Last summer when a group of us were at my friend Jenny’s cabin in Wisconsin, our friend Anne invited us to come to her family cabin in Allenspark, Colorado for a week. The cabin can not be found anywhere on the internet, and the name of the two buildings on the property are Luther Lodge and Pine Cabin.
Four of us, plus Anne, agreed to this Colorado adventure! We had an amazing time. We went in July 2024. Turns out it was a cell phone/computer detox week as there is ZERO cellular service and no internet at the property. That made the week that much better.
Here’s how it went.
Day 1: Saturday: Arrival, grocery shopping and three moose
Three of us arrived via plane to Denver International Airport from the Twin Cities in Minnesota. The altitude didn’t hit us right away, but maybe it did. Our first stops included shopping at Costco and Whole Foods as we had a menu planned and our goal was to cook healthy, tasty food together all week.
When Monica, Marie and I landed inside the practically empty Costco in Superior, Colorado at 9:30 am, it was a bit like we got hit over the head. We wandered into the clothing table section of the store and started trying on pants, shorts and various cute tops over the clothes we were already wearing. Our laughter was contagious and full of delight. Turns out we were a bit high, on the altitude!
After a few purchase decisions, we made it into the food section and quickly discovered we were not making clear decisions. We decided to stop shopping and go outside and eat lunch. That helped. Grocery shopping when you’re hungry is bad on many levels. Once we filled up on chips, fruit, hummus, nuts and cheese, we took a deep breath and went back into Costco and made our way to Whole Foods to finish up buying what turned out to be enough food for a group double our size.
Upon arrival at the 8500 foot elevation cabin and unloading the groceries, we settled in to talk with Anne who had arrived a few days earlier. One of our group looked up and saw three moose outside the window. We all quickly and quietly jumped up and slowly went outside to commune, from a distance, with these elegant creatures. Perfect start to our mountain adventure.
Day 2: Sunday: Hike up Coyote Hill Road: 4 miles and walk around Lily Lake
In the morning, I started off the day with a hike up the road outside the cabin. I huffed and puffed as the altitude is impactful for those of us who live in the flat lands of the Midwest. Turns out altitude sickness has virtually nothing to do with your actual level of fitness, age or gender. It just hits some of us harder than others.
The first few days, I made a concerted effort to drink LOTS of extra water, electrolytes and I even took ibuprofen and Tylenol to help with the odd headaches I kept getting. In fact, I’m not sure I ever really adjusted to the altitude, as we were only in Colorado for 8 days, and that’s not quite enough time to fully adjust. Most people need at least 4 to 5 weeks.
Then we drove into Estes Park, about a 20 minute drive from the cabin, to pick up Jenny, who flew in from a family reunion on the East Coast. Her shuttle dropped her off at the Estes Park Visitor Center which turned into our Estes Park home base. I love this visitor center!
They have free parking in a parking ramp. Plus bathrooms and water fountains to fill your water bottles – both of which are available 24 hours a day. In addition, the center is staffed with very knowledgeable people who have detailed maps and instructions for places to go and things to do. Didn’t hurt that they also had lots of books, shirts, mugs, stickers, magnets and other fun gift items to peruse.
After we rounded up Jenny, we had to walk down the river walkway to our car that was parked at the library (we didn’t know yet that we could park for free at the visitor center) and as we were walking, a torrential downpour happened.
In a matter of mere minutes we were soaking wet and getting pelted with piercing hail pellets. By the time we made it to the car (which was very close!) the rain had stopped, and because of the high altitude and very dry climate, our clothes and hair dried quickly.
On the way back to the cabin, we stopped at the beautiful, totally flat Lily Lake and walked around it and caught up with Jenny and planned our “we all made it” celebration dinner.
Day 3: Monday: RMNP: Wild Basin Trailhead: North St Vrain river trail to Copeland Falls to Calypso Cascades: 4 miles
After a tasty breakfast and packing up our lunches and filling our water bottles, we put on sunscreen and headed to the Wild Basin Trailhead in the Rocky Mountain National Park, RMNP. The park is adjacent to the cabin we were at. Ideal location!
We had a park pass and we had timed entry passes, which the park requires since too many people want to get into the park all at the same time. This happened during the pandemic, when people re-discovered the beauty of being outside in nature for health and wellness. The timed passes let you in between the hours of 9am and 11am.
