MurkTravels

overview / intro

I decided to complete one more ultra run this year, my 10th overall. After reading about great hikes around the Rocky Mountain park region, I decided on a loop that starts in Grand Lake, then goes into Rocky Mountain National Park and along the CDT (Continental Divide Trail). The total mileage was right at 27 miles.

It was a very cool trail that provided some scenes that most visitors to the park don't get to see. There was wildlife, forest, flowers, valleys, lakes, rivers, rocks, and hardly any people. Check out what I saw with the pictures below.

Pictures

see more on Facebook Murk Travels albums
and USA - Colorado album

Links

MurkTravels Vimeo - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Youtube - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Facebook page - pictures, posts, and regular updates
MurkTravels Facebook photo albums
MurkTravels Instagram - my attempt at artistic travel images
MurkTravels Travel Map - all the places that I've been and the things that I've seen

overview / intro

A week of camping is always fun. When it's out in the mountains right by a lake, then it's even better.
We headed out near Turquoise Lake near Leadville, Colorado. During our time there we biked, hiked, and did some paddling in the lake.

Pictures

see more on Facebook Murk Travels albums
USA Colorado album

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Links

MurkTravels Vimeo - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Youtube - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Facebook page - pictures, posts, and regular updates
MurkTravels Facebook photo albums
MurkTravels Instagram - my attempt at artistic travel images
MurkTravels Travel Map - all the places that I've been and the things that I've seen

overview / intro

Had a relaxing week of camping near Leadville, Colorado at a campsite near Turquoise Lake. On one of the days, we decided to hike up a nearby 14er. It happens to be the highest in Colorado, 2nd highest point in the lower 48 states for the US. And Prudence decided that she wanted to do it too.

Trip Map

Pictures

see more on Facebook Murk Travels albums
14ers album

Links

MurkTravels Vimeo - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Youtube - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Facebook page - pictures, posts, and regular updates
MurkTravels Facebook photo albums
MurkTravels Instagram - my attempt at artistic travel images
MurkTravels Travel Map - all the places that I've been and the things that I've seen

overview / intro

Time to start off the Colorado summer with some camping & 14er hiking.
Decided to find some dispersed camp sites in the woods near the east side of Mt Sherman. Had some delicious fire cooked supper and then got some sleep. A early wake up and short drive to the parking at the trail head was just after sunrise.

Then it was a quick hike up some rocks and snow to the saddle between Sherman and next door neighbor Mt Sheridan (a 13er). We hit the peak of Sherman, celebrated and decided to extend the day by going over the Sheridan. It was a very cool experience. There was no one else on the mountain (unlike the packed Sherman) and there was a journal in a water proof container that we got to add our names to. There was a huge wind break built out of rocks on the top, and on one of the sides, there was a window of sorts that looked back towards Mt Sheridan.

Got to slide down some snow and make our own path down the rocks on the way down.

Trip Map

Pictures

see more on Facebook Murk Travels albums
14ers album

Links

MurkTravels Vimeo - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Youtube - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Facebook page - pictures, posts, and regular updates
MurkTravels Facebook photo albums
MurkTravels Instagram - my attempt at artistic travel images
MurkTravels Travel Map - all the places that I've been and the things that I've seen

overview / intro

It was hot !
Like it only got down to 80 at night. And the clear sky allowed the sun to blaze during the day for 100+ degree days.
However that definitely added to the environment. The other worldly landscape that is Arches and Canyonlands national parks in eastern Utah (and a bit of the Colorado National Monument in western Colorado) is what I image a remote desolate trip to Mars would be like.

We took the 4Runner way off road to find a campsite by a dry river bed but with some large cottonwood trees to provide some shade and cover. Through the extended weekend, we also took the 4Runner on some rocky back roads to explore the challenging driving conditions that make the Moab area such a destination for off roading enthusiasts. Even taking "easier" paths with my limited off roading experience, we still got to experience driving on narrow ledges with hundreds of feet of drop off just past the tires, and some slick rock chunks that couldn't even be considered a road. That absolutely needed 4WD low speed and even got a tire off the ground for some 3-wheel driving.

