Dillon Archives - Isaac Church // isaactchurch.com

Day 3 – Church Trip 2023 // Mt. Blue Sky, Georgetown Railroad, Peak-to-Peak Highway

Isaac Church — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 02:00:00 +0000

Today was a very eventful day – we saw some wildlife (and got chased by some), rode a train, ate a fantastic dinner, and then did some more wildlife watching.

Third Time's a Charm

If I’ve learned one thing so far on this trip, it’s that you can no longer trust business hours posted on Google…at least not in Colorado.

Just before sunrise, we left our VRBO in Dillon, and drove east on I-70 through the Eisenhower-Johnson Tunnel, and then on to the tiny town of Silver Plume. Originally incorporated in 1880, Silver Plume is a “ghost town that never died”. It mined silver, gold, and lead until just after WWII. It has mostly original buildings, and is a charming “Wild West” town – a textbook example of a historic Colorado mining town.

Dillon, CO

Eisenhower-Johnson Tunnels

Our intended destination was Plume Coffee Bar, an acclaimed coffee shop in the historic town. Unfortunately, it was closed. Great sadness abounded, but I picked out a backup caffeination destination – the Colorado Coffee Caboose in Durmont. When we arrived, we found it too was closed, contrary to the posted online hours. Luckily, there was yet another coffee shop next door in the side of a ski rental shop (yes, I planned a backup backup because we were running short on time). So, we settled on a light breakfast and coffee from Vail Mountain Coffee & Tea.

Silver Plume, CO

It turned out to be a good decision; our coffees (and a muffin for Faith) were delicious. Mom, Dad, and I got mochas – which would prove to be [mostly] the drink of choice for this trip. Faith got a blueberry muffin and a maple spiced latte.

Mount Evans Scenic Byway

Note: the week after we visited, Mt. Evans was officially renamed Mt. Blue Sky due to Gov. John Evans’s culpability in the Sand Creek Massacre. So it’ll be correct for anyone who may find this article in the future, I’ll refer to it by its new name.

We drove east on I-70 to Mount Evans Scenic Byway (the name of that hasn’t changed because it’s under different governmental management), which is the highest paved road in North America. Passing through the entry gate, we began the climb towards the summit of the 14,271′ mountain. The road quickly rose through alpine forests and past lakes, all with spectacular vistas.

Mt. Blue Sky // Mt. Evans

Mount Blue Sky is one of the highest peaks in the Rocky Mountain’s Front Range, which also include Pike’s Peak, Grays Peak, Longs Peak, Mount Bierstadt, etc. The mountain is 35 miles due west of Denver, but is accessed through Idaho Springs. The mountain has seven cirques (a glacier-carved, amphitheater-shaped valley), many of which have tarns (glacial lakes). These cirques are the deepest in the Rockies.

The atmospheric pressure at the summit is about 60% of normal, so altitude sickness is common. Over the years, mountain has been host to various experiments and and studies by a variety of entities. Auto manufacturers commonly test cars on the road, often heavily disguising them with zebra paint and other coverings.

Mt. Blue Sky

Mount Goliath

Climbing up the byway, our first stop was Mount Goliath Natural Area and the Dos Chappell Nature Center. The area offers nice views of the surrounding mountain ranges, and marks the elevation where the trees dissipate – the beginning of the “tree line”. We stopped briefly at the interpretive exhibit, and then continued our journey onward and upward.

Mt. Goliath

As we neared our final destination, we passed Lincoln Lake, Rogers Peak, and Mt. Warren.

Mt. Blue Sky

Summit Lakes

After driving the narrow, winding, exposed road to 12,836′, we finally reached Summit Lake Park; beyond this point, the road was closed for the season. This land, which houses a tarn which sits under the north face of Mt. Blue Sky, provides even more incredible views. Dad, Faith, and I hiked the short trail past Summit Lake to Chicago Lakes Overlook, which overlooks (you guessed it!) the Chicago Lakes from the top of the pass.

Summit Lake

In 1915, the USGS reported that Summit Lake was the highest lake in both Colorado and the United States. However, it’s actually the thirteenth highest lake. The land at Summit Lake was acquired by the city of Denver in 1924 and is a part of the Denver Mountain Parks system.

