Notes From The Mountain Top

Carol Ann Hoff Dictating Her Blog From Mountain Top

Carol Writes..........
Hello again:

Today was an interesting day, we crawled out of our RV cave about noon to a beautiful day. (I think Carol is becoming disappointed with my wake up time) Chriss looked out at the mountain top behind us and said “Lets go”. I looked him in the eye and said “What are you crazy”
but go we did and I am glad I am with that crazy man. We just started up the side of the mountain through the trees and brush. We started our climb behind the last campsites and directly across from the Dunes. It was a steep climb on small to medium stones and small rocks interspersed with cactus and flowers. We saw deer scat and a small bear poop and a large foot print I couldn't identify. That takes care of the ground but it was the scenery that was amazing. We were above the top of the Dunes and could see the mountains behind them. The sun was warm and the breeze cool.

With our binoculars we could see the tops of surrounding mountains with what looked like caves in the shear side walls. The birds were flying below us. Through all the trees we could see our motor home as a little white spec down in the campground. Also in the distance we could see the town of Alamosa and the Rio Grande River that flows through it. In the RV we had made our lunch. it consisted of 2 sandwiches, a banana and two bottles of water and a few cookies. Now we are on top of the mountain and once we got done "oohing and ahhing" at the scenery we decided to sit down and eat our lunch. To our disappointment and found that neither Chriss nor I had packed the sandwiches. All we could find was just a banana and two water bottles between our two packs. I later found the sandwiches in the refrigerator (we ate them for supper).

Anyone who knows me knows how I love trees. This climb was a paradise for me.
Such interesting trees. Junipers, some twisted junipers, and other fur trees. All of them were more than 10 feet tall. The dead ones were as pretty and fascinating as the live ones. As the afternoon progressed we watched the weather change and Chriss’s experience as a pilot diagnosing weather problems came in handy. There were black clouds, gray clouds, 3 different rain storms coming down in the distance, increased wind speed from all directions at once with clouds moving in different directions. His diagnosis of the weather was interesting in determining which would be a real threat to us. My solution was "Let’s get out of here” and that is what we did. We got to within 100 feet or our campsite when we felt the first drops of water on our faces. What lucky hikers we are, because the sky open up with a hard downpour. Anyway we were back in our camper eating our "left at home" sandwiches with tomato soup. When there was a knock on the door. It was our neighbor Kendall and her Dad, Don bringing us fresh made "somemores" roasted over there campfire. A real feat in the rain. One someore was made with strawberry flavored marshmallows, very good. We already enjoyed a yellow squash right out of their garden and a piece of blueberry birthday pie from Collin’s birthday. What nice neighbors. Don, Holly, Collin and Kendall.

It is still raining hard. We are so glad we are snug in our camper but just in case you are wondering we do miss riding the motorcycle but not tonight.


Chriss Writes...........

Carol is such a wonderful companion. The climb was steep and at sometimes rugged. The bear poop could have turn us back but Carol wanted to forge on. She always sticks with me on the outdoor adventures, you should see her when we winter camp. Well that is another adventure story for later. Maybe we ( I ) should go to bed early tonight so that we may get an early start tomorrow..... Not!!!

Good night, Chriss and Carol Ann