Wednesday June 29, 2011

When we got up this morning Mom and Dad told me we were headed for a hike on the Avalanche Trail before we leave for Breckenridge. The trail head is a few miles north of Redstone and we hiked 2.7 miles from the trailhead to the bridge over Hell Roaring Creek for an out and back of 5.4 miles. The altitude at the trail head is 7200 feet (if you didn’t already know, it is a lot higher than Phoenix) and the bridge crossing was at an altitude of 8269 feet. The entire hike was along the creek and surrounded by lots of trees and wildflowers. We sure weren’t in the Arizona desert! I got to splash in the creek and run up and down the trail (boy is it fun running down hill on the way back!) Here is a map and some pictures.

The start

Description of the trail

Map of Avalanche Trail Creek

Elevation

At 0.5 miles we enter the Wilderness

Avalanche Creek

A Wood Lilly

A Sticky Geranium we saw along the trail

This was Dad’s first long hike and not easy for him!

What is a vacation without pictures to help you remember it by? This is Hell Roaring Creek Bridge.

I sure love these guys!!

Hell Roaring Creek. It was loud.

Here is a view from above the Hell Roaring Creek Bridge

Did I tell you I love the water??

Dad made it!! Over 5 miles at altitude

Now this is how to finish a long hike, BELLY RUBS!!!

After the hike we drove to Breckenridge and checked into the Breckenridge Lodge and Spa.

What a cool hotel. They love dogs!! I could hang out with Mom and Dad in the lobby and lounge areas. Mom especially liked this place because we got “a real deal” on the room. Gotta love it.

The view from our room in Breckenridge.

In room pizza delivery and off to sleep. I wonder what tomorrow will bring?