Summit Lake Park

Summit Lake - Mt. Blue Sky, CO

The views were amazing. Even though we didn’t get to go all the way to the summit, this experience far exceeded Pike’s Peak, and I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting the area.

Chicago Lakes

While mild for the elevation, the weather was verging on extreme. The wind gusts almost knocked me over, and turned pleasant temperatures almost unbearably cold.

Chicago Lakes

Summit Lake

Bighorn Sheep

Fully frozen, we returned to the car and began our descent, stopping again at Mount Goliath Natural Area to use the restroom and cool the brakes. Just past the pullout, we drove straight into some female bighorn sheep, much to our surprise and delight.

Mt. Goliath

Bighorn sheep

Run For Your Life

Now well below the tree line, we arrived back at Echo Lake, close to the entrance station for the highway. I noticed something moving in the reeds on the far end of the lake, and quickly identified it as a huge bull moose! We quickly hopped out of the car, grabbed my telephoto lens, and began watching and taking pictures. (P.S.: I took most of these photos from 125+ yards away, so please excuse the mediocre quality).

Moose

The moose began walking towards us on the lakeside path, and unfortunately two people with dogs ruined the experience for everyone. One woman with two larger dogs refused to get them back to her car (wolves are one of the predators of moose, so they feel especially threatened by canines), and then another woman with two little yippy dogs got WAY too close. The moose charged, and sent the crowd (which had amassed 20+ people by now) scattering. Thankfully, he ended up veering off down a side trail, rather than running people down (which he could have easily done; moose can run up to 35mph). All this happened despite multiple warnings from a ranger who was present.

I hate that a couple people ruined the experience for those trying to do the wise/right thing, but it was an awe-inspiring experience nonetheless.

Moose

I’d planned for us to drive down Juniper Pass for some more sightseeing, but unfortunately we didn’t have the time, so we took the direct route back to I-70.

Marion's of the Rockies

Back at the base of the mountain in Idaho Springs, we stopped at Marion’s of the Rockies for brunch. Dad got a chicken fried steak breakfast skillet (with potatoes, eggs, gravy, and cheese); Mom got a meat and eggs platter with bacon; Faith got a triple decker sandwich with onion rings; and I got a meat and eggs platter with corned beef hash. We also got a cinnamon roll to split. All the food was very good, and portions generous – none of us managed to clear our plate.

Marion's of the Rockies

Georgetown Loop Railroad

Backtracking west on I-70, we drove back towards Silver Plume, exiting the interstate in Georgetown, CO. At the Devil’s Gate station, we boarded the historic Georgetown Loop Railroad. The railroad was originally constructed in 1872 to connect the mining boom towns of Georgetown and Silver Plume. The unique loop in the tracks is to assist in changing elevation between the two towns, as Silver Plume sits 563′ above Georgetown.

Georgetown Loop Railroad

The entire ride was about an hour round-trip, with an optional stop in the middle to visit the Lebanon Mine (which we opted to skip). It was interesting to hear the history of the area and the railroad; everyone enjoyed the ride.

Peak-To-Peak Scenic Byway

After the railroad, we began our journey north towards Rocky Mountain National Park, taking the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway from Nederland to Estes Park. It was a pretty drive, but the aspens were not quite in full color. A gathering storm to the north provided a contrasting backdrop to the landscape.

Peak to Peak Highway

Estes Park

We checked into our Airbnb, a townhome just outside the Rocky Mountain National Park Beaver Meadows Entrance. It was a beautiful setting, and I took some time to walk along the Big Thompson River while everyone else settled in and unpacked.

Rock Inn Mountain Tavern

Around 17:00, in an attempt to beat the dinner crowd, we drove down the road to the Rock Inn Mountain Tavern for an early evening meal. I’d called ahead to get us on the waiting list fortunately, because the wait was already long. We enjoyed a delicious dinner. For an appetizer, we got the smoked elk sausage; Dad got the Colorado bison meatballs with mashed potatoes; Faith got the trout (pan-seared with dill butter and lemon) with mashed potatoes; I got trout with roasted seasonal vegetables; and Mom got beef stroganoff. Also, I got a Heritage salad (chilled sautéed onions, chopped dates, crushed cashews, and poppy seed dressing); Dad got a Caesar salad; and Mom and Faith got house salads.

Appetizers and salads

The dinner was excellent, and it was a neat rustic setting for a meal.

