Thursday, July 11, 2013

hiking mondays: road trip to hanging lake + glenwood hot springs and a summer caprese


Before we started a family, my husband and I used to travel a lot. There were camping trips in Africa, boating adventures in the Galapagos Islands, hosteling in Europe, zip-lining in Central America and excursions through parts of the Middle East and South East Asia. Travel was just something we did. And we loved it. 
When Otis was born we weren't completely ready to stop traveling all together. So, much to the surprise of almost everyone around us, we boarded a plane when he was just 6 weeks old and spent 2 weeks in Spain. It was a gamble, but it was one we were willing to take and it tuned out well. A few months later we took Otis to Jerusalem (with a side trip to Petra) and at 6 months old he flew with us to Mexico for the wedding of two very close friends.
When I became pregnant with Theodore we still had a bit of wanderlust, and so Otis spent 5 days with my in-laws (his grandparents) while Matt and I went to Puerto Rico on a second baby-moon of sorts... 
Theodore arrived 22 months after Otis, born in the same hospital in lower Manhattan. We were still living in our teeny-tiny apartment in Brooklyn and we were starting to feel a bit overwhelmed. Family trips following the birth of our second? Drum roll, please...New Jersey. I think we went Connecticut too. Then we moved to Colorado...

\\These days we travel back to New York about 2 times a year, but we haven't taken any big family vacation outside of the Tri-State area, or even stayed at a hotel together as one unit. That is, until last week.
Denver is a great jumping-off point for some spectacular hikes and scenery, but we really wanted to get deep into the mountains. We would settle for anyplace on the other side of the continental divide. That, however, would require spending an overnight in a hotel, because 6 hours of round-trip driving in the car with 2 young kids isn't exactly a good time. So we booked a hotel in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
Before getting into the car, we ran the boys around a bit, and then we set our departure time for nap time. Otis and Theodore fell asleep immediately. When they woke up we were well past Vail and just a short distance from Glenwood Springs- a really great place that has enormous pools fed by natural hot springs. 
We checked into our sleeping quarters, which were perfect- two twin beds, air conditioning and a pool- and set out for dinner. 

\\The next morning we went to the Hot Springs and we spent about 3 hours in the pool. I ventured into the therapeutic baths for a bit and came out feeling like jello (super relaxed)...and my feet were so soft! It was awesome.
\\Heading back on I-70 in the direction toward Denver and the Continental Divide, you hit the exit for Hanging Lake, a magnificent lake at about 10,000 feet in elevation that is a pristine ecosystem with aqua blue waters.






\\When we got to the trail head I was thinking it would be a relatively easy hike. It's only about 1 1/4 miles to the top of the trail and the lake, and we routinely take our kids on 3 mile hikes. Unfortunately for us, I didn't exactly do the research that I should have done. And the hike it turns out, while only 1 1/4 miles long, has a 1000 foot incline. It's basically like hiking straight up a mountain. Literally.









\\But we persevered and slowly made our way to the top...and finally got to the last of the 7 bridges that we needed to cross...

\\By the time we got to the lake we were incredibly exhausted, but it was spectacular and the canyon views were GORGEOUS...(see that, I'm using CAPS-- that's how beautiful this hike was!)






\\Then it was time to go back down the trail...


notes on the hike:
Getting there from Denver: About 3 hours. I recommend staying in Glenwood Springs for a night or two. It's about 10 miles from the hot springs on I-70 heading east.
Difficulty: Strenuous, especially with young kids.
Distance: 1 1/4 miles.
Duration: Plan to spent between 2-3 hours getting to the lake. It took us less than 45 minutes to get back down.
Pack: sunscreen, a hat and lots of water!

\\ I was wiped out by the time we got back to Denver, so a simple caprese salad did it for dinner (I really couldn't find enough energy to cook and make a big mess). I cut up a few tomatoes and a few balls of fresh mozzarella. Usually I make my own pesto, but I happened to have some leftover store-bought because I prefer it for my pesto minestrone. I put a big dollop of pesto in between the tomato and mozzarella. Then I drizzled it with some balsamic vinegar reduction and a few pinches of large flake salt. 
Simple. Summer. Enjoy!
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13 comments:

  1. man that colorado,, it takes your breath away! what a vacation!

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    1. it really does! and we don't even need to get on a plane :)

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  2. Thanks for the info on Hanging Lake. This is on my list! I didn't realize the hike was so steep and rocky either! Not great for the 3 year old.

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    1. Hi Dulcie! Sure and you're welcome! It should be on your list. It's gorgeous. It really is very steep and rocky, but if you plan on it taking a few hours AND you don't do the hot springs for three hours BEFORE you head on the hike, I think it's more than doable...I mean we did it, and no one in our family is exactly running the Iron-Man if you know what I mean! I meant to ask you-- what are you favorite farms in the Longmont/Boulder area?! Hope you're having a great day!

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  3. Just beautiful, Batya! A dream of mine is to do just what you and your family did, move from NY to somewhere like CO or Washington for a more affordable life with better access to the great outdoors!

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    1. Hi Rachel! Nice to hear from you! Hope NYC isn't being too tough on you and everything else is going well. Yes, much more affordable, much better quality of life...and the great, really GREAT, outdoors. Washington was on our list too, but there's much more sunshine here :) Let me know if you find yourself out here- I'd love to catch up and show you around :)

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  4. Wow, that hike is just gorgeous! We love "hiking mondays" and because of you have gone to Eldorado and Castlewood. We are just outside of Boulder- so we are almost neighbors :) I look forward to the next post...where are you (we!) going next? Have a wonderful Friday, Batya.

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    1. Yay! Thanks for liking "Hiking Mondays" which is pretty much what this blog is becoming! Glad to hear that we are helping you explore-- that's one of the best parts of social media, blogging, etc.-- the exchange of ideas/inspiration and the community you get to be part of! Next may be the Royal Gorge or Maroon Bells in Aspen. We went back to Roxborough State Park yesterday and saw mountain lion tracks-- that had me running for the hills! It was gorgeous and much cooler than normal thanks to cloud cover. Would love to meet in Boulder. You can send me your contact info through my email connected to this blog :) Thanks for commenting!

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  5. Hanging Lake is one my favorite places ever! Thanks for including this. Did you get a chance to go the Glenwood Caverns while you were in Glenwood? The kids would love them!

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    1. Right?! It's pretty amazing and you're welcome! We didn't do the caverns-- but since we are definitely going back to the area, we will put it on our list. Thanks, Michelle!

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  6. Hi Batya, I found your blog through your city guide, which is the most terrific guide of Denver I have ever seen! It's nice to see Denver from a non-natives eyes-- there is so much going on that I forget to take advantage of all the beauty and the great food :) I LOVE you hiking Mondays posts. They give me so much inspiration!

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  7. really amazing place for hiking, there are rocks, waterfall, forests. these are all very good scenary. this is very beautiful and it is a very good place for backpacking, I will surely go there.

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  8. Road trips might be a little tiring but they are interesting travel experience. Terrific post indeed.
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