Shakespeare, Sondheim, and Silverton or: When you buy new boots

One of the views from the San Juan Skyway

This summer I had the opportunities while enjoying the rocky mountains of Colorado.  I got to see the Complete Works of Shakespeare (abridged) at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, and Sweeney Todd (one of my favorite musicals) at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival.  Trying to make it back to Boulder from Flagstaff during a thunderstorm with a broken drivers-side windshield wiper was certainly fun.  Riding, the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is always a treat. Finally driving the stunning San Juan Skyway (aka Million Dollar Highway) from Ouray to Durango. 

Before the Storm from Flagstaff, CO

The real fun this summer, however, began when  I bought new boots.  OK, you might be thinking that not the most exciting blog topic, but I feel that the fact warrants mentioning since I also spent a good portion of the summer hiking trails around Durango in an effort to break in my new boots. 

The view from the Anasazi Descent trail

Like Almaty, in Durango you can easily get into the mountains from the streets of town.  My first couple of hikes in my new boots, for example, were on the Telegraph Trail system - a network of trails in the foothills and canyons that border Durango's Eastern edge.  You can access this trail system from several points. Since I live in the southern part of town, I hiked in on the "Carbon Junction" trail which takes off from the 550 and rt. 3 interchange. On my first hike, I connected from Carbon Junction trail to the Big Canyon trail (a 3 mile hike that ended up only 100 meters down the road by Walmart).  In a later attempt to make sure my boots are comfortable for upcoming adventures, I took the Crites connect toward town and then the Anasazi descent down to Horse Gulch Road.  The trails in the telegraph system are perfect for mountain biking but make nice walking and hiking trails as well. 

The view from atop Animas City Mountain

Cool Tree: animas mountain

Last week, my dad and I walked the Animas City Mountain trail, a well groomed trail that takes off from 32nd and 4th street accross from the city market in the north side of town.  This 6 mile, moderate hike takes you high above the valley for stunning views of Durango, and of the Animas River.

For a map of the telegraph system click here.
For a short list of hikes from Durango click here or here 

Movie Monday: Celebrating Independence Day in Durango, CO

Durango celebrates Independence Day like many other American towns:  Rafting, Tubing, Kayaking and Biking in the morning followed by a small but spirited parade, a hopping street dance, and a small but rare (fire danger often trumps fireworks) fireworks display:

Sunday Summer Wrap Up

"Horse Parking" in Lancaster County PA

I am back in Kazakhstan, but I feel like something more needs to be said about my summer travels before I can return to posting about my adventures in Kazakhstan.  After spending time in Philadelphia, New York, and Washington DC, I spent a wonderful week in the very aptly named Paradise, PA.  There I ate the freshest, most heavenly sweet corn I have ever tasted, ran into Santa Claus in the post office, and was formally introduced to Lord Peter who later joined me on my flight from Chicago to Abu Dhabi.


I ended my summer in Durango, CO where I visited Mesa Verde, found the "Butch Cassidy bridge", and walked the Animas River trail over and over again in an effort to relax while I waited for a visa to return to Kazakhstan.

Long House at Mesa Verde

At long last, I am back home in Almaty, and am ready to resume my weekly outings.  Stay tuned for a Tidbit Tuesday special about the Pet Bazaar.

To all of the wonderful friends who made my summer quite wonderful: THANKS! 

Animas river from the Butch Cassidy Bridge

Trip Log (and Movie Monday): Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

Here is a movie I put together with footage from our trip (or shall I say "adventure") on Saturday.  Apparently the narrower tracks (gauge) allow for tighter turns...in case you were wondering.

Trip Log: Kennebec Pass

Today's adventure:  A four wheel driving trip to the top of Kennebec Pass.  Kennebec Pass isn't really a pass.  It should be called Kennebec ridge or Kennebec peak because it is really the top of a mountain, and to "pass" to anywhere from there you really have to drive back down the way you came.  Nevertheless, I am sure whoever named the place had a reason, so we will let the name go.

Here is the story of the adventure of Kennebec Pass.

Up we went, driving on rough (to put it mildly) forest service roads along the side of an ever deepening canyon.

Up we went, through dark groves of Ponderosa pines and light groves of Aspen trees (here come the pictures for those of you who like pictures with your story).





Up we went, past a lonely chimney long since deserted by its cabin and left to stand as a lonely marker of a place and time almost forgotten.

Up we went, past springs running off the mountain, across the road, and down the canyon before joining the lively stream at the bottom of the canyon.

Up we went, past highland meadows adorned with colorful wildflowers arranged in such a way as to put the most creative florist to shame

(I had to take nearly twenty pictures from the window of our lurching vehicle just to get a shot with the flowers almost in focus).

Up we went, past the abandoned mine shaft that seemed to beg and plead for exploration in a most eery (and exciting) way. (Don't worry, I didn't go in).

Up we went, right up to the very top of the mountain...

...where we were rewarded with the most spectacular view that even pictures can't begin to describe.  

...and then we came back down.  The End.

Adventure Boulder 4.20

OK, this qualifies as an "other exotic lands" kind of post...hold on to your hats:

Reasons to avoid Boulder on April 20th:
1.  Everything smells...let's just say everything smells "green"
2.  Traffic is a nightmare because it is 4/20 (and no other reason).
3.  On legit business at CU Boulder?  You'll have to explain before they let you park.

For those of you not sure about the 4/20 culture, or unfamiliar to the extremes places like Boulder might take it, read more about it HERE.