Fall Colors - ATVing - AND SNOW!

Plans for our mini fall trip were sketchy as Glenn didn't know if he could get away for a couple of days or not - but since he didn't take the full week off for hunting as planned, he decided he could take off!

We decided to head over to Pitkin which is on the way to Gunnison - headed out early afternoon on a Sunday and the drive over Monarch Pass was truly AWESOME!  The aspens were in full color and the yellows, golds and oranges were just beautiful!  Since we were pulling the 5th wheel AND the ATV trailer, I didn't make Glenn pull over for pictures!

Outside of Pitkin we drove up a road and checked out the couple of campgrounds but they were both closing the next day so that wasn't an option - we did have to turn around once - that was interesting with a double behind us!!  But Glenn finally got the job done!!

We ended up pulling over and taking the ATV off to scout around for a place and found one quickly so moved the 5th wheel there and set up camp by a rushing stream in the trees - a beautiful place - but pretty chilly!!

Luckily we had a campfire that first night!  We were up bright and early to eat and to head out on the ATV - it was cold out - I believe 40 degrees!!  But we bundled up in everything we had brought to wear and headed out!

The aspens were beautiful!  We stopped by an old structure which used to be a stage stop to capture this picture !

The sun didn't peek out very often at all!!  In fact I was quite disappointed as I sure like to get my aspen pictures with the sun coming through but it wasn't to be...........

You can see in the picture below that it was pretty cloudy out and boy that makes ATVing cold out when you started out at 40 degrees!!

Most of the trees had turned and many were dropping leaves - it's always fun to find a trail where you're driving over the fallen aspen leaves!

And yes, there were lots of orange/gold aspens this year and they were breath taking!

About noon it started to sprinkle - we stopped under a tree but it kept raining so decided to get our rain gear on - that was a good choice because it didn't stop!!  We would drive a ways and then try to get under a tree for a few minutes to warm up.  It was SO COLD out with the rain coming down!  Since we were about 15 minutes from camp, we just decided to go for it!  Of course I had left my hiking boots at home so just had on tennis shoes with the webbing on the toes - my shoes were soaked of course and we were both half frozen by the time we got back to the camper!

It rained all afternoon - and the furnace turned got a workout!  I read a lot and Glenn napped a lot!!  And soon the rain turned to snow.................so much for heading out on another ride..................  Late afternoon Glenn went out to get the generator plugged in and going since we had used so much power with the furnace - he checked the propane and guess what, it showed empty!!

I wasn't a happy camper as that's Glenn's part of the packing - to make sure there is PLENTY of propane!!  We had no idea if the little town of Pitkin would have any propane and it was already 6:00 by this time - the only other option would be to drive into Gunnison which was a good 45 minutes away and would mean moving the truck and 5th wheel since the pickup was facing the creek!!  I didn't have the heart to make Glenn take the ATV in the snow to Pitkin - so I said we would just make the best of it!!

We grilled our dinner, covered up with the sleeping bag on the couch while we read and went to bed early!!  But we did stay plenty warm during the night!  It was 42 degrees in the camper when we got up and 32 outside!  Glenn headed into Pitkin with the gas tank and luckily, they DID have propane!

We dressed warmly again and headed out on the ATV, only to discover that there was snow all over and it was DARN COLD riding that thing!!

All the trees were covered in snow!  We tried to track a moose as we had seen his prints along the road and followed him for quite a ways but soon we both got so cold, there was no way we could continue to ride................

Even with long underwear and 4 layers on, I was still freezing so we headed back to camp!!

We packed up everything and decided to go to Buffalo Peaks, hoping the sun was shining on the other side of the mountain..........it wasn't..............We did have a great campsite for the last night and did go on a ride but the aspens there were already gone.........oh well, guess we can't have a perfect trip every time we go!!