September 10-11, 2016 Aspen, Colorado

The weather continues to be glorious Indian summer! 70/40’s beautiful sunny blue skies, no rain or clouds.

Sunshine on the aspens at camp. They are turning more everyday. We went into town and met up with Martha and Jimjim. Here is Martha at the Aspen Saturday market with Chili dog, chili’s and peppers.

They were setting up for the 6th annual Aspen Mac and Cheese festival. We went hiking instead of waiting  for the full on festival.  There were booths with mac and cheese from various resturants downtown for tasting, music and more including the  huge macaroni ice sculpture.  We hiked up Hunter Valley. Some old sheepherder cabins in the meadow.

Lots of flowers and beautiful aspens along the trail.

Martha with a wet Bailey and Chili dog where we stopped for lunch along Hunter Creek. We hiked up into lovely meadows after lunch.

The hike back through aspens and flowers. After we got back we went to work at our hosting job, then Mandy prepared BBQ burgers for dinner.

After dinner around  the picnic table with Mandy, John and John. A seed head and a flower on the same stem, elder berries, the beautiful deep blue color of the water at the fishing hole, and a burning bush, which we believe is some kind of choke cherry.

Golden asters, an antler scarred aspen trunk, purple asters, mexican hat and aspens turing a lovely orange. They turn yellow, orange and red depending on the groves.  A huge striped rock, white flowers, knapweed and the alleged choke cherries. John G is a botanist with an expert knowledge of the Colorado flora, but this cherry and white flower are not in any of the books, they require further research.

The next day we hike up East Maroon Creek. John and Mandy photographing a marmot and the view of the valley below .

After the hike John and Mandy folded up their trailer and headed back to Fort Collins. It was fun to have them visit. Marmot, shrew, geranium, wooly bear catapiller, rose hips and a buck that was in camp tonight at dinner time.

Connie was up from Buena Vista to climbing South Maroon Peak and as she drove by she recognized the bus and stopped for a visit.  During dinner we had a doe and fawn  munching right by the picnic table and a buck trotted through too.