Trailblazers in Ridgway State Park. {photo by Lin}

Back Row - Jerry, Carl, Jim, Tamar, Kim L, Felix, Gene, Bud, Ken, Ann, John B Front Row- Ralph, Diva, Deirdre and Anna.

Bud reserved 7 campsites in the Elk Ridge Campground near the Dutch Charlie entrance to Ridgway State Park near Ridgway, Colorado between July 8-16, 2023. Reservations were made 6 months in advance to reserve the best sites.

View on Ridgway and reservoir. {photo by Nicole}

•  July 8, 2023
A total of 17 people from the Trailblazers (Anna R., Deirdre S., Kim B., Nicole Z., Ralph G., Diva H, David G., Lin C., Carl L., Jerry C., Ann R., Johnathan B., Gene B., Mimi T, Gail G., Felix P., and Ken J.) occupied these sites while Kim L., and Julie B. made independent campsite reservations. In addition, Tamar and Jim G., and Mike N. rented VRBO's locally. Les and Annette C., stayed with Bud and Bonnie at their home just north of Ridgway State Park. Some arrived at the start of the week, some later on but all were welcomed with wonderful dry and sunny weather all week long.

Set up tent. {photo by Lin}

Sunset at Ridgway State Park campground. {photo by Lin}

Sunset at storming night in the distance. {photo by Lin}

•  July 9, 2023
Sunday Bud lead a hike for 15 people on the Ouray Perimeter Trail with some opting for either a 5- or 6-mile version that took us to Lower Cascade Falls, a tunnel, the Via Ferrata Climbing Area, the Ouray Ice Park, and Box Canyon Park Falls, truly the signature hike of Ouray, the "Switzerland of America". Seven others opted for a shorter version featuring the Baby Bathtubs and Box Canyon Falls.

Bud, our leader is meet everyone at meeting Location B. {photo by Lin}

Group Picture - Leader Les, Gail, Nicole, Annette, Kim B, Mimi and David. {photo by Lin}

Leader Bud. {photo by Ann}

Almost at waterfall, Deirdre, Lin, Gene, Jerry, Kim L. {photo by Ann}

Crosss the bridge - Bud, Gene, Kim L, Anan, Felix, Deirdre, Ken. {photo by Lin}

Diva, Anna, Ralph and John. {photo by Lin}

Group picture at bridge. {photo by Ann}

Felix, Bud, Deirdre and Ken are enjoying the view. {photo by Lin}

Break is over, time to move now. {photo by Lin}

Snack time with view. {photo by Lin}

Ann and John are enjoying the moment. {photo by Lin}

At Box Canyon - John, Ann, Anna, Kim L, Gene, Felix, Ken. {photo by Lin}

Box Canyon. {photo by Nicole}

What are you doing, Lin? {photo by Ann}

•  Potluck
Sunday Evening featured a fabulous Pot luck at the Colona Grange, a 1915 restored schoolhouse, a historic structure listed on the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties. Other hiking groups including the Colorado Mountain Club and Cobble Creek Hiking Club were invited for a total of about 60 people. To cap off the day, we were treated to a concert performance by the talented Emily Paige Wray, former lead singer of the band RARE.

The Facts and history of the Colona Grange and School building. {photo by Lin}

Healthy food. {photo by Lin}

Anyone, drinks? {photo by Lin}

Salads and main dishes. {photo by Lin}

Make new friends. {photo by Lin}

25Dessert table. {photo by Lin}

Well behave students are enjoy the food. {photo by Lin}

Food is good, and the seats are awesome - Diva, Ralph, Jerry, Ann, friends, David and Felix.

Party time. {photo by John}

•  July 17, 2023
Monday featured a hike up to beautiful Turquoise Blue Lower Blue Lake in the Mount Sneffels Wilderness, led by Bud. Twelve hikers made to the lake, but a sudden rain and hail squall, which had not been forecast, prematurely shortened our stay at the lake. Doggies Augie and Peanut accompanied us on this hike with Augie taking a nice swim in the crystal- clear water. Alternate hikers opted for a 4.5 mile hike up the Escarpment Path on Log Hill Mesa where they were treated to astounding views of the San Juans.

