{"id":11739,"date":"2020-05-17T12:12:00","date_gmt":"2020-05-17T16:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/?p=11739"},"modified":"2023-06-19T20:01:13","modified_gmt":"2023-06-20T00:01:13","slug":"routt-national-forest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/11739","title":{"rendered":"Routt National Forest"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our time here in Walden, Colorado is soon going to be at an end. There is one last road trip we want to take before leaving the area and that is up to Big Creek Lakes. There is a campground and a big lake good for fishing. Right before we arrived at Lake John, Jim said he had checked the lake and it was still frozen.<\/p>\n

The area is actually the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National grasslands. I guess Routt National Forest fits better on a sign.<\/p>\n

\"20200517_103542\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The drive is beautiful despite the lack of foliage on the trees. It reminds us of the winter drives we used to take in Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n

\"20200517_104419\"<\/a><\/p>\n

So far my favorite native Colorado spring wildflower is the prairie crocus. They grow in small bunches like this and cover the banks along the road.<\/p>\n

\"DSC_4288\"<\/a><\/p>\n

As we are pulling into Big Creek Lakes camping area we see a lot of trucks, cars, and boat trailers but no people. We can hear them. Down near the lake edge, you can see it isn\u2019t frozen over anymore and can now see people fishing and boats on the water. Of course, we had to play in the snow a little bit. It doesn\u2019t look deep but John hasn\u2019t sunk all the way to the ground. It is about knee-deep on me.<\/p>\n

\"20200517_105644\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It is unimaginable to me how much snow these high elevations must get. This snow has been melting for a while and it is still deep. Mother nature doesn\u2019t waste anytime, however. As soon as the snow melts, flowers and vegetation pop out all over. If anyone knows what this flower is let me know. I\u2019ve looked and looked.<\/p>\n

\"20200517_140103\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The sun is warm, but the air is chilly and we don\u2019t want to be up here when the sun goes down. There is one more camping area we want to check out before we leave. Twisty Park. From the sound of its name, we aren\u2019t thinking we could get our big girl in here, but you never know.<\/p>\n

\"DSC_4271\"<\/a><\/p>\n

All of this snowmelt creates little ponds of water that the waterfowl take full advantages of. These cormorants have this little pool all to themselves. The big guy is drying his wings. Cool.<\/p>\n

\"DSC_4273\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I think these are bluebells, and they are very blue.<\/p>\n

\"DSC_4294\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This red-naped sapsucker teased us for quite a while but with patience and a lot of failed shots, John finally got me a good picture.<\/p>\n

\"DSC_4292\"<\/a><\/p>\n

There was a marshy field full of what I think are Marsh Marigolds. John is on a roll, he got me another great picture, this one of a bee on the flower. I don\u2019t think its one of those murdering ones though.<\/p>\n

\"DSC_4279\"<\/a><\/p>\n

No trip into the wilderness is complete without some rockhounding, especially when we have a view like this.<\/p>\n

\"20200517_124742\"<\/a><\/p>\n

While John is looking for rocks I\u2019m taking pictures of more flowers. Maybe someday I\u2019ll figure out what all these flowers are.<\/p>\n

\"DSC_4297\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We have arrived at Twisty Park and not only are the park roads very twisty, there is a lot of snow. John says, \u201cI think we can make that.\u201d I say, \u201cLet\u2019s walk it and then we\u2019ll decide.\u201d In the upper right hand corner of the picture you can see some churned up snow. That is where someone else got stuck. There is all kinds of stuff thrown in the ruts where they were obviously trying to get some sort of traction. So yeah, we\u2019re not going through the snow.<\/p>\n

\"20200517_113043\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s getting late in the afternoon and we need to head back. We still haven\u2019t seen any moose but we have seen a couple of mule deer. Look at those ears!<\/p>\n

\"DSC_4300\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Always curious as to where some of these two-track side roads lead, we take one and come to a shooting area. What the heck. We setup some targets and we each shoot a couple of magazines. Well, look what we have here, sprawling mountain daisies. I love daisies. They just make me smile.<\/p>\n

\"DSC_4298\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Oh my gosh, it\u2019s a herd of pronghorn. I told John he can take all the pictures of pronghorn he likes, but I\u2019m not posting any more pictures of them.<\/p>\n