SUCH BEAUTY! We needed to walk slowly, as it was an out-and-back hike and the way out was straight UP!
We ate our lunch on the trail, sitting down along one of the creeks, being sure not to feed the chipmunks and squirrels that were very interested in our human food. Our group is good at following the rules that state, “Do not feed the animals.”
The pines, the aspens, the boulders, the blue sky, the beautiful white clouds, the wildflowers, the stunning waterfalls – all of it evoked profound awe.
Plus we enjoyed the company and conversations we were having with one another. No cell service or internet service nudged us all to tune into nature and each other instead of opting to check Facebook, Instagram, the news, or our emails. I felt myself calming down and tuning in.
Day 4: Tuesday: Top of the World Photo Tour in a 4×4 Wildside Jeep/Van. Followed by a 3 mile hike in RMNP at the Bear Lake Trailhead
We got to downtown Estes Park bright and early to board the van that took us on a guided tour of the Rocky Mountain National Park. We drove up to the highest Visitor Center in the National Park System on the Old Fall River Road. Along the way we saw elk, mule deer and more than five different marmots lounging along the cliffs.
When we got to the Alpine Visitor Center, we got out of the van and it snowed, rained and we saw an eagle, hummingbirds, and even a few pika, plus a lot of tourists. Once the precipitation stopped, we ate our homemade sandwiches and enjoyed the amazing views.
When the tour ended, we used the pass they gave us to gain entry to the most popular trailhead in RMNP at Bear Lake. This lake was worth every bit of hype. So breathtaking. Grateful we made the effort. We felt ready for some more hiking and challenged ourselves to hike to Nymph Lake and then to Dream Lake. This was another moment I was glad we each had a lot of water with us, the potential for serious dehydration and heat exhaustion was real.
When we got back to Luther Lodge, we cooked and ate another tasty meal and packed our lunches for Wednesday.
Day 5: Wednesday: RMNP entered at the Lumpy Ridge Trailhead and hiked to Gem Lake, 3.2 miles
Lovely uphill hike to Gem Lake where we sat by the lake and ate our lunches. Once again, spectacular views. The profound sense of awe continued to relax and calm my entire nervous system.
Because of the 4×4 tour from the day before, I knew more about the aspen trees, the tree line and the ponderosa pines. Such stunning trees. I could feel their healing vibes all the way through my being.
We ate lunch at Gem Lake and laughed and did a fun jumping photo that is a staple of our travels together. That resulted in more laughter and joy!
When we hiked back to our car, we decided to drive into Estes Park and take an impromptu tour of the Stanley Hotel. We sat outside and had mocktails and french fries as we marveled at the mountain view yet again.
Then we went back to the cabin and made a jicama, mango, red pepper, cilantro with lime and honey dressing salad along with quesadillas with homemade black beans. No two ways about it, we ate very healthy and very well on this trip!
After dinner, one of us saw a huge white dog out the window and it looked friendly. So we all trooped out to see what was going on. Turns out the owner of the dog is Rannveig Aamodt. At the moment we met this world famous rock climber, she was going down the mountain road to the field where she keeps a few of her horses. Two of the horses were with her, including Jhessabell.
They were leaving the next day to ride the Tevis Cup, a 100 mile ride that takes place in California on what is known as the Western States Trail. To win the belt buckle, the rider and horse must finish the 100 mile ride in less than 24 hours.
We loved on Jhessabell and gave our well-wishes to Rannveig as they continued down the road. She lives at the top of the mountain road with her climbing, wedding photographer husband Nathan Welton. The Tevis Cup was held on July 20th and Rannveig and Jhessibell made it under 24 hours and they came in 17th. WOW to be sure!
Day 6: Thursday: Visit to Aunt Ann & Cousin Scott in Fort Collins and hang out in Estes Park
We woke up and bid adieu to Anne and Marie as they needed to get back to life and responsibilities in Minnesota. Then Jenny gathered her gear to spend the day in Estes Park. Monica and I packed up a lunch of leftover salad and lentil soup that I had made earlier in the week, and we headed over to Fort Collins, Colorado.
My amazing horticulturalist cousin Scott Skogerboe and his mother, my dad’s older sister, Ann Ruddy, both live in Fort Collins. Scott and Ann are two relatives that I’ve felt close to my entire life. When my Aunt Ann’s marriage was ending, which was when I was 15, way back in 1980, Ann came to stay in the basement with me.
