Chasing Autumn

River's response to hearing the Elk bugle.

Another Response to hearing the elk.

This weekend, I kidnapped Skyler away to the Mountains.

Sometimes when life feels a little heavy, I get the urge to retreat to the mountains.

To refresh and renew, to reconnect and regroup.

So we ran, hand-in-hand, with Son & pup, to the mountain tops 

and spent our days chasing autumn.

We spent the day and evening in Rocky Mountain National, a haven and playground since our first days here in Loveland. We crossed over the tundra and dropped down into the less frequented area on the other side. The Mountains were spectacular and majestic -- or just simply Magic.

We got out and walked the Coyote Valley Trail as the golden light bathed the landscape all around us, and shown warmly and brightly on my little family. 

I felt peace, I felt harmony, I felt apart of something bigger and it was reassuring.

I cannot walk in nature and not feel the presence of God, feel the veil thin between this life and the next. It's like all the things that crowd into my mind clear, my vision is restored, and my heart changed by the quiet power that surrounds us.

Sometimes I just have to take a step back and "see"; 

to "be still, and know that [He] is God".

It was nice to spend time as a family. Talking and Joking. Laughing as Skyler pretended to run a giggle River into tree branches Enjoying our son and all the funny things he does. To spend time doing the things we love.

On the way back we walked up to a clearing and on the other side we saw and heard two groups of Elk. The males were bugling and challenging each other. We could see them really well thanks to Skyler's fancy pair of Zeiss binoculars. (AMAZING!!) 

The Elk Rut is one of our favorite things and we use to go every year in Yellowstone. It's nice that