Monday, November 12, 2007

Yurting Colorado: The Clark Peak Yurt


Near Ruby Jewel Lake, November 2007.
Another magical journey above 12,000ft last weekend, northern Colorado at its very finest delivers a fun filled weekend with amenities.
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Side note:
The above image is not manipulated. As far as I can tell, the image’s focal sharpening was the result of me walking forward while taking the picture. I have never before been able to create this effect at the camera.
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Clark Peak

12,951 feet, 3947 meters

Latitude/Longitude (WGS84

40° 36' N; 105° 56' W
40.606828, -105.930038 (Dec Deg)
421319E 4495528N Zone 13 (UTM)

Country

United States

State/Province

Colorado

County/Second Level Region

Jackson (Highest Point)
Larimer


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Side note:
This was a special occasion for my buddy Keyrock (Eric) as he earned his PhD in molecular biology from CU boulder the previous week. This trip was the celebration and gift from his support crew.
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Sadie at Ruby Jewel Lake 2007. (My favorite image of the trip)
On day two the group hiked up to the Ruby Jewel Lake which is a short (~6miles round trip) hike from the yurt in dry conditions…And boy was it dry. With less than one foot of snow on the ground the walking was easy and did not require snow shoes. Our dry October is very noticeable up here. In fact the outfit that manages the yurts usually does not allow dogs during the winter season, as people melt the snow for drinking water. But this years snow pack is so shallow and scares they are extending the summer rules into November.

We had snacks at the lake and pointed out our favorite ski runs before heading back to the yurt for the celebration feast!


Ruby Jewel Lake November 10, 2007


Dinner Preparation.

Apple smoked bacon wrapped shrimp kabobs.

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Side note:
Some of us pitched in and got Keyrock a new grill smoker for a job well done. He insisted on dragging it up to the yurt for its madden firing and we didn't argue. What a firing it was! A heroic three day effort.
Totals for the weekend:
(not kidding)
12 hamburgers*
12 bratwurst*
3 chickens
4 marinated pork loins
4 sirloins*
4 racks Baby back ribs
30+ Bacon Wrapped shrimp
4 poblano peppers*
1 bundle Asparagus*
1 veggie burger (theres always one.) *
2 bags charcoal
2 branches of Apple wood

* Grilled
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Guests are expect to leave the yurt in better condition than they found it.
Here is the yurt we found on Day 1.

Tasks include:
Split and stock firewood.
Clean dishes, kitchen, table and folding chairs.
Sweep and mop floors
Empty ashes and clean wood burning stove
Shovel snow on deck and Steps (not today)


Jason,Mara,Keyrock,Sadie(dog), Jay, Katie,Kimmy, EZ
The yurt, about half of the group and the new smoker.
Yurting sure is fun, I hope to make it back next year.