Don's Blog: Phoney Business 8-30-16

On Monday I took a swim in Lake Aspen. When I got out I noticed something in the pocket of my swim trunks. Unfortunately it was my iPhone. This was a swim not a dunk so all efforts at
drying it out and reviving it  were to no avail.

The next day we went to the new Apple Store in Des Peres. It was a beehive of activity. They worked me in and found that my phone was deader than dead. 

I purchased an SE which is a fully updated phone that is still the same size as my iPhone 5.

Now for the Good News: all my data was in The Cloud so I didn't lose anything but time and money.

The wonderful green haired Katy transferred all my data from The Cloud to my new phone and I was back in action. They are very

efficient and they really have fun doing it.

Don's Blog Squirrels and Marmots

Ground squirrels are very common on the wooded trails in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Don's Blog 8-18-16 Happy Anniversary

Fifty-five years ago Jan and I were married in an elegant wedding ceremony in St Louis. 

Since then it has been - quite a ride. Happy Anniversary honey.

Here we are under some massive whale bones in Point Hope Alaska

in 1968.

Don's Blog Recovery Hike Mill Creek 8-16-16

Today I took a little recovery hike in the park to a pleasant little stream called Mill Creek.

After a brief elevation gain I got to the creek which paralleled the trail.

It was time for lunch…..            

                     

Yes, a cheeseburger in paradise.                    

Don's Blog Marmot on the Tundra 8-16-16

Sunday we were up on the tundra off Fall River Road and my son Gordon shot this image of a yellow bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris). He got close enough to have a conversation. 

Marmots are the largest animals in the squirrel family. 

  

Don's Blog Flattop Mountain 8-15

Today I climbed Flattop Mountain after a 65 year interval. It is described as strenuous and that is not an exaggeration.
The hike is 8.6 miles long with an elevation gain of 2,849 feet going from 9,475 feet at the Bear Lake trailhead to the summit at 12,324 feet. Going slowly it took me a little less than 8 hours.
I had climbed this mountain at age 15 in 1950. It is a popular route because the "flat" summit is on a saddle on the continental divide below Hallett Peak which is the imposing mountain above Bear Lake. The steep trail goes through
aspen and spruce forest.

Re: Flattop

How nice. We were talking about what a great time we had in Estes park and how much we want to go back. I am glad you had a great climb. I will do flat top the next time we go.

Looking forward to reading the blog. Give our love to aunt Jan.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 14, 2016, at 10:36 AM, Don Sessions <donsessions@aol.com> wrote:
>
> Hi Rob,
> Yesterday I climbed Flattop Mountain. I thought often of you and your dad.
> More details upcoming on the blog when i have time. Sorry you were not with me.
> Uncle Don
> Flattop is the top of the continental divide.
>
> <IMGP0094.jpeg>
>
>
>
> The peak of Halletts is behind me only 25 minutes up but I was more concerned with getting down in one piece. It was a greta day and i was down by 2:30. I go pretty slow. (Halletts is the peak above Bear Lake.)
>
> <IMGP0102.jpeg>
>
>

Don'sBlog Little Red Free Library 8-14

Dotted around Estes Park there are red boxes that are Little Free Libraries. Take a book and leave a book.

I'm a book guy. I love the feel of it and the turning of pages. Not quite ready to go digital yet.

Flattop

Hi Rob,
Yesterday I climbed Flattop Mountain. I thought often of you and your dad.
More details upcoming on the blog when i have time. Sorry you were not with me.
Uncle Don
Flattop is the top of the continental divide.

Don's Blog Notchtop II 8-11

Yesterday Ken Oldham and I went back up the trail to Lake Helene and Notchtop. It was a cool clear day

and we were able to see the mountain. We went above Lake Helene and relaxed for quite a while.

Don's Blog Bierstadt Lake 8-7-16

Gordon and Kelly and I hiked to Bierstadt Lake via the Bear Lake trailhead.

Don's Blog Last day of Camp 8-7-16

Don's Blog Alberta Falls 8-6-16

Gordon and I took a late afternoon hike to Alberta Falls out of Glacier Gorge.

Don's Blog Copeland Falls 8-3-16

Chris and Meg came up for the day and we took a short hike to Copeland Falls in Wild Basin.

Don's Blog Tarn 8-5-16

Yesterday we took the trail to Lake Helene to get a close-up of 

Notchtop Mountain. We hiked in the clouds the entire time. We

never even came close to seeing the mountain. It was perfect hiking

weather - cool and moist.

We did see 2 tarns close up. Tarns (from the Middle English)  are small 

mountain lakes. Asyou can see they are charming.

Don's Blog Eagle with Eaglet 8-4-16

Today while driving by upper Lake Estes I saw an eagle eating a fish on 

the opposite bank. The eagle flew up to a conifer branch where there was a 

dark bird of about the same size. It was an eaglet. Eaglets leave the nest by 

about 9 weeks and are aided in learning to hunt by the adults.

Fwd: Don's Blog Humming Bird Mix 8-4-16

Begin forwarded message:

From: Don Sessions <donsessions@aol.com>

Subject: Don's Blog Humming Bird Mix 8-4-16

Date: August 4, 2016 at 8:59:00 PM MDT

We hide our humming bird feeders in our rental condo and they are still here again this year. For my humming bird mix I use one part sugar to four parts water and the hummers love it. This is the view from our deck with Longs Peak in the background. The feeders are over 5 years old.

The hummers come whether we are on the deck or not.

I am not a humming bird ID expert - we have green ones and brown ones.

This year for the first time they are so comfortable on the feeder they use it as a rest.

Don's Blog Humming Bird Mix 8-4-16

We hide our humming bird feeders in our rental condo and they are still here again this year. For my humming bird mix I use one part sugar to four parts water and the hummers love it. This is the view from our deck with Longs Peak in the background. The feeders are over 5 years old.