My homemade bedroom was in the basement of our house and in the main part of the not-very-finished-basement was an extra twin bed. Ann stayed there for a month or two. She and I had a lovely bonding experience! I remember laughing and sharing good storytelling with her. That connection has endured. Ann is now 88, and the oldest living person in the Ruddy lineage. I knew I wanted to see her!
Scott and his wife live in the house right next to Ann. A lovely set up for both of them. Scott is the oldest cousin of mine on my fathers side of the family. My memories of him and his three sisters are all good ones from my childhood.
Scott has become a renowned and accomplished horticulturist. He enjoys grafting apples and growing a wide variety of plants. Here’s a wonderful Colorado Public Radio interview he did in March, it’s worth the 20 minutes to take a listen. You might learn something interesting… about Johnny Appleseed apple trees!
Monica and I had a lovely lunch with Scott and Ann, after getting a descriptive and enjoyable tour of Scott’s garden and yard. It was good to connect with blood relatives after so many years of estrangement from relatives. I especially enjoyed talking about my Great Aunt Thelma who Ann confirmed was 100% a closet lesbian who even had a longtime partner. We also shared lovely stories about Ann’s mom, my grandma, Edna, who continues to be remembered by me as a very caring, loving elder from my childhood. I still have a blanket she knitted for me when I was heading off to college. Often I reach out to her for support when I’m struggling. I feel her with me from the spirit world.
Then Monica and I drove back to Estes Park, again on Highway 34 through the Roosevelt National Forest – WOW! What a spectacular, breathtaking, cliff filled drive. SO AMAZING!
We picked up Jenny, who had quite a good day exploring Estes Park and taking the tram up the mountain.
The three of us got back to Luther Lodge and cooked ourselves another tasty meal, packed lunches for our hike the next day and we walked up the road by the cabin so we’d get in our 10K steps at altitude. The new moon in the crystal clear sky with the shimmering stars was once again awe inspiring and nervous system soothing.
Day 7: RMNP: Longs Peak Trailhead, hike to Eugenia Mine for a 3 mile hike
Our last full day at altitude in the cabins. Endings are hard, I prefer beginnings. Endings remind me to stay in the present moment and to let myself feel my feelings, even when they hurt and are uncomfortable. As I age, I’m learning to open up more space within myself to feel whatever my body wants me to feel. To not run or stuff or shut off.
After another delicious breakfast on the back deck, we did a bit of tidying and organizing the food we had leftover. Our hope was to not have too much left over, but as often happens with this crew of pals, we overestimate our healthy food needs and have a lot of extra food.
We got to the trailhead early, before 9am, and it was a busy one! We had to park about a half mile down the mountain as many people start at 4am, maybe earlier, to hike up Longs Peak and back down in one day. The three of us were not so ambitious.
Our goal was the trek to Eugenia Mine, an old mine from the days when there was hope for gold in this area. Apparently, a family of two girls, a mom and a dad had lived here back in the late 1800’s. Touring around the area, by the little creek, I can’t imagine what living up in this area might have been like. Everything must have been a challenge.
We were leisurely about this hike. Again, grateful for the extra water and food we carried with us as we enjoyed the spectacular views.
Day 8: Pack up, tidy up, drive to Denver and go to the air conditioned movie theater to see InsideOut2, fly home
We packed our suitcases, put our bed sheets and towels in the baskets, cleaned out the fridge and cupboards, and got everything tidy. Plus we put the garbage and recycling in the car and drove it to the spot in Estes Park.
The heat index was heading into the 100’s, so we knew hanging out in Denver would be miserable as we waited for our early evening flight. Monica suggested we go see a movie in an air conditioned theater. Wonderful idea!
InsideOut2 it was. I rarely see movies these days. I don’t have a television and the intensity of images on a big screen have a tendency to overwhelm me, so I am not up on movies these days. InsideOut2 was good and I was thankful for the hours in air conditioning. At the same time, I found myself wishing I was outside back up in the mountains. Breathing into my appreciation of time in nature.
We got on our flight, face masks and all, and made it back to Minnesota with ease. Bob, Jenny’s husband, picked us up and dropped me and Monica off at her house. My car was in Monica’s garage. I drove home. And just like that, a beautiful mountain adventure was complete!
Thanks for reading along. I hope you’ve spent some good time this summer outdoors enjoying this beautiful planet! Please, tell me about your amazing summer! I love hearing from you!
