On the Road Again

I know I didn't keep up on my blog the best last year, but with teaching online for the first year I was spending a lot of time on the computer trying to figure out the best way to be efficient. I'm not saying I have figured it out but I am going to do a much better job keeping up on my blog this year.

We spend the entire summer in Northern Wisconsin, which let's face it- is just a dream. Dark skies at night with no city lights (unless it was a full moon), I'm talking no light at all: more constellations that you can name, the Milky Way, meteor showers and shooting stars and even some northern lights if you are lucky. The quiet. Yes, there are cars that occasionally pass by and the friendly neighbor that beeps his horn but for the most part all you hear is the wind, the rain, the birds, etc. Even though Northern Wisconsin received an incredible amount of rain and the mosquitoes were extra vicious, it was still a dream. 

 We always welcome visitors. We know some really great places to take you.
Copper Falls State Park is one!

Black River Harbor Rec Area has four beautiful cascading waterfalls and the river empties into Lake Superior. 

Nate enjoying a shower in Lost Creek Falls near Cornucopia

When it was nice out, we tried to make the most of our time exploring more new places and visiting old ones. I signed up for a CSA this summer which is probably one of the best ways I have ever spent money. There was a lot of work done to the place, Nate did an amazing job. Finally, to take a bit of a vacation (from our vacation lol) we decided to try backpacking. We went up to Isle Royale National Park- that island in Lake Superior with all the moose and wolves. 

We arrived "home" in May and left in October. We made some incredible stops on our way out to the next assignment in San Bernardino, all of which were well after Denver.

Denver was awesome as always. It was nice to stay awhile and get some family time in. We shared some good meals, went on walks to the park, visited REI, went to Boulder, got some treats, and went to the pumpkin farm. I carved my pumpkin and left in the care of Nate's niece! 

Due to a slight change in start date, we had a few extra days to get to Cali. We decided go see the Maroon Bells near Aspen. Driving on I-70, we stopped at one of the best BBQ places- Smokin Yards. After our fill, we continued on to Aspen going through some beautiful mountain passes and sweeping vistas and a not so beautiful acid mine drainage pit the color of pumpkins. We continued on to Hwy 82 which carried us through Twin Lakes with an inspiring view of Mt. Elbert. After pulling over for some pictures and a quick FaceTime with my niece and nephew we continued our ascent up to Independence Pass. Once we arrived at the top, we had to get out and walk the trail to the viewpoint. It was super windy and quite chilly, but I happily spent my 10 minutes in the tundra. We hopped back in the car to warm up, even Kobi looked chilled and we descended into Aspen.
Daylight was beginning to dwindle, so the Maroon Bells were next on the list. We traveled along an aspen lined road with no leaves left. The leaves turned and fell off in a yellow blizzard a few weeks sooner, but the winding road and reddish rocks were still pretty. I was hoping for a moose, no luck. There were a few other people there enjoying the Maroon Bells. It was very cloudy with a few flurries. I did not get the iconic shot of the bells reflecting in the lake, but I did get a few nice ones. I can't complain one bit. After checking one more thing off my bucket list, some coffee was needed to warm up a bit. Then, an evening in Glenwood Springs rounded out the day with a stop at Glenwood Canyon Brewing Co. 

Utah, a truly spectacular state full of natural wonders. We visited Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument, and Zion National Park. Arches was a quick stop as we had been there before. National Parks really limit where you can have your dog, understandably so in most cases. I really wanted to see Delicate Arch, you know the one on the quarter- the iconic Utah Arch??! We went to the viewpoint, both upper and lower. We took turns trekking to the upper viewpoint because dogs were not allowed on the trail and it was way too hot to leave Kobi in the car. It was a nice view, but I wish I would've known that I would still be far away. With a quick lunch in Moah, Canyonlands was next on the list.

Look closely for Delicate Arch near the top left

Wow! Canyonlands! We took the Island in the Sky scenic drive. Colorful rocks, meandering rivers, and towering mountains in the background made for a nice afternoon. Unfortunately, not a lot of hiking due to the dog situation but I'm glad we stopped. We missed this one last time because of foggy weather and poor visibility. Back on the road, we made it all the way to Cedar City and settled for Subway. 

