Maxwell Falls

This is a popular hike near Evergreen. I chose this because it is at about 8,000 feet and Denver was in the mid 90s so I wanted to get away from the heat.  The highest temperature we saw here was 81.  Unfortunately we left a little bit late and we knew we would be getting into the kids lunch and nap time which is never good. On the way up we hit stop and go traffic Jam on I-70 so it took us over an hour to get there, should have taken about 45 minutes. We got to the trailhead around 11am.  We hiked past the falls for a total of about 1.5 miles round trip.


Van at trailhead.  Oscar fell asleep on the way up.


Trailhead sign.  They had signs warning about falling tree due to the pine beetle kill and various notices about keeping your dog on leash, which of course many dog owners we saw ignored.


The begining of the trail was very smooth, I had Oscar in the pack to give him some time to wake up.


Freya insists on wearing dresses or skirts everywhere she goes including hikes.  I have  a hard time convincing her to wear shorts when we go rock climbing.


The wild strawberries have been abundant this summer in Colorado.


Freya stopped for a little snack.


First trail branch.  The trail has a signs at all intersections.  I like to use the trekking poles with the kid carrier so I don't have to hunch over to counter balance it.  Makes for a more pleasant day.


Trail winding through trees.


Once Oscar comes out of the pack I shorten the poles for the kids, they love the poles.


Freya with a trekking pole.


This turned out to be a difficult trail for 2 year old Oscar.  There were roots and large rocks and some of the gravel on the trail acted like ball bearings.  He is pretty coordinated for a 2 year old so I cannot recommend this trail for a toddler if they are going to walk.


Second trail branch.  We had to hold Oscar's hand a lot which he resisted at first but after a few tumbles began to like the idea.


Eva and Freya way down the trail.


Oscar using pole to point.


There has been a lot of summer snow melt this year due to the large snow pack.  Locals have told me that in dryer years the stream can sometimes almost totally dry up.


Family photo above Maxwell Falls.  This was one of the few places you get of the trees and get a wider view.


There were some switchbacks on the steeper parts of the trail.


Oscar playing on Beetle Kill logs.


Beetle Kill log.  There are many theories on the infestation here in Colorado.  Although this is cyclical, this recent attack seems longer and larger than past ones.  One theory is that forrest fire suppression has left us with mostly older trees that are more susceptible to attack.   Here is a picture of what beetle kill looks like Beetle Kill Photo


Oscar in Backpack.


Switch back Freya and Eva plus other hikers.  Most of the photos I took I waited until we were alone giving the impression of isolation.  This is actually a very popular trail, there were a lot of people.


Maxwell Falls with wildflowers.


Eva and Freya above falls.


We found  a rocky area above falls where the kids could play in the water.


They were excited but due to nap time and being late for lunch they became a little unruly.


Eva cleaning the sand and rocks off Oscar's feet.


Eva and Freya walking back to the car at the end of the hike.

First camping trip, Camp Hale, Pando Colorado

This was our first camping trip with the kids.  Our plan was to find a site at Camp Hale. It was a lot of fun but somewhat hectic, with kids this age you constantly have to watch them and help them. Our main goal was to expose them to camping.


A few days before we went camping we set up the tent in the back yard. Freya decorated it with pink pillows. Everything went well once I got Freya to calm down and stop jumping around both her and Oscar slept well.


Fence blocking logging road. We parked in an area where there were a lot of logging access roads fenced off. They make for perfect camping access. There was also a lot of evidence of bear activity, lots of bear poo and lots of tracks so it was a good opportunity to teach the kids about not eating in a tent and keeping a clean camp.


The kids at work connecting tent pole sections.  Our camp site was 100 yards from the road in site of the cars.  It was a wooded area with a large meadow next to it.


Oscar and Brody discussing tent pole construction procedures.


Kids rest after a bit of hard work.


Testing the sleeping pad.


Dinner time.


Oscar kicking up his feet.  Kat and Brody had  kid sized camping chairs, Oscar and Freya loved them.  Our next purchase.


Brad enjoying the fire.  It appears there was pine beetle kill logging in the last several years.  There were bucked logs and stacks of limbs everywhere, the easiest firewood gathering ever.


Brody hiding in the Vestibule.


Me reading a book to the kids.  The candle lantern hanging from the ceiling of the tent is providing most of the light, Freya helped with her flashlight.


Whitney snuggling by the fire with Brody and kat.


Family shot.


Breakfast.  We spent the morning picking some wild strawberries that were growing in the meadow next to our camp site.


Enjoying some milk.


Freya and Kat


Kids being silly.


Brad and I pointing out the candle wax dripped on my shirt.


Ptarmigan Pass facing Machine Gun Ridge to the East.  The meadows were loaded with wildflowers.  Brad, Whitney, Kat, Brody, Eva and Freya are all out there.   I was back at van, Oscar had fallen asleep.


Ptarmigan Pass facing Ptarmigan Hill to the West.  Eva and I hiked up there about 3 years ago with Freya in the child carrier/backpack.  It's an amazing view up on top.  When the kids get a little older this will be a great peak hike for them.



Girls walking through the flowers.


Columbine Rock Garden.   The Colorado Columbine is the Colorado state flower.




Everyone headed back from rock garden.


Snow field on way back from rock garden.


Eva and I top of Pass.


On the drive back from the pass we stopped near a camp site and a beaver dam that had been breached because it was blocking a culvert and flooding the road.  We had a picnic here.  There was also another field of columbines.