Summertime in the Mountains

We love our trips to the high mountains for the gorgeous flowers, pristine mountain tops, relaxation, and spending time together.

Our first stop was near Crested Butte, at a quiet campsite close to mountain lakes and hiking/running trails. It wasn't right next to mountain bike trails so I rode on forest roads to get to and from some glorious singletrack trails.

We've visited this area many times so I know the trails pretty well. Amazingly, my new bike has made me a better mountain bike rider despite my "advancing age". My bike has a great suspension system, 29" wheels, and a dropper seatpost - I'm not certain which change has made the biggest difference but I am more confident on my mountain bike than ever before.

The nicest change, however, was the general attitude of the mountain bikers on these trails. Many of them seem to be there to soak up the beauty of the flowers and the mountains. I used to feel like I was the only biker who was stopping to take photos and smell the flowers. Now, it seems as if many mountain bikers are slowing down and enjoying the beauty rather than racing to go as fast as possible.

Many of the flowers were taller than I am. It was like riding through a floral tunnel.

Then, we'd play in the afternoons near our campsite. R, for the first time in his 7 year life, managed to carry two tennis balls in his mouth!

I didn't take Shyla mountain biking with me in the mornings because the distances were too far so I had to get my entire dog fix in the afternoons and evenings. I love seeing Shyla during the Golden Hour just before sunset.

During our trip, Shyla continued to forget about more and more of her fears. I'll write about that in the future but we stopped calling her a "fearful dog" and used the term "sensitive dog" when she met strangers. That is a huge step forward!