March 29 – “Through the mountains …”

We both started the day determined to drink a lot of water.  We remembered what altitude sickness feels like back in the mountains.  No thank you.

 

Our next stop involved kind of a convoluted route of due north, then due west then back due north again.  This strange course of action was leading us ultimately to the Great Sand Dunes National Park.  I know.  I know.  In fact I said it several times.  Why would I want to go see sand dunes when I literally live on one?  But the prospect of sand dunes in the middle of the mountains did intrigue me.  Perhaps we would see water as well.

 

On the way we saw several random sights through these Sangre de Christo Mountains.  One of the highlights was a sign for a local establishment – often the best place to look for entertainment on the back roads.  In one little town there was a place called GubGub’s Pizza and Ice Cream.  GubGub … may your business always be as awesome as your name.  Once we got further into the wilderness, we saw a few deer here and there.  But the back country highlight for sure came when we glanced to our right.  There, staring right back at us with piercing eyes, were two young coyotes.  Beautiful-looking critters. 

 

Now on to the park.  We could see the massive mounds of, well, sand from pretty far away.  They appeared to climb halfway up the mountain behind.  It was indeed a fascinating sight.  But we did get briefly distracted on the approach.  There was a sudden appearance of a sign advertising a waterfall.  Nothing else.  Just a small sign on the side of the road.  Just what most intrigues us …

 

But the National Park.  That’s why we were there.  So we sped on.  And soon we entered the Park grounds.  The ranger smiled and waved us through when we showed our lifetime pass.  Sometimes it’s great to be old.  Sometimes it’s not so much, but that’s a story for another time.  We made a brief stop at the visitor’s center to get the stamp for Chris’ book and discovered a sad little cougar cub up for adoption.  Come on, how could I resist those eyes?  Named her Carly.  Carly the Cougar Cub.  Like all new parents, we were excited and sent photos to our friends.  Imagine our “delight” when Larry sent the picture back with an “embellishment.”  He had superimposed his own face onto Carly’s body.  Very strange, that Larry.  But now we have him and Carly with us the rest of the way.  From the center we drove a little ways further and found “the place” where everyone seemed to be parking.  Sure enough, this was the access point for the incredibly exciting opportunity … walking in the sand.  OK.  I guess I’m being just a little bit sarcastic.  The dunes were just as big as they appeared, and one of the big draws was sledding down them.  Of course signs informed all that makeshift cardboard sleds weren’t allowed, and didn’t work well, anyway.  But … they had the solution to that little problem.  “Rent a sand sled from us!”  Of course.  Nope.  We walked about thirty or forty feet in and returned to the car.  Check this one off the list, but I think I’ll stick with the dunes of Galveston.  Know why?  They have water associated with them.

 

Speaking of water and of certain difficulties with aging … we couldn’t resist.  Remember that waterfall sign?  We went back.  First side trip of the journey.  Once we turned into the area where the sign was, we kind of expected a little more information.  Nope.  Just follow the gravel road.  Up.  And up.  And up.  We twisted and turned and slid and looked off the side of a mountain for three and a half miles.  We pondered turning back only briefly.  Where we turn around, anyway?  Finally, we arrived at a parking lot that actually had cars in it.  And off to the side was a path of stones leading … up.  Chris was ready to attack, but I insisted that I wanted to change into my hiking boots first.  She agreed.  One of the best decisions we have made thus far.  That rock path?  That continues the whole way.  Oh, and did I mention the whole way was … up?  It was a really difficult climb.  We did have to stop two or three times, partly to catch our breath, but mainly to let Chris get her heart rate under control.  She was pretty frustrated with her cardiac rehab.  “It was supposed to get me ready for stuff like this!”  Well, yeah, but the fine print said, “only if you do stuff at sea level.”  We finally Pulled our selves onto what was advertised as a stream that you had to wade through to get to the falls.  Except it was frozen solid.  So we very carefully picked our way along toward a huge cave from which we could hear voices.  Before we arrived, though, a young boy greeted us, head soaking wet.  He was giddy with excitement as he told us about his experience.  He said, “I stuck my head through the ice and looked up at the water and it was like it was raining on my face!”  Well, OK.  This was something I had to see.  We continued on, slowly but surely until we rounded a bend in the cave and looked up to see … a frozen waterfall.  I have seen pictures of these before, but never have I seen one in person.  It was … spectacular.  Totally unexpected.  We could see the little hole through which our new little friend had stuck his head.  And, no, I didn’t try it.  Neither of us wanted to chance what it would have taken to get that close.  A climb up two layers of ice, slick from the best way of exiting that area – sliding down.  Instead, we marveled from a scant ten or so feet away.  0n the way back we met a retired firefighter from California and his wife.  He missed the comradery but was really enjoying his retired life. 

 

Anything else would have been anticlimactic, so we hit the road and headed west over more mountains and into Durango.  One the way we passed Wolf Creek ski resort.  I’ve heard of that.  I also saw a shop called Magenta Moose.  Not sure what they were selling.  Our path took us over the Continental Divide and right along the edge of the Ute Indian reservation.  Finally, we arrived in Durango and checked in for the next two nights.  Word has it that we will be expecting snow today.  We’ll see.

 

Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”

 

Father, thank you for the wonder of that waterfall and the innocence of that coyote.  And for the safe trip over the mountains.  Amen.