Saturday, October 1, 2011

Mandell Lakes Hike


After Kathy, Sam, Pegs, and my failed attempt to complete our Ute-Heart Lake hike, we all were seeking redemption. So the four of us plus Dad, Sam’s wife Val, Robin, and her husband Todd all attempted another hike today that Kathy found… We should have known better… ;)


Although the forecast warned this weekend would bring thunderstorms, the morning conditions in Steamboat showed nothing of the sort. So at 9am sharp, the consistently punctual Allen’s arrived at our door to take us never-so-punctual Curry’s to Yampa.

Lucky for the Curry’s, Sam is similarly on our time. However, getting a ride with Robin & Todd, we waited enough time for all of us to use the restrooms and get in a good stretch at the designated meeting point (Antlers Cafe) before Sam arrived with Val, Kathy, and their dogs.

“Assumingly” way past half-way into the hike, the clouds released a chillingly pleasant hailstorm. With three of us ill prepared (forgetting rain coats), we all sought cover under a grove of pine trees just off the trail.

What began as a ten-minute pause to wait out the storm, slowly transformed into our hiking destination. After two “ten more minute” waiting periods, Todd started a fire and we all broke into our lunches.

Now many would think this would have been a worse case scenario… yet we are not many (except for maybe Val’s Chihuahua Pippy). Making light of our current situation, we determined we had made a solid dent into the trail and were confident in our decision to head back to Antlers for beer.

We were easily the loudest group at Antlers for the following hour laughing and continuing to share stories, even with a group of 15+ bikers.


But day didn’t end there… We continued the party back at our house with pizzas and beers with Robin and Todd before Jacuzzing at Kathy’s. Glorious day :)

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