Elk Watching

After dinner, we headed back to the condo, and then Dad and I decided to head back out to fill up with gas and orient ourselves before entering the park tomorrow. We ended up riding a ways into the park, and spotted some mule deer and two herds of elk. See the video below to hear a bull bugle!

Elk and Longs Peak

Elk

Video

The Best Things we Saw Today

Isaac

The best thing I saw today was… “Chicago Lakes Overlook and the bull moose”.

The best thing I ate today was… “bison meatballs”.

Faith

The best thing I saw today was… “the moose”.

The best thing I ate today was… “the maple spiced latte”.

Jerry

The best thing I saw today was… “Mount Evans”.

The best thing I ate today was… “bison meatballs”.

Amy

The best thing I saw today was… “Mount Evans (especially the sheep) and Silver Plume’s old downtown”.

The best thing I ate today was… “beef stroganoff”.

Conclusion

Thanks for reading! Click here to subscribe to email notifications.

Tomorrow, we’ll start exploring Rocky Mountain National Park.

– Isaac & Co.

Summit Lake

Georgetown Loop Railroad

Moose

The post Day 3 – Church Trip 2023 // Mt. Blue Sky, Georgetown Railroad, Peak-to-Peak Highway appeared first on Isaac Church // isaactchurch.com.

Day 2 – Church Trip 2023 // Pike’s Peak, Breckenridge, Silverthorne

Isaac Church — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 02:00:00 +0000

Today we (or at least most of us) suffered from altitude sickness, got rained on, and ate a rather disappointing dinner. In all seriousness, it was a good day, albeit somewhat of a rollercoaster.

Boonzaaijer's Dutch Bakery

First thing in the morning, we packed up the car again (a recurring theme for this trip), and headed to Boonzaaijer’s Dutch Bakery to grab some breakfast. We got a box of spekulaas cookies, a cherry plunder, a chocolate almond scone, a blueberry pinwheel, a sausage meat pie, and some coffee for the road. We saved most of the pastries for later, and continued west towards Cascade, taking a brief detour to drive through downtown Manitou Springs.

Boonzaaijer's Dutch Bakery

Sausage meat pie

Spekulaas cookies

Boonzaaijer's Dutch Bakery

Colorado Springs, CO

An interesting bakery – not the absolute best pastries I’ve had, but prices are low, and the spekulaas cookies alone are worth a visit.

* – Would definitely visit again

** – Exceptional, must visit if you’re in the area

*** – Worth making a special trip to eat there

For more info on food ratings, click here.

Pike's Peak

We arrived at the Pike’s Peak entrance, checked in with our timed entry reservation, and started the drive up the 14,115′ mountain. First, we made a brief stop at Crystal Creek Reservoir to enjoy the views of the mountain and the yellowing aspens.

Crystal Creek Reservoir

Pike's Peak

At the top, everyone but me and Walker was altitude sick, so we spent most of our time at the summit refilling water bottles and trying to prevent our party from passing out or getting sick. We did manage to get some of the famous donuts from the top, and then headed back to lower elevations as quickly as possible.

The drive down was equally beautiful, with sweeping views of the surrounding mountain ranges.

Pike's Peak

We stopped at Crystal Creek Reservoir again on the way down for a restroom break, and to eat our remaining pastries from Boonzaaijer’s.

Crystal Creek Reservoir

Pastries from Boonzaaijer's

To see more about Pike’s Peak, read the blog post from when Faith and I visited last summer.

Otto's Fairplay

Leaving Pike’s Peak, we rejoined US-24, and headed west through Woodland Park, turning north on Highway 9 at Hartsel. It was a beautiful drive, passing through the ranches in the South Platte River Valley, with snow-covered mountain ranges in the distance.

South Platte River Valley

In Fairplay, we stopped for lunch at Otto’s. We got an order of french fries and Cajun sweetpotato fries (fun fact: sweetpotato is one word, not two), and an assortment of sandwiches: pastrami, Cuban, cheesesteak, and Otto’s original chicken. All were excellent, especially the Cuban and the pastrami. The Cajun sweetpotato fries were also pleasantly different. It was a very delicious and filling meal, and we couldn’t manage to quite finish everything.

Otto's Fairplay

Fairplay, CO

A great lunch stop for a tasty sandwich.

