2015 Updates

Just added some old blog posts from my main site to Blogger.  I'm considering making this my main page to save stuff for posterity.  That and I need to start posting regularily again.   And I'm kicking around the idea of starting a Youtube channel...

25 Jul: Orient Mine Bats

The Orient Land Trust is home to the old Orient Mine which is now home to a large bat colony. I'm not going to repeat the details. Look on the OLT website for those. The site is kinda cool and I was excited to see a big outflight of bats. I've seen a few others but this one is in my home state. Unfortunately the outflight was a major disappointment. Really it was just a smattering of bats and then it was over. In fact I took a few practice photos after it started and then waited for the main flight of bats. And then the bats stopped coming out and people started leaving. I was rather shocked. I stayed a long time after everyone else left thinking that there must be more bats coming, but no. So bummer. So my pics just show the OLT mine area not the bat swarm.

25 Jul: Blanca Wetlands

Wow, very interesting unplanned visit to the Blanca Wetlands today. My presence was accidental. I was actually trying to drive across and the map made it look possible. It was very strange to find wetlands in the area but I read that in earlier times before settlement there was a lake there. Prehistoric camps have been found in the vicinity with fish bones and such. My pictures are here and Wikipedia has a nice article here.

Marshall Pass

Weekend camping at Marshal Pass. Brought back some nice memories and I got to do a little plinking, sightseeing, and watched some wildlife. Nice start to the weekend.

4 -5 Jul 2015: Hammock Test

Tested the new hammock set up with an overnighter in the Buffalo Creek area. It's close but my only other time hiking through was on my Colorado Trail thruhike. The hammock was just as expected which is good and bad. It is comfy but bulkier than my tent and yet has no place to store anything. My model has netting but no overhead rain protection so that would be more bulk to add. I think it will just be a short-trip luxury item for me.

20 Jun 2015: CZ75 First Shots

I found a surplus CZ75BD overseas Police trade in for sale and picked it up. I should have done it a long time ago. As you can see first shots from 20 feet were pretty good. I see more CZs in my future.

13 Jun 2015: Colorado Freedom Shoot

I finally uploaded my Freedom Shoot gallery. This was the 3rd annual and my first. I competed in the rifle, handgun, and shotgun events - taking 3rd in the Biden shotgun challenge. Pretty cool especially for not being able to remember the last time I did any shotgun shooting.

31 May 2015: Trapped in a Room with a Zombie

31 May 2015: Trapped in a Room with a Zombie

~Follow the clues~
~Solve the puzzles~
~Find the key~
~Escape the room~
~Don't get eaten~

You have 60 minutes to escape the room. There is 1 hungry zombie chained to the wall. Every 5 minutes a buzzer sounds & the chain is released another foot from the wall!
Will you escape in time Or..Will you be eaten?
We escaped as you can see in the picture.

31 May 2015: Rocky Mtn Airshow

31 May 2015: Rocky Mtn Airshow

Well parking was a debacle but if you were smart and went the long way around that avoided the gridlock. The show was great but no ground displays since it wasn't at an airport. Airshow Gallery

Matthews/Winters Hike

Just a brief hike at nearby Matthews/Winters Park. The weather wasn't so great but I just barely managed to complete the loop before the rain arrived. The little cemetary was a nice surprise but I couldn't really read the tombstones. Not much else to say really.

Colorado Volcano

Colorado Volcano

I got one of my pictures in a local paper the other day. I'm guessing the author had some trouble finding pictures of Colorado's only volcano caldera. My own small image gallery is here: Dotsero Crater. I'm glad to do my part to help educate. The author goes on about a number of volcanic features - most of which I've visited and got to know on backpacking trips.