Covid vacation 3.0

Throughout this whole pandemic, Colorado has been our escape door - the place we get away for a few days, suspend everyday reality and get out into the mountains. It's always beautiful, relaxing and never long enough.

This time we went to Buena Vista, Colorado near the end of September. Highlights included the views from our Airbnb (especially when viewed from the hot tub), good food and hard, but beautiful hikes.

One of my favorite things about vacation is always getting coffee from a cute coffee shop every morning

Hike number 1: Narrow Gauge trail

This hike was more like a ridge walk. It was recommended on AllTrails as an easy hike to ease into the altitude change. This trail was along where an old railroad line ran and it was a perfect first day space for us.

Hike 2: Lost Lake trail

Day two was our medium day. (Don't worry, I still struggled like the whole way). Before we went to our trail head, we accidently drove to the top of a lookout. Not a bad thing.

Hike 3: Browns Pass Hartenstein Lake Trail

This was a trail that my cousin recommended. Usually, we don't take their recommendations because they are in super shape and we are not. However, the AllTrails app had a lot of comments saying that the trail shouldn't be marked as "hard" but as "medium" (which are our hard trails). So we decided to do it. Woof. It was maybe the hardest trail we've ever done and it took us all day. But I am so proud that we made it all the way up and all the way down. (I took way less photos on this trail because I was just trying to breath).

 A special shout out to the best food we had that week. First up was this delicious sliver gin fizz cocktail. We had cocktails at Deerhammer Distilling Whisky Bar, which was right next to The Buena Viking, a burger food truck. We enjoyed these cocktails while waiting for our food. 

Deerhammer gin, lime, elderflower tonic and sugar

Overall, it was another great trip in the books. I can't wait to go again.