Day 4: Hiking near Beaver Creek

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Today was really two different days for us. The first half was waiting for the steady rain to ease up. Some shopping in Vail, some reading, getting a haircut - waiting for the day to begin. The second half was more like it. Rain eased up around 2:30 and we decided it was too wet to do some of the hiking we had planned, so we walked and bused to the nearby Beaver Creek center to learn more about the hiking trails there. Before long we had decided to embark on some hiking anyway, and more than three hours, seven trails and about 10-12 miles later we had a remarkable day. The first few trails were hard, and uphill. The fresh rain gave the whole area a wonderful fresh smell of spruce, but footing was tricky at times. At one clearing where the Forest Service workers had some vehicles parked we met a new friend, a mule deer who was not at all shy about our being around. Most of the trails we travelled seemed to be made for cross country skiing, and several crossed through the downhill skiing lanes. The pictures here show only the lower half of the downhill skiiing runs, the rest were above us - so you get an idea of how steep some of the downhill runs can be here. The last few trails gave way to some spectacular views of the villages below. We finished up at the Beaver Creek Ritz Carlton and took the free bus back to our lodge in Avon. Supper was at a highly recommended Italian restaurant, Zacca Za! and it was everything it was reported to be.

Tomorrow we will try again to hike the Shrine Ridge Trail, a short but spectacular trail near the Vail Pass summit. In the evening we are planning to attend a rodeo in Avon. The afternoon is still under discussion, depending on the weather and how early we get to Shrine Ridge. Friday we are planning to do a mega-hike to some of the highest peaks in Beaver Creek and to have lunch at Beano's, a highly recommended restaurant near the top of one of the trails and near Beaver Lake on Grouse Mountain. Hard to believe we are already running out of time to do all the things we'd like to fit into this week!

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Photos

Scenery is nice here
Beaver Lake Trail

Five Senses Trail
our perennial companion, a fast moving river rushing downhill against the rocks

Village of Avon
seen from Bear Paw Trail

Dan hiking
on Beaver Lake Trail

Mule Deer - Not so shy
Beaver Lake Trail

Paula hiking
on Five Senses Trail

Aspen Forest
On Village to Village Trail

Ski Lifts
Bear Paw Trail

Beaver Creek village
seen from Bear Paw Trail

Raindrops on plants
Village to Village Trail - this is after heavy rain all day