the friendliest library

I can hear the boys playing outside, and one after the other, they come in to borrow the bathroom. Meanwhile, the friendliest librarian has stepped outside to watch Hard Rockers finish at the gym next door. Uwharrie is laid out on the only carpet in this wooden building. Lots of windows, lots of sunlight.

Matt is running with Scott somewhere out there, and they probably won't get in until this evening. I'll start waiting around six.

So what have we been up to during the second half of our Colorado trip? We visited Crested Butte, and then attempted to climb Castle. I lead the way up a steep snow field, but Uwharrie and I both got wigged out by some Class III on the ridge and were content to watch a tiny Matt continue on. Unfortunately, he didn't take the trekking pole with the pick, so a cliff band and steep snow stopped him. It was still an awesome morning in the Cumberland Basin, and we ran across snow and lounged in the sun. That was my favorite hike out. Many red and blue flowers ready for Independence Day.

Next was the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. I was curious what makes it a National Park, and I found out that it was so much narrower and rugged than other canyons. We stayed on the rim, but apparently, down at the river, it's quite dark all day, which is why it's called the Black Canyon. Our short hike out there was hot, but smelled of sage.

From Montrose where evening gray clouds were brewing, the San Juan mountains were strangely lit up with light. We made our way south into those mountains, with the intent to climb Wilson Peak, but were deterred by weather. That morning, we had a 6am thunderstorm -- strange weather tied to the hurricane in the Gulf. It was a great hike both in and out, of course, and I think the possible weather in the sky changes the light and makes these mountains even more beautiful. Uwharrie caught her first marmot, too. They've been driving her crazy (in a good she'll-dream-about-them way) all these weeks.

So this is how we came to Silverton, which has been our central point for the last week. The three of us have been staying in Scott's tent hotel at Little Molas Lake, next to very nice neighbors.

Mid-week, we did hike out to and camp by the undeveloped hot springs near Pagosa Springs. Matt and Uwharrie ran up to the Continental Divide Trail one day, but I was absorbed in my book, Shadow of the Wind. It was best to soak in the hot springs in the earlier morning or evening when the rest of the creek was in shade.

The day the Hard Rock runners started their race, we climbed most of the way up Snowden. Even up close, the rock is still irridescent, a result of the lichen growing on its face. We were pleasantly surprised to find a trail up this mountain. I'm thinking of going back to photograph its wildflowers.

Spain plays Holland tomorrow for the World Cup title. I'm thrilled that a first-timer will win this time around.