This blog actually starts with my lodgings between Hotchkiss and the Rocky Mountain area. I stayed in a tiny motel on the side of a highway in Grant, CO called Kenosha Lodge. I stayed in the tree house room which felt like being inside of a tree with a view of the river. Thanks to a faulty toilet I ended up meeting the owner, who bought the motel on a whim with his wife and her 2 children after they relocated to the US. He's a former Seattlite, which led to some fun conversation. My profession in special education came up and he asked how he could make his units more accessible. We talked about spacing, entry egress and bathroom fixtures. Sometimes you just ended up where your expertise is needed. He invited me out for a fire and star gazing with his wife. Little did I know I'd get to curl up with their 6 week old lamb. Best therapy ever!. They were really sweet and I would totally consider staying here again in the future as more of their rooms come into completion.
Afternoon leaving Grant I drove to Georgetown CO A small historic mountain town. I parked and walked around the small community, obviously stopping for ice cream. The drive from Grant to Georgetown was filled with about six dozen Porsche owners on their site Saturday drive, which was quite an alarming. That much wealth concentrated in one place at one time me and my Subaru did not fit in.
Arapaho Ranch.
While I tried to get all 3 nights in the National Park, life happened and I got to booking this stay a bit late and was only able to secure 2 nights in the national park leaving me 1 night needing a place to stay. Enter Arapaho Ranch which lies just outside the southern entrance of Rocky Mountain NP. Located on the Arapaho Bay of Lake Granby it caters more towards tipi and cabin guests than campers. If their hip camp description had been accurate of what a camper would experience, I would not have booked a stay here. My site is barely big enough for my tent and car. The only toilet available in the camp loop is a pit toilet and no running water in the camping area. While it is accessible on the grounds as a whole it is very clear those things are for higher paying guests.
They offered country music at 5pm which is a little after I arrived and the smallest bar ever- Red Dog Saloon opened at 6pm.
When I booked my trip for the summer I looked at averages for temps over the last several years--today it is 12 degrees warmer than normal.
The music was pretty good and the bartender at red dog was so sweet and kept me company. I did have some issues with the accommodations and those that were camping around me though. The campsite was marketed as having flushing toilets available. Also is having a new restroom facility. The new restroom was only a pit toilet. So not honest descriptions online. The email I got the day before. I made very clear that the flushing toilets and showers were for guests of higher paying accommodations.
During the evening people tried to get into my things multiple times, and it is the first time on this entire trip that I have been afraid as a single female traveler, which is why I would not recommend Arapaho Valley Ranch if you are a solo traveler. I got up very early the next morning as I’ve had quite a bit of trouble sleeping because I was afraid. I drove into Boulder attempting to have some prescriptions filled wasn’t able to make that happen today, so I grabbed some pizza. Filled the car with gas and got ice for the cooler and headed into Rocky Mountain national Park.
Rocky Mountain & Timber Creek Campground
After unsuccessful errands in Boulder, I packed up and drove to Estes Park to enter Rocky Mountain national Park making it to the gate around two I hope to be in my campground by 330 at the latest. Unfortunately the impact of the altitude gave me a migraine combined with a torrential downpour, led to me, pulling over several times , arriving by campsite a little after 415. With a break in the rain I got my tent set up and my sleeping pad inflated but had to wait for a second break in the rain to get my sleeping pad inside my tent. And drinking more electrolytes as I could start to feel my lips and my hands going into tingling sensation which means I’m dehydrated.
Given the it’s already almost 5, and my headache and the impending and current storms. I think I will go to bed early and try to make as much of tomorrow as I can.
Day 2 woke up around 630 was out and on the road by 7:30
shorter hikes before lunch topping out at over 12,000 feet of elevation, which takes a lot out of a person.
After making myself a bite to eat, I took old Fall River Rd., which is a single lane, one way winding mountain road that cuts through the park leading to some incredible views as well as my final hike of the day. on my way down from that hike it started to rain pretty badly.
I got myself a hot cocoa at the visitor center that the road exits before heading into the town of grand Lake to access some cell service. Call family, and come down from altitude.
Still raining though not as hard, After about 90 minutes, no longer feeling lightheaded and having called family. I made my way back to my campsite for the evening made dinner got ready for bed and early night of things.
Tonight it rained so rather than take the stove out I made a chicken sandwich what was left of my carrots and a few cheese sticks and made an early night of it again. I could see my breath this evening so it’s gonna be a cold night but at least inside my tent I’m warm and dry..
What an adventurer!
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