Naomi's First Backpacking Trip

Buffalo Creek Campground where we spent our first night.

Portion of the Colorado Trail before we began our assent up Rolling Creek trail. Naomi's bag was ultra-light, but awkward.

The Castle in hazy dawn light. It's been an unusually wet summer for Colorado providing foggy mornings in the mountains and vibrant forest undergrowth.

Second night along Rolling Creek. It is such a comfort to hike all day and walk into a temporary home in the wilderness.

The blue is our tent as seen from the trail.

The back-side of The Castle at sunset.

Desert Paintbrush.

Moonrise over the castle.

Columbine and Shooting Rockets.

Buffalo herd and Wigwam Creek waterfall.

After a two hour deluge we emerged from our tent, started a fire and ate a needed dinner. The clouds dissipated just enough to let the rosy hues of sunset light the tree-tops and drifting fog above us. It was frigid and wet but well worth it.

Extracting water from Wigwam creek.

This is our third night at Wigwam Creek. The creek darted in and out of elbows and tight hairpin turns, under giant boulders and over fallen trees. It is one of the most fun creeks I've seen. There were decently sized Brook Trout just off the shore, too.

On our way out we had to stop and capture the vast fields of wildflowers. The fields surface seemed to shimmer with color as breezes passed over. We were fortunate to have seen such an abundance of flora. One person we talked to said that due to Colorado's drought over the last 10 years, this kind of foliage has been non-existent. I'm glad we were able to enjoy it while it lasts.