We went for a walk the other day and noticed several new things.  First, the finished trail and fences on the south side.  They look really good and I’m sure after a while when the grass grows it’ll be great!  Hopefully, the fence will last and people won’t break it down.  In case you were one of the folks who cut the trail all the time, It’s really not good to cut it.  It kills the grass and causes erosion and looks pretty bad.  So please, everyone, be cool.  The fence looks great!

Also, noticed that Evergreen Parks and Recreation put a LOT of effort into removing much of the pond seaweed with boats, rakes and trucks.  Notice the huge piles on the shore in the gallery below.

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June 1 – The Congress and Evergreen School of Music

June 15 – Mountain Holler and Juggernaut

June 29 – Max Wagner and Mighty High Band

July 13 – Your Father’s Mustache and Acoustic Mining Company

July 27 – Josh and the Empty Pockets and The Hooligans

August 10 – Megan Burtt and the Cure For Love and Open Space

August 24 – Tunisia and Fresh Jefferson

I went up to Echo Lake this weekend to play and practice in the snow and ice and here are a couple pictures from the day.  It was really pretty cold and windy.

While hiking around the woods and hills of Genesee this weekend on a training, we came across someone’s cemetery for their pets. Of the 3 crosses, one didn’t look like there was anything on it and another was dated 2001 and the third was dated 2005, so they’ve been here a while.

I wonder about the family that found this special, mostly private place for their pets final resting place and hope that it has brought them some peace.  It’s a very nice place – secluded and very peaceful…  And I’ve already forgotten how to get there.

Tory, Brandi and unknown - final resting place

Apples on the apple tree at Evergreen Lake

So who would have ever thought or knew there was an apple tree at Evergreen lake.  I wouldn’t have believed it myself had I not actually walked up to it and picked an apple!  Of course, it’s so close to the road and the apples don’t look too great, but it’s there, and apparently has been there for many years. There are a lot of dead branches lower down, and it’s obviously not been taken care of.

I’ve walked around the lake many, many times over the years and never noticed it until it was noticed by my mother-in-law and a friend while they were birding the other day.  They never noticed it either, but it’s not surprising because it’s not on the trail or near where anyone would walk.  Long time resident, Sylvia Brockner says it’s been there since at least the 60′s.  Does anyone know more story about this?

If you drive by the lake on Hwy 74, you see this tree every time.  As you come down the hill to the lake from the north, just after you pass the turn off to Upper Bear, you’ll see it hanging over the guardrail on the lake side of the highway. But, you can’t tell it’s an apple tree unless you check it out up close.

Here’s a Google Map showing the location of the tree.

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A few weeks ago, we were looking for a new place to hike near Evergreen as we’d hiked out 3 Sisters, Elk Meadow and Evergreen Lake. Then we saw the Mt. Evans Elk Management Area highlighted online.  We’d never heard of this and thought it would be a really fun place to check out.  We weren’t disappointed.

Here’s a small Gallery:

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We only went on a short section; maybe a mile or 2 in, but it was really fabulous. Great views, easy walking for the kids, a wonderful creek to walk along and wade in. It was a short walk up the hill and through the gate, then down the other side among a ton of wildflowers. Down the other side were two old chimneys from old homesteads and lots and lots of wild raspberries!

Eventually, the trail starting winding up after it crossed the creek, but this is where we turned back. I’d love to come back on a bike and have a chance to get out much farther. I’d also love to explore more of the trail systems here as we only headed out in one direction.

To get there, take Upper Bear Creek Road to Witter Gulch and look for the signs. You won’t be sorry!

I finally had a chance to check out the tree carving at the entrance to Hiwan Hills the other day.  It’s truly an amazing carving when you get up close and personal.  I don’t have a ton to say about it, except that you should definitely stop by and have a look.  Meanwhile, have a look at these photos of the detail.

Hidden Fawn Train in 3 Sisters Open Space Park - Evergreen, CO - September 5, 2009.

A great hike today at Three Sisters around the Hidden Fawn Trail.  As you can tell, it was a beautiful day!  It’s hard to believe it’s September already and the Aspens are starting to turn.  It seems way too soon for it to be September.  Fortunately, the wonderful weather now is making up for all the rain we had earlier in the summer.

The Hidden Fawn Trail is 1.2 miles and is relatively flat and easy to do for small children.  We had our 2 and they did awesome on it!  It’s also a great mountain bike ride and we saw a lot of bikers going around it in addition to some other hikers.  I think this will be my next warm up mountain bike ride this weekend.  Then up and over the sisters for a bit more of a challenge.  Then probably across the highway up Evergreen Mountain for a good work out of the day!

This is a real bummer.  The other day we were at the lake and our kids noticed someone had drawn faces on the statue a the Lake House.  In Sharpie even.  I’ve never understood why anyone felt they had the right to destroy something that someone else spent so much time on and is enjoyed by so many people each day.  Obviously, this person’s (or people’s) parents didn’t teach them this sort of respect.  Hopefully, someone will have some Tolulene or some other highly potent and dangerous chemical to clean it off soon.

It’s also too bad that whoever did this can’t draw…