes:. We decided to take a break and stopped at this rest area at the pass.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1100_zpsd1avcm5l.jpg

Eventually we reached Copper Mountain from where we took a final look at the valley leading back to the pass…

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1105_zpsl3qlp4ue.jpg

…before heading back home for a well deserved hearty supper :D.

* Posted Aug 30, 2015, 4:41 am [Quote] [View just this post] Go to the top of the page


Ute Pass, USA - 20th August 2015

By: smaug

Hi Mum,

Today we went for a short ride near Dillon. The first part of the day we were riding in the Blue River valley :).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1120_zpsyt3vwob9.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1119_zpsatg3klg2.jpg

FYI, whenever we saw it, the river did not seem to be any bluer than most other rivers :rolleyes:. Anyway, after a bit we turned right and got on the road leading to Ute Pass, and the view soon improved :D.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1132_zpsvkhpnx6l.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1131_zps8z0fs0wn.jpg

At last, we reached the actual pass which was not really such an exciting place :rolleyes:,…

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1123_zpsz3oma6zz.jpg

…so we just headed back home ;).

* Posted Aug 31, 2015, 2:16 am [Quote] [View just this post] Go to the top of the page


Dillon, USA - 20th August 2015

By: smaug

Hi Mum,

Since we came back home early, this afternoon we had time to spare :). We tried to strike up a conversation with the living room's "resident-eagle", but she did not really pay any attention to us :rolleyes:.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1110_zpsaxsifd6g.jpg

So we decided to go out for a walk on the lakeside instead :).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1140_zpskvduroy1.jpg

We passed by the marina…

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1141_zpsrkewfnwg.jpg

…and enjoyed the view over the other side of the lake :D.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1146_zpsmlgifxgm.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1147_zpsr52pvih3.jpg

Eventually we came back home where we patiently waited for dinner time to come ;).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino5/DSCN1109_zpshprifizj.jpg

* Posted Aug 31, 2015, 2:42 am [Quote] [View just this post] Go to the top of the page


Independence Pass, USA - 21st August 2015

By: smaug

Hi Mum,

Today was our last day of riding, but luckily it was a gorgeous day :). Early in the day we were down in the valley in the middle of the trees, but soon we gained elevation and the view improved :)

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1177_zpsg9qvtjuv.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1178_zpsjfgy4itp.jpg

…and it improved even further later on ;).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1176_zpsahhswyks.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1171_zpsr8mzl2n7.jpg

Eventually we reached Independence Pass which (it goes without saying :rolleyes:) sits on the Continental Divide and where we had lovely views of the surrounding mountains :).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1163_zpse6bkllrl.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1164_zpsjtabxbgt.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1165_zpsom8ttwhn.jpg

On the way back, we stopped at Twin Lakes to take a look at one of the lakes and at the valley leading to the pass that we had just left.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1186_zpsxxov5kif.jpg

* Posted Sep 6, 2015, 10:42 pm [Quote] [View just this post] Go to the top of the page


Denver Airport, USA - 22nd August 2015

By: smaug

Hi Mum,

Today was our last day in Colorado. Before leaving we found a nice panoramic spot over Dillon Reservoir :).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1189_zpsqkgtqt8g.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1190_zpscnlla14x.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1191_zpsjobxwfcb.jpg

As we moved to another spot a big eagle came down towards us. She seemed a bit aggressive :o

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1203_zpsahadctbk.jpg

… so we sent sammino ahead to handle communications :rolleyes:...and he quickly shoved us back into the backpack :stare:. After what sounded like a rather unfriendly discussion :o (not that we really understand eaglish :rolleyes:) we didn’t hear anything for a while, and when we came out we had come close to the lake shore :).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1205_zpsxjjzvy6g.jpg

Eventually we really had to leave and a few hours later we found ourselves at Denver airport, where we killed time watching planes…

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino5/DSCN1210_zps7mvrxohc.jpg

…and enjoying a few snacks ;).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino5/DSCN1211_zpsgdteitox.jpg

* Posted Sep 13, 2015, 5:35 am [Quote] [View just this post] Go to the top of the page


Powderface Ridge, Canada - 29th August 2015

By: smaug

Hi Mum,

this week after coming back from the holiday we were stuck at home since wildfires in the US sent a lot of smoke up here :o and there were air quality warnings in Calgary every single day of the week :stare:. Today it seemed the worst was over so we went over to the mountains for a short hike. To the west things looked OK :)...

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1227_zpskdrlxltp.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1226_zpsg0k07rk8.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1225_zpsj0tnfsyv.jpg

...and there was only a bit of haze in the east.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1224_zpsdkaccxfe.jpg

Nevertheless the air smelled still very foul :(, so we did not linger and quickly headed back home.

* Posted Oct 18, 2015, 2:05 am [Quote] [View just this post] Go to the top of the page


Calgary, Canada - 2nd October 2015

By: smaug

Hi Mum,

September has been frightfully boring since smaug was too busy at work to take us anywhere :(. At least October seems to be starting with some excitement :). Tonight smaug came home very late, but he had parcel with him, a very TV-like parcel :o. Of course we were very interested and jumped over it ttrying to open it ;).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino5/DSCN1228_zpsvir0c5sh.jpg

And guess what, as soon as we opened it Hansi Hü, a nice horse from Germany, came out :D. Of course we wanted to hear everything about his previous trips, so a lot of chatting followed late into the night ;).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino5/DSCN1229_zpsprm76keo.jpg

* Posted Oct 18, 2015, 2:23 am [Quote] [View just this post] Go to the top of the page


Forgetmenot Ridge, Canada - 12th October 2015

By: smaug

Hi Mum,

today it was a nice day so we tried to go for a short hike :). Early on we had to cross the Elbow River, which at this time of the year flows mostly within the gravel of its large bed :stare:...so there wasn't really much water to cross :rolleyes:.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1234_zpszv67kkxe.jpg

As we gained elevation we reached Forgetmenot Ridge, where the wind was blowing at gale force :o. Nevertheless we managed to take some photos :).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1235_zpseh3i9tcn.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1236_zpsxcon2yah.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1237_zpsdbpvufib.jpg

However, after a couple of near misses, smaug said that he was not risking to spend afternoon searching for us down the slopes of the mountain :rolleyes:, so he shoved us back in the bag and said that for today there were not going to be any more photos :(.

* Posted Oct 18, 2015, 9:30 pm [Quote] [View just this post] Go to the top of the page


Banff, Canada - 16th October 2015

By: smaug

Hi Mum,

today we went for lunch in Banff :). First we had a lovely and big steak :D.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino5/IMG_2724_zpsbmbpfwkc.jpg

And for dessert we treated ourselves with delicious ice cream and melted chocolate :p...that's what I call a proper lunch ;).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino5/IMG_2725_zpslzimgd74.jpg

With a full belly we got on our way home, but we decided to stop a bit at Lake Minnewanka, where the reflections in the lake were beautiful :).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1251_zpsd1vhmuo7.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Squab/DSCN1257_zpsvuxr41ho.jpg

* Posted Oct 18, 2015, 9:48 pm [Quote] [View just this post] Go to the top of the page


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