The next morning we sent Gene and Eleanor on their way to see Dorothy and Lloyd for the day in Pagosa Springs, and the 3 of us set off on our own adventure of hiking Nipple mountain. Yes, that is the real name. We were still a little tired from our 3 hours of sleep, but excited about our hike. Clarence and Derron would be hunting this area next month, and they wanted a chance to check it out and scout the area out. Of course I didn't take my camera with me, so you'll just have to take my word for it when I say it was amazing. The hike started out fine, but as the day progressed the hike became harder and harder. We went through some pretty crazy country! It was worth the trip though. We were lucky enough to see some nice Bull Elk and even get within 15 yards of some of them! We got on our hands and knees and crawled to see them. I have never been so close to an elk before. It was awesome. The hike back down was long and crazy, and I was ever so thankful to see the truck.
The next day Derron and Clarence did a little fishing while I sat glassing the country side for elk and deer. Eleanor sat outside and just enjoyed the view. It really is something else. After a short hike up the mountain to check on a game camera, it was time to send the 3 of them off to head home. Clarence and I decided to go for a little drive and ended up on another adventure all together.
Clarence wanted to drive this road that takes us the the other side of a mountain called Lone Cone. There is another a place over there called Preachers Hole that is also a little honey hole for hunters. So we decided we'd drive over there just to see it. After parking the truck and going for about a mile we found this Preachers Hole. Upon admiring the view we happened to glance up and see hikers on top of Lone Cone. We both thought, what are they doing up there? We both had no desire to climb it, since it is over 12,000 feet in elevation and well above the tree line. Well, one thing lead to another, and before we knew it, we were hiking this mountain that neither one of us really wanted to. It took about 1 1.2 hours to get to the top, and it was the scariest thing I've ever done.... I think so anyways. Since it's above tree line there are only rocks to climb to get there. Big ol' rocks and little ones that are jagged and move a lot. Some places were easy to climb, and others were steep and dangerous. I was very scared and wanted to turn back a couple of times, but I knew that the view would be amazing when and if we ever made it.
Well, we were right. The views were spectacular. You could see everything for miles and miles away. We could spot our trailer on the side of Flat top Mtn, and it looked so little, just a speck really. We sat and admired the view for a long time. My legs were wobbly and I was petrified of the height of the mountain. There was a little hole dug out of the rocks that resembled a nest. I climbed in that and stayed while Clarence sat in awe and soaked up the beauty around us. I was kicking myself for leaving my camera and cell phone in the truck. I wish we had something to show for our hard hike, but I guess the images that are in my head will just have to do. I did take a rock from the top to remember that I CAN do hard things. Before too long the clouds soon started to gather and the wind picked up, so I knew it that was our cue to climb down the mountain.
If I thought the climb up was hard, the climb down for me was worse. My knees were still sore from the day before's hike, as well as wobbly ankles. I pretty much crawled down the mountain. It took us about 1 1/2 hours to climb down on jagged rocks that moved and hurt your feet. I wanted to give up a couple of times, but I knew it wouldn't help because I still had to get off that mountain. The climb down seemed to take forever, but once off the rocks I was never so happy to see dirt! We hiked the rest of the way to the truck and just sat for a minute looking at the mountain.
Can you believe we did that? No way! If I had a bucket list I'm sure this would have been on it.... not necessarily hike Lone Cone, but a big mountain. And we did.When we finally got back to the lake we went fishing. Clarence caught 7 and I caught 2. That's how it goes with us.
The next day we went for a 4 wheeler ride to the top to check cell phone messages and then went exploring a little. We kicked up a herd of about 100 or so elk on the mountain and it was incredible to watch them crash through the trees and what not. After a short hike on the mountain we spent the rest of the the morning taking it easy and resting. What a great way to end a trip. We got home about 8:30 that night and I was so happy to see my kids! Julianne was amazing with them, and I will be eternally grateful for her and her willingness to stay with my kidos. Oh Ju, how we will miss you when you leave for your mission in October!
I am so thankful that I was able to spend this weekend with my best friend. It was a vacation to always remember. And I can promise you one thing: I will NEVER be hiking a mountain that high again, thank you very much!
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