Canyonlands NP

Another new NPS destination, Cedar Break National Monument. Because of the high elevation and impending winter conditions at 10,000 ft everything was closed. They weren't even collecting fees and the visitor center was all boarded up. We were able to drive through the park and walk the trails- with the dog!!! National Monuments seem to be a bit more relaxed about dogs on trails. Kobi could accompany us on paved trails which he loved! Lots of new smells at 10,000 ft. After some short hikes and a drive through the park, we decided to leave and head for Zion. Because we were coming from the north, we stopped at the northwestern visitor center in Zion- Kolob Canyon. It is a very short 5 mi scenic drive with some trailheads and overlooks. The main part of Zion, Zion Canyon is only accessible by shuttle bus and shuttle buses don't allow dogs so we did not spend anytime in this beautiful spot. Last time we were passing through Zion, the shuttle buses were not running because it was Jan (offseason). On to Vegas!?!

Cedar Break National Monument

Bristlecone Pines- One of the oldest living organisms on earth!

Zion- Kolob Canyon

Vegas, for the second time in about six months. This city has it's beauty too, it an electric, man-made, borderline assaulting kind of way. Overstimulating is the best way I can describe Vegas, but it is a fun time. I loved walking around and eating my weight at the buffet.... so good.... :) Due to a food induced coma and a dog to get back to, I saved my money and went to bed early. Tomorrow- arrival in CA. 

We arrived in Loma Linda in the afternoon and are quite happy with our place for the next few months. More adventures to follow and I promise to do a better job keeping up! Love to all!

Potato River Falls

Potato River Falls is located near Gurney, WI along hwy 169. Turn on to Potato River Falls Rd (it only goes one way). Follow the gravel road past the farmland and it will veer to the left. There is a small parking lot with a few picnic tables and an outhouse. This is a no fee park/area. 

There is a small trail to a look out for viewing only. A little farther down there is a short easy trail with many stairs going down to another platform. Be careful! The stairs are very uneven. 

View from the upper platform

After descending down the stairs there is a small lookout platform. If you are feeling more adventurous, there is a well worn trail that will lead you down to the water. We have visited these falls many times and have seen the water fluctuate. More recently, the falls have been raging due to all the rain. This is a nice short easy hike, especially if you are near Copper Falls. Dogs are allowed here, unlike Copper. Enjoy!

I like the silky look of the waterfalls!

Copper Falls State Park, Mellen, WI

It is fair to say, Copper Falls is one of the more popular state parks in Wisconsin and for good reason! The falls are beautiful and big! There is a rich history here; many different Native American tribes, copper mining, and the CCC and WPA. There are nice hiking trails, two different campgrounds, and a beach. What's not to love? 

This Wisconsin gem is located just northeast of Mellen, WI. It might be a bit of a haul, but definitely worth the drive. Once you get to the area, there are endless hiking opportunities in the nearby Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest; beaches, ATV routes, biking, camping, birding, etc. 

My favorite hike at Copper Falls is the Red Granite Falls hike. This is the one I frequent most because it is the only dog friendly hike in the park. This is a 2.5 mile trail that contains two different loops which is great because for the most part you are experiencing something new. This trail is less populated and not quite as popular as the Doughboys' Nature Trail which takes you around the big falls. 

Red Granite Falls hike begins near the parking lot at the beach by Loon Lake. It traverses up into the woods on crushed granite and soft mud/grass. There are small spurs coming off the main trail to allow hikers to get a better look at the falls. You can climb up on the rocks, watch the water gush through, feel the spray, or just take a breather. The trail continues up and down past small pond, large glacial erratics, and through the mixed hardwood forest. After a rain there are many different kinds of fungi that pop up among the various wildflowers. Keep a look out for butterflies and other beautifully winged insects. 

The Doughboys' Nature Trail is a 1.7 mile trail that offers scenic views of Copper Falls, Tyler Forks, the Bad River, and Brownstone Falls. This trail is more popular and also has educational signage discussing the unique geology of the area as well other nature and history facts. If you are good on your hike and bring a few dollars, you can visit the concession stand for the ride home or back to your campsite. I recommend the ice cream!

The North Country National Scenic Trail also runs through segments of Copper Falls, in case you feel like hiking a ways.