* – Would definitely visit again

** – Exceptional, must visit if you’re in the area

*** – Worth making a special trip to eat there

For more info on food ratings, click here.

McCullogh Gulch Trail

Continuing north towards Breckenridge, Faith and I decided to do a hike on the McCullogh Gulch Trail in White River National Forest. Nestled under the base of Quandry Peak (one of Colorado’s famous 14-ers), it’s a beautiful trail dotted with Aspens, lakes, waterfalls, and the occasional mountain goat. We started this hike knowing we would only go part of the way out and back. While we hiked, Mom and Dad took Walker and drove towards Breckenridge and back to kill some time.

McCullogh Gulch Trail

Quandry Peak

A short distance up the trail, there’s an old cabin and abandoned mine next to a waterfall. I ran into some locals who use to know the man who lived in the cabin – it was his retreat in the mountains away from family. He had livestock, and a house with a sod roof. The couple brought him banana bread occasionally. After that man died, another man who was very unfriendly to visitors moved in for a while, but now the site is abandoned.

Old mining tracks

McCullogh Gulch Trail

We didn’t make it all the way to the waterfalls, but could see and hear them in the distance. The scenery was spectacular.

McCullogh Gulch Trail

We stopped at the old mine on the way back down.

Abandoned mine

McCullogh Gulch Trail

Right when we got back to the car, we could see a severe storm closing in on us. We scrambled to load up and get on the road before the wall of rain reached us. It hailed on our drive as we continued north.

Higgles Ice Cream

Leaving the Gulch, we stopped in downtown Breckenridge at Higgles Ice Cream for a quick dessert. I got lemon crème fraîche and buttered walnut, Mom got buttered walnut, Dad got buttered walnut and mocha chip, and Faith got peanut butter sorbet (she’s temporarily dairy free because of the baby). All were outstanding, and we all agreed it was some of the best ice cream we’ve ever had.

Higgles Ice Cream

Breckenridge, CO

Creative flavors and high quality are the hallmarks of this ice cream shop. It’s definitely worth stopping by!

* – Would definitely visit again

** – Exceptional, must visit if you’re in the area

*** – Worth making a special trip to eat there

For more info on food ratings, click here.

Sapphire Point Overlook

Our final destination for the night was Dillon, CO. Right outside of town, we decided to stop at Sapphire Point Overlook in White River National Forest. Faith and I walked the 0.6mi loop and snapped a few pictures of the Dillon Reservoir and the surrounding mountains.

Sapphire Point Overlook

Dinner - Bluebird Market

We checked into our VRBO in Dillon, and then Dad and I drove back out to REI to get some bug spray and bear spray for our trip. The two of us then drove over to Silverthorne to Bluebird Market, a food hall with various vendors. We got a Hawai’ian pizza and caprese salad from Tilford’s Wood Fired Pizza, and two fish tacos from Baja Chimayo. The pizza was okay, and the tacos were not particularly good. I would not go back.

We got two to-go meals for Faith and Mom; Faith got a Thai bowl from Hook & Harvest, and Mom got a pizza from Tilford’s. All were equally disappointing.

Dillon

Back at the condo, we settled in for the evening, enjoying the view of the mountains and the reservoir off the deck.

Dillon, CO

The Best Things we Saw Today

Isaac

The best thing I saw today was… “the view of Pike’s Peak from Crystal Creek Reservoir and the distant waterfalls in McCullogh Gulch”.

The best thing I ate today was… “ice cream and the pastrami sandwich”.

Faith

The best thing I saw today was… “old mining tracks and waterfalls on our hike”.

The best thing I ate today was… “peanut butter sorbet”.

Jerry

The best thing I saw today was… “Pike’s Peak”.

The best thing I ate today was… “sandwiches from Otto’s – particularly the Cuban”.

Amy

The best thing I saw today was… “the drive through the South Platte River Valley with all the ranches”.

The best thing I ate today was… “buttered walnut ice cream”.

Conclusion

Thanks for reading! Click here to subscribe to email notifications.

Tomorrow, we’re headed up Mount Evans Scenic Byway, riding a historic railroad, and then heading north to Estes Park.

– Isaac & Co.

Pike's Peak

McCullogh Gulch Trail

Pike's Peak

The post Day 2 – Church Trip 2023 // Pike’s Peak, Breckenridge, Silverthorne appeared first on Isaac Church // isaactchurch.com.