\"DSC_4295\"<\/a><\/p>\n

There is a lake that we keep passing, Walden Lake, that is a nesting site for American White Pelicans. They spend the winter in the Gulf of Mexico but in the summer they head to the continent\u2019s interior to raise their young. It is an odd sight when you are used to seeing the white pelican at the ocean with their saltwater-only brown pelican cousins.<\/p>\n

\"DSC_4301\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We will be leaving Lake John in a few days. Sure will miss these mountains.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Our time here in Walden, Colorado is soon going to be at an end. There is one last road trip we want to take before leaving the area and that is up to Big Creek Lakes. There is a campground and a big lake good for fishing. Right before we arrived at Lake John, Jim […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11705,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-container-style":"default","site-container-layout":"default","site-sidebar-layout":"default","disable-article-header":"default","disable-site-header":"default","disable-site-footer":"default","disable-content-area-spacing":"default","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4,437],"tags":[121,988,1082,320,1081],"class_list":["post-11739","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","category-workamping","tag-colorado","tag-jim-and-becky","tag-lake-john","tag-national-forest","tag-walden"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200517_103542.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3hvz5-33l","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":11636,"url":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/11636","url_meta":{"origin":11739,"position":0},"title":"Lake John Resort, Walden Colorado","author":"Wendy","date":"May 6, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"We are excited to be hooking up with Jim and Becky, another full-time RV couple that we met out here on the road. John is going to be doing some workamping for Josh and Nichole who own the Lake John Resort. As we approach the valley where the campground is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/category\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200507_135414.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200507_135414.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200507_135414.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200507_135414.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11701,"url":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/11701","url_meta":{"origin":11739,"position":1},"title":"Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge","author":"Wendy","date":"May 14, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Jim and Becky have been workamping here at Lake John for several years. There is a wildlife refuge relatively close, in Colorado terms, that Jim has wanted to visit but hasn\u2019t had the chance. Becky is working today so it is just me, Jim, and John. On our way out\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/category\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200514_113932.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200514_113932.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200514_113932.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200514_113932.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2317,"url":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/2317","url_meta":{"origin":11739,"position":2},"title":"Brantley Lake State Park","author":"Wendy","date":"February 14, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"There isn\u2019t much to say about this state park. Basically it is here because there is a dam that created a lake that people can fish in and boat on. Brantley Wildlife area is part of the park as well. The park is very well maintained and quiet. BUT don\u2019t\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/category\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/IMG_0880_thumb.jpg?fit=580%2C436&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/IMG_0880_thumb.jpg?fit=580%2C436&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/IMG_0880_thumb.jpg?fit=580%2C436&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12699,"url":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/12699","url_meta":{"origin":11739,"position":3},"title":"Wyoming, Medicine Bow National Forest, Day 5","author":"Wendy","date":"July 18, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"I need to wash up.\u00a0 I don't mind camping without amenities,\u00a0 but if we are only going to be staying at a hotel every three days or so, I need a way to wash so I feel good.\u00a0 I lay out some bottles of water in the sun for them\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/category\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/DSC_1027_thumb.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/DSC_1027_thumb.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/DSC_1027_thumb.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/DSC_1027_thumb.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11662,"url":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/11662","url_meta":{"origin":11739,"position":4},"title":"Happy Mother’s Day","author":"Wendy","date":"May 10, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"A big shout-out to all the wonderful moms who are reading this post. John wants to know if there is anything in particular I want to do today. I said, not really but how about we take a drive? There are little two-track roads that go off in all directions.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/category\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200510_134457.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200510_134457.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200510_134457.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200510_134457.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15062,"url":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/15062","url_meta":{"origin":11739,"position":5},"title":"Fishing and Hiking Custer State Park","author":"Wendy","date":"July 12, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Today we are heading to one of the many lakes in Custer State park here in the Black Hills area of South Dakota so Jim and John can do some fishing, and Becky and I are taking the dogs on a hike. Jim is coaching John on fly fishing techniques\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/category\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/20230711_124057.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/20230711_124057.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/20230711_124057.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/20230711_124057.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11739","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11739"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11739\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14165,"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11739\/revisions\/14165"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11705"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11739"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11739"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11739"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}