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Time to put away the sandals!

 It's currently 50 degrees and raining at our house.   Because of the rain we've been receiving, all fire restrictions have been lifted, but that doesn't mean we are out of drought.  We are not, and I'm still hyper vigilant about outdoor fires.  I have put away my "grab and go" items, though. Not that I'm anxious for snow or anything, but I looked up when our earliest measurable snowfall has been the last four years, and it is October 12, three inches of snow.  That was in 2021. Our very own neighbor (and husband) Mike Waters has been elected president of the Ouray Trail Group.  As he puts it, there is no glamour in this position, just a lot of work and meetings.  We had the annual end-of-season picnic at our house last night, moved from the Ampitheater because of rain, and somehow we managed to feed and fit into our little house 35-40 members of the trail group.  Thanks to Amber and Robby for letting us use their parking spots! San Miguel Po...
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A beautiful time of year

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 We are now completely out of the 80s and 90s and solidly in the 70s.  It's such a relief after that horrible week where it got to 89 degrees at our house.  Additionally, we've had some rain, which has relieved my anxiety about wildfires a teeny-tiny bit.   My Kansas friends and we drove up Last Dollar Road this week, accessed either from west of Ridgway or in Telluride, and the views are gorgeous.  We'd never been on that road before.  It's going to be unbelievable in about three weeks. Yesterday was the second annual Chili Cookoff at Fellin Park, and our very own Barb Woolverton was the chair of the event.  She did such a great job organizing it.  One of the participants told us that last year, it snowed in the middle of it, plus it was obviously so cold.  They were grateful for the fabulous weather.  
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Cooler!

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 It looks like we're out of the 80s for a while, with rain chances every day next week.  Such a relief! Mike and I did Sutton Mine Trail this morning.  We were supposed to go with Alex and Dustin, but they had owies from yesterday's activities and couldn't go.  I was thrilled that Dempsey made it all the way and that I finally made it up.  It tells you something about the summer I've had that late August is the first time I've hiked there. The scrub oak is starting to turn higher up, a few aspens here and there, and a little bunch of flowers still! Do not go in this mine!
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Dog days of August

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 The heat has been really insufferable, intolerable, unbearable.  It is currently 87 degrees at our house on MFL, and the only saving grace is the nighttime temps.  I've been whining for the past week that I'm tired of the heat, I'm tired of the smoke - better the last few days - and I'm tired of the tourists.  It's that time of year. Fortunately, there is relief in sight, a cooler and possibly rain trend coming in Saturday and lasting for the foreseeable future.   We went hiking this morning with Barb, Steve, and Barb's brother John.  We did Portland Trail, 4.34 miles, and it was great since we started at 9:00.   By noon, it was getting pretty warm, and the dogs were ready to be down.  The campground at the Ampitheatre isn't full, but I think this might be the lull before Labor Day and leaf peepers.  Foliage is looking a little tired, usual for this time of year, and we're starting to see the yellowing of leaves on bushes. teeny bi...
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A difficult week

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 It has been hot, smoky, windy, and low humidity, all conditions to make wildfires go crazy.  We have been fortunate so far, but, again, hypervigilance is in play.   Additionally, there were two fatalities on Red Mountain Pass last Tuesday.  A car with three passengers, southbound on 550, was backing up the highway when it went over the side and ended up 300 feet down the cliff on its top in the creek.  There's an excellent article in the newspaper with details.  The next two days, there was another fatality north of Ridgway and another over-the-cliff wreck on 550.  Friday night, a third 550 wreck happened after 10 p.m., no fatality.  Ugh. I read an article several years ago by a man who survived going off 550.  Rather than have his car go rolling over and over downhill, he chose to drive it by pointing the car down.  He survived and was able to walk out.  I haven't been able to stop thinking about him and how he had the wherew...
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Rain, sweet rain

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 For the past few days, we've had glorious rain.  It's done a lot to ease my extreme anxiety about our drought, but I have to admit I'd still rather not see any legal fires on Mineral Farms.  Those of us who are up here full time are hypervigilant about fire of any kind. Mike and I hiked the Silver Belle to Colorado Boy Mine trail last week.  I was desperate to get into the woods.  This seldom-used trail is accessed from Ironton and is a great place to be on a hot day.  It is mostly in the shade.  Ouray Trail Group has worked recently on this trail, removing some trees but mostly removing brush and making the trail more obvious. Pretty but invasive - pull them when you see them on trails. Colorado Boy mine - and below The South Rim fire is now 50 percent contained.  When Mike and I were coming home from Gunnison last Sunday, we were detoured off of Highway 50 near Cerro Pass because of a brush fire.  On our way home through Crawford, Hotchkis...
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The good and the bad

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 Bad news first so we can end on a high note:  Byron's dad has passed away, news we heard about at the Water Users meeting last Saturday.  No matter how old, how expected, it always hurts so much.    The Black Canyon of the Gunnison South Rim fire is now 45% contained, which is good, but 85% of the south rim has burned.  The pictures I've seen are devastating.  We heard on NPR last night that the Visitors Center is completely covered in flame retardant, to the point one worker said it might have been easier to rebuild than it will be to get rid of that red goo.  The park is still closed. Some good news is that the smoke is cleared.  Mike and I were up on the Sutton Mine trail Wednesday, and there was a haze, but it was humidity - lovely, much-needed humidity.  The trail was not dusty, even muddy in spots, and there wasn't the sound of crunching while walking on vegetation.  We're in the middle of the monsoons, and while we've not go...
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