Group pictures: Bud, Augie, Anna, Tamar, Ken, Felix, John, Kim L, Ann, and Deirdre, Peanut. {photo by Lin}

It is so green. {photo by Lin}

Snow, green pine tree, and AZ trailblazer hikers. {photo by Lin}

Deirdre and her Peanut. {photo by Lin}

Is it beautiful? storm is moving in. {photo by Lin}

Waterfalls. {photo by Lin}

Monday evening included a happy hour and leftover potluck at the Bud Tasch home. Bud took Jim, Anna, Ken and Mike on a joy ride in his restored 1970 Oldsmobile 442 Convertible up Government Springs Road to the Greg Norman developed golf course community of Cornerstone.

Deirdre and peanut at first lake. {photo by Lin}

It is raining, Lin is ready for the storm. {photo by Ann}

John and Ann are relaxing at lake. {photo by Lin}

•  July 11-2023
Tuesday was a road rally with a couple of short but interesting hikes topped off by Cherry picking and wine tasting.
The 1st stop was the restored train and trestle from the Denver and Rio Grande RR that Civil War General Henry Jackson Palmer had used to travel through the Gunnison River Gorge before it was discontinued in 1947. Then we hiked down 232 stairs to the Gunnison River from the Pine Creek TH. Our destination was the National Park Service Restored boat dock used for the "Morrow Point" tour which was not being scheduled due to the heavy construction on the Highway 50 access road. We then drove to the North Rim Of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and the short (0.6 mi), but awesome Chasm View trail, which looks straight down 1740' on the Gunnison River far below. After lunch at the Crawford Boardwalk, we resumed our journey to sample wines in Paonia's beautiful North Fork Valley. First stop was Black Bridge Winery where several people picked fresh Rainier Cherries right off the tree and others sampled a selection of wines. Then there was another winery stop at Azura Winery and Gallery for more sampling and spectacular views across to the West Elk Mountains.

Group picture - John, carl, Felix, Bud, Deirdre, Mimi, Gail, Kim L, Gene, Kim B, Jim, Tamar, Ken, Nicole, David, Mike. {photo by Lin}

Bud is talking the history of the site. {photo by Lin}

Train is in the mid of river on the track. {photo by Nicole}

Famous train 278. {photo by Nicole}

Bud is talking about the West Elk Loop Scenic Byway drive direction. {photo by Nicole}

Group picture before we hike on the North Rim. {photo by Lin}

Readyto hike the trail by the river. {photo by John}

Pine Creek trail. {photo by Nicole}

More of the Pine Creek trail. {photo by Nicole}

Happy Gene. {photo by Lin}

Group picture: Felix, Mike, Gene, David, Gail, Jim, Tamar, Kim L, Carl, Nicole, Ken, Bud, Mimi, Kim B, Deirdre, Ann, John. {photo by Lin}

Our first winery - Black Bridge Winery. {photo by Nicole}

Cheer everyone. {photo by Lin}

Is this your Motto? {photo by Nicole}

Cherry Time, Ann. {photo by John}

Wine tasting and relaxing time. {photo by Lin}

Watch out, Wine Taster Crossing. {photo by Nicole}

•  July 12, 2023
Wednesday the Moderate hike went up the Bear Creek National Recreation Trail, just South of Ouray, to the Grizzley mine. Some hikers went further to the Yellow Jacket mine. This trail follows the remnant of an old mining road that hugs cliff walls with Bear Creek far below. The easy hike for the day was Crystal Lake, a little further South, but on the north side of Red Mountain Pass. There were reports of two moose being sighted. There are spectacular views of Red Mountain #1, #2, #3 and #4.

Group picture: Deirdre, Anna, Ann, John, Kim, Bud, Ken, Tamar, Felix, Gene. {photo by Lin}

Bud is signed in for our group. {photo by Lin}

Is it beautiful? John, Ann, Deirdre, Kim, Tamar, Ken, Gene, Anna, Felix, and Bud. {photo by Lin}

Four fearless hiker - Felix, Ann, John and Deirdre. {photo by Lin}

Happy Ann. {photo by John}

Need to remodel the house? {photo by Felix}

Follow the leader, everyone. {photo by John}

Peanut is sweeping for this hike. {photo by John}

Let us take break, first mile, we gain 1000 ft elevation. {photo by John}

Look up Gene. {photo by John}

Felix, Lin, John, Deirdre. {photo by Ann}

Anna is busy to take picture. {photo by Felix}

waterfall. {photo by Felix}

Happy Felix and Waterfall. {photo by Felix}

Bear Creek. {photo by Felix}

After Wednesday there were reports of people having Covid symptoms with some testing positive for Covid. I tested positive on Thursday morning, removed myself from the trip and went into quarantine.

Read the instruction before the Covid test. {photo by Nicole}