Talk about indulgent for all five senses...! :-)
We have had the best of days. While some friends are sorrowing...and others wondering if the lights, and the roof, are going to stay on back east...and others are facing significant life-changing issues...this day was a welcome reprieve in a summer that has also had it's hard moments with health issues in our family.
We hiked a new trail for us. The Ouzel Falls trail out of the Wild Basin area of Rocky Mountain National Park just north of Allenspark is flat stunning. With the splendor of Longs Peak in full view from the south, we did 5.4 miles of beauty (in and out...over a 1000 foot gain in elevation...and we began at over 8500 feet). Long's Peak, by the way, is one of Colorado's 14ers.
We are home "good tired" and oh so refreshed...with grateful hearts. Come hike with us some time...and be stunned yourself with the glory of our God's creation. Here are six of our 134 photos from just today:
...and this was close to the beginning of the hike, Copeland Falls, we had no clue to the added beauty yet to come!
...oh, whoa...it just keeps getting better.......
...what is the Lady Judy mesmerized by?
...her daring husband, of course, who dared to climb to the very edge of this powerful waterfall without becoming a part of it. :-)
...like...wow!!! Never been that close to a waterfall before...glorious...and slippery. This olde man really enjoyed the cool spray on a warm day!
...our spirits were so light we felt like we could fly.......!!!
...deeply thankful for this day that almost seemed like an impossible potential a few months back.
I'm sooooo happy for you and Lady Judy. It's incredibly refreshing to see two lovebirds "mesmerized" by each others' grateful hearts. You are such an inspiration to us all! Thank you for being YOU! Tell Judy we love her and are celebrating with you.
Posted by: Samantha (& Brian) Pikalow | August 27, 2011 at 10:35 PM
Wow looks like an amazing place for two amazing people to spend some time together. Very happy for you two. Thanks for sharing it with all of us.
Posted by: Pablo | August 28, 2011 at 03:49 AM
Wes and Judy,
We were hiking up Ouzel Falls trail at about noon on Saturday, August 27th, and we met you coming down the trail just above Calypso Cascades. I thought it was you, but I wasn't sure because we have not seen each other for over 20 years. I am very sorry that I didn't recoginze you sooner and say Hello. That was such a beautiful day to enjoy the beauty of the Rockies. God has created a wonderful world for us to enjoy! Thanks for sharing your photos.
Ed and Cathy Petrick
Posted by: Ed Petrick | August 28, 2011 at 09:54 PM
Well done you guys, keep on truckin'--- we'll keep prayin'.
All blessings to you.
Doug.
Posted by: Douglas Gresham | August 29, 2011 at 12:40 AM
Wow, how beautiful!! And, I'm so thankful that you both are able to take it on successfully. Hoping that I'll be able to get out there, sooner than later, to do some of this awesome hiking with you, even if it's for yet another visit to those wonderful Rockies. Yesterday was one of those "great to be alive!" days here, tho totally different scenery with the Chicago skyline!! :) Blessings on you!!
Posted by: Rich Thompson | August 29, 2011 at 12:04 PM
Thanks Wes and Judy. God's creation is inspiring. It is one of the inspirations God uses to keep me going.
Posted by: Mike Lundberg | August 30, 2011 at 09:03 AM
Yeah! Love that trail. His wonders never cease...on many levels.
Posted by: Jeff Giles | September 05, 2011 at 04:43 PM