The first day in the park was spent near the entrance. There is basically one main road in the park that goes out and comes back through the entrance. The closest hikes are for park avenue, Lasal mountain overlook, and courthouse towers view. A little further and about half way along the main park road is one of the most popular stops. It includes Balanced Rock and then two shorter hiking paths (less than a mile). One goes to Double Arch and one loops around the North and South windows arches. To complete the day, we also went to the next stop to go on a hike (about 2 miles) to see the well known and photographed Delicate Arch. After an afternoon nap in the heat, we also headed back into the park to catch the sunset from different viewpoints and behind different rock formations.

The second day was completely spent at the farthest point of the park. There you can start a long hike for the Devils Garden trail. It's about 10 miles for the full experience and provides well over a dozen arches and unique rock landscapes. Near there is where the only main campground is within the park (there are a couple back country tent sites) and that provides access to a few other small hikes to additional arches.

Overall, this is one of the most unique national parks in the world with an environment unlike anything you will normally see. Highly recommended.

Recommend:

• Devil's Garden trail
• Delicate Arch
• Double Arch
• the Windows

Trip Map

Pictures

see more on Facebook Murk Travels albums
USA Utah album

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Links

MurkTravels Vimeo - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Youtube - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Facebook page - pictures, posts, and regular updates
MurkTravels Facebook photo albums
MurkTravels Instagram - my attempt at artistic travel images
MurkTravels Travel Map - all the places that I've been and the things that I've seen

overview / intro

While I'm working remotely (mostly from the couch at home) and while flights are cheap (within the US), we decided to take advantage and visit some friends and family in Long Beach, California.

We were able to work from there fine during the week and then enjoy the beach at night and over the weekend. We got in some stand up paddle boarding, running, swimming, and walks around the canals of Naples Island.

Recommend:

• restaurants on 2nd St
• the local beaches (hidden beach if you can find it)
• running / biking along the beach and shore

Pictures

see more on Facebook Murk Travels albums

Links

MurkTravels Vimeo - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Youtube - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Facebook page - pictures, posts, and regular updates
MurkTravels Facebook photo albums
MurkTravels Instagram - my attempt at artistic travel images
MurkTravels Travel Map - all the places that I've been and the things that I've seen

overview / intro

For the long Memorial weekend, we decided to get some dispersed camping in. That's where you find federal lands that you can drive over off-road paths to get to primitive camp sites that are far away from others and real close to the natural wilderness.

We headed towards the Utah and Colorado border to get away from big cities and people too. The first couple nights we stayed within the Ashley National Forest. It's in north east Utah with lots to see and do. There were dinosaur tracks, arch hikes, man made reservoir, gorge, recreation area, forest, mountains, and some great views. Also, there was time to roast some marshmallows.

Then we headed to the Colorado side of things. We went through the Dinosaur National Monument for some hiking and camping. On our way back to Denver, we swung by and drove through the Colorado National Monument too.

Recommend:

• Harpers Corner in Dinosaur National Park
• Drive through Colorado National Monument & stop at all the view points
• Drive through Douglas Pass on highway 139
• Red Canyon visitor center - hike and view over Green River
• Moonshine Arch hike
• Red Fleet State Park

Trip Map

Pictures

see more on Facebook Murk Travels albums
USA Colorado album
USA Utah album

Moonshine Arch (Utah)

Red Canyon & Green River (Utah)

State Park (Utah)

dispersed camping site - scenic, quiet, and so peaceful (Colorado)

Dinosaur National Monument (Colorado)

Independence Canyon (Colorado)

Red Canyon (Colorado)

Links

MurkTravels Vimeo - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Youtube - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Facebook page - pictures, posts, and regular updates
MurkTravels Facebook photo albums
MurkTravels Instagram - my attempt at artistic travel images
MurkTravels Travel Map - all the places that I've been and the things that I've seen