The Orient Land Trust, Villa Grove, Colorado

The Orient Land Trust a.k.a. “Valley View Hot Springs”
info@olt.org, olt.org * PO Box 65, Villa Grove, CO 81155-0065 * 719.256.4315 * 9 am - 10 pm. Open to the public 7 days a week - closed December 1st - 28th.
This fantastic Land trust is dedicated to the preservation of natural resources, wildlife habitat, open space, historic and geologic features of the northern San Luis Valley for the enjoyment of current and future generations. The OLT protects a humongous bat colony, hot springs, alternative energy use, and is well known for its high altitude dark skies for astronomy, exposed active geological fault, limestone caves, numerous trails, historic buildings, town sites at an abandoned iron mine, and a working ranch. The OLT is a naturist community (clothing optional) with 24 hour access to the hotsprings when camping or renting their rustic lodging cabins. They limit the number of visitors based on space availability and environmental impact. For current pictures and views … visit their web site, linked above. The entire grounds are clothing optional - while the majority of the guests tend to swim and soak without swimsuits, there is no pressure either way. The OLT welcomes a diverse clientele of couples, singles, and families from all walks of life - children are always welcome, though require supervision. They offer camping and cabins, their indoor lodging have heat and electricity, though there are no telephones, clocks, radios, or tvs in any of the rooms. All of the ponds and pools are outdoors - there are no private pools or hot tubs - there are four natural ponds with temperatures ranging in the 90’s, an 80′ long spring-fed swimming pool (no chlorine) in the high 80’s, and a heated hot pool around 105 degrees. Our visit to this fantastic resort was over the weekend of 11/10-11/11. A must visit for any hot springs or naturalist enthusiast. Rating 5 stars out of 5.

Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument (Idaho)

Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument Highway 30, Hagerman, Idaho: just off the Scenic Thousand Springs Byway 1-208-837-4793; http://www.nps.gov/hafo/home.htm “Fossil bones of zebras, beaver, otter, pelicans, and other water fowl, are found in sediments left from a 3,400,000 year old pond on the bluff across the river. Lava flows, pouring out over the plains on the side of the river where Hwy 30 runs, met and dammed up sedimentary deposits washed up on the other side, making lakes and swamps. Here the river divides these two important geological settings, formed at a time when the climate was wetter, and the plains were tree-dotted grasslands, where zebra-like horses grazed. All along the Snake River, fossils can be found, but some of the most notable fossils were found near Hagerman, giving birth to the National Monument. When Elmer Cook, a cattle rancher in Hagerman, Idaho, discovered some fossilized bones on his land - in 1928, he showed them to Dr. H.T. Stearns of the USGS who passed them on to Dr. Gidley at the Smithsonian Institution - identifying them as belonging to an extinct horse. They excavated the area and found three tons of speciments. The most valuable of the fossils found, was the large volume of this extinct Horse, known as Equus simplicidens, a.k.a. “The Hagerman Horse”. Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5. Visited 10/01/06.   Fossil Areas of the Scenic Byway photos © 2006 Technogypsie.com

Fossil area of the valley photos © 2006 Technogypsie.com   Hagerman Fossil Beds, Hagerman, Idaho photos © 2006 Technogypsie.com

Columbine Trail (Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Columbine Trail http://www.springsgov.com/Page.asp?NavID=3396 The trailhead is on the south side of the road, about 1.5 miles up the road from the main park gate by the Starsmore Discovery Center. Hikers only. A beautiful green space park that brings together the lower canyon with a rushing clear river with herbal flowers, brush, live oak, aspens, and pine; with an increasingly steep climb from elevation 6,250 to 7,300 ft upwards through one of Cheyenne Mountain’s canyons. Beautiful flora and fauna, interesting geology, and rock climbing availabilities … this free green space doesn’t charge for parking and is a great place for hiking and outdoor recreation. You can take this trail from the Starsmore Discovery Center up to Helen Hunt Falls. Rating: 4 stars out of 5.

Photos © 2006 Technogypsie.com

Boulder Falls (Boulder, Colorado)

Boulder Falls (Boulder, Colorado - Boulder Falls)
http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2875&Itemid=1016#Boulder%20Falls

“The Yosemite of Boulder Canyon” - Boulder Falls is a torrent of icy cold water that falls from the rock cliffs above dropping 66 feet, with a little ledge cave behind it. A spot famous with rock climbers this falls takes many climber and sightseer lives … and doubles for one of the most romantic viewpoints in the Boulder area. Located just off Hwy CO-119, 11 miles west of the city of Boulder. Open dawn to dusk, Free. Rating: 4 stars out of 5.

Simulana at Boulder Falls, Boulder, Colorado © 2006 technogypsie.com

Tubing at Boulder Creek (Boulder, Colorado)

Tubing at Boulder Creek (Boulder, Colorado - Boulder Creek)

One of the more entertaining activities in Boulder during the summer … is tubing down Boulder Creek. Boulder creek runs right through the city of Boulder, and pretty much anywhere along its course you can enjoy the river and do activities like whitewater tubing. Enjoy picnicking, fishing, kayaking, tubing, rafting, wading, or swimming … alongside the creek is a 7 mile long Boulder Creek Path - great for walking, jogging, biking, and rollerblading. The path goes from the mountains of Boulder Canyon, through downtown Boulder, and out into the plains, with many scenic spots for hiking, gazing, sightseeing, picnicking, and other outdoor activities. Rating: 4 stars out of 5.

Boulder Creek, Boulder, Colorado © 2006 technogypsie.com

Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Saturday, 24 June 2006
Colorado Springs - Manitou Springs, Colorado
Garden of the Gods
Colorado Springs, Colorado

Garden of the Gods, 1805 N 30th Street (at Gateway Rd.), Colorado Springs, CO 80904 * 719.634.6666
http://www.gardenofgods.com/

Garden of the Gods, is a unique natural geological park that is located in Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs … and is a Registered National Natural Landmark. It’s open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. in the summer and 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the winter. The original family that donated the land to the public required that it would always remain free, and that is what it remains today. A great park for hiking, walking, bicycling, rock climbing, picnicking, special events, and weddings … Garden of the Gods has it all … and a unique tourist / information center, with a theater and gift shop.

Garden of the Gods Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colorado

With 15 miles of trails ranging in various levels of difficulty from beginner to advanced, its a great place for hiking and exercise. A historical video greets you at the welcome center and tells the tale that began in the 1870’s when the railroads carved westward, when General William Jackson Palmer founded the city of Colorado Springs and upon discovering this natural beauty, urged his friend Charles Elliott Perkins, the head of Burlington Railroad, to make his home in the Garden of the Gods and finish his railway from Chicago to Colorado Springs. Even though he didn’t succeed with his rails to the Springs, he did make a summer home in 1879 by purchasing 480 acres, though he never built on it, leaving the land in its natural state and for the public. When he died in 1907, he made arrangements for the land to be a public park, and this was enacted by his children in 1909 forever as the Garden of the Gods “where it shall remain free to the public, where no intoxicating liquors shall be manufactured, sold, or dispensed, where no building or structure shall be erected except those necessary to properly care for, protect, and maintain the area as a public park.” That is exactly what they’ve done …. and its a beautiful place to be. Rating 5 stars out of 5.