Aspen Camping - Day 2

After quite a good night sleep, we found ourselves sleeping in a little more than usual the next morning. We had breakfast and started packing lunch for our hike. By the time we got to the trail head, it was past 11 am!!! Not sure what happened to the morning!

Alan had selected the hike to Crater Lake as our destination. The first mile was mostly uphill and i have to say, the kids were doing a lot better than me! They trudged on like little troopers leaving their poor mommy in the dust. But i did catch up on the 2nd mile of rocky but flat bit. Again, the trail was so beautiful, especially around the rock crops.

We got to the lake about lunch time(thankfully!) and had a quick lunch before we let the kids play in the water. We ate under a big shady tree as the sun was a little intense at that elevation. After lunch the kids threw rocks into the lake while i took pictures and experimented with my camera.

We left about 2 pm and our journey back down was a lot quicker. Once we got to the car, i bribed the kids to nap(in the car) while we took a drive to Aspen to pick up some more water and couscous. It worked out and the kids were much refreshed and we took them to the nearby Rec Center for a swim and to take a shower as we were starting to smell a little. As it is with everything else in Aspen, the entrance fee at the Rec Center gave us quite the sticker shock! $15 per child and $17 per adult!!!! WHAT?!! Seriously? Even the excessively warm swimming pool did not soften the blow.

After swimming, we went back to the tent and i made us some couscous and Japanese curry for dinner. And then we went to meet our new friends for some more fire and more marshmallows!

Guess who played with the grills and got soot all over his face??

Back at Maroon Bells with different light

Starting our hike

Daddy checking out our distance

The boys giving mommy a hand

Family picture near rock crop

Tyler take a break from leading the hike

Cody catching a ride

Lunch time

Me and Alan

And the pesky kids

Cody checking out things with binoculars - can't see anything

No visit to lake is complete without throwing rocks

Beautiful view of Crater Lake

On the way back

Tyler feeling quite good about himself

Cody and his big mosquito bite

Playing in the stream near our campsite

Daddy rearranging the river rocks

Dinner is cooking

Kids helping start the fire

Putting logs on

Enjoying the warm fire

Superhero to end the night