The Road Less Traveled

Every year we head to the mountains for a church workers conference. The conference usually occurs just as the leaves are turning their colors. 

Since I like to view beautiful scenery and because there was road construction being done on our usual route we decided to drive on the scenic road of Boreas Pass.

I think we caught the tail end of the leaves changing color and falling off the trees. Nonetheless, it was still pretty.

Did I mention that Boreas Pass is a bumpy, dirt road? I think it added about an hour to our drive. My children were thrilled.

The weather seemed to turn colder earlier this year giving us snow-capped mountains on our arrival to Breckenridge. The snow usually pays a visit on the last day of the conference.

We made it to the Continental Divide where the air is thinner and the trees are more sparse.

The children were happy to get out of the van for a family photo.

Then they realized that it was colder than they had expected. Brr!

An old railroad track used run in these parts.

The temperatures continued to drop the closer we got to Breckenridge.

As we continued down the road less traveled we spotted a deer. It scampered away too quickly, so we weren't able to get too close.

We found a random little lake with snow-capped back drop. I think I could live there, maybe. Could you?

We spotted our hotel down below. The kids got excited when they realized we were getting closer.

And, that's about as much 4x4-ing as we were able to do in the bad boy of a tank. There was no jeeping for us this year, but that's ok. It was a fun tradition while it lasted. ;)

Boreas

When we arrived in Breckenridge the weather looked as though it was starting to turn and a storm was its way to town. I really wanted to see the beautiful Aspens in all their glory so we headed out quickly for Boreas Pass.

The weather in Colorado is quite fickle, so I knew we wouldn't have much time to view the gorgeous trees. As quickly as the Aspen leaves turn yellow their leaves are also at risk of getting blown off their branches.

A gush of harsh wind will take the leaves off the trees in just minutes. I think we may have seen the tail end of these beautiful trees.

We drove up close to the tree line. Here in Colorado the tree line is 12,000 ft. You can see that the trees are starting to look sparse.

As we headed back toward town the trees became more dense.

Have you ever seen those Jeep commercials where the Jeep is driving through the creek? Well my Lutheran Stud wanted to try that in our Land Cruiser.

Because this is what a Land Cruiser is meant to do we crossed this little creek.

Boreas Pass used to be a railroad pass between Denver and Leadville. That red water tank used to be a stop for trains fill up with water.

Now hikers and bikers use the pass and you can see why. The view is gorgeous. That's Breckenridge down below.

Now are you ready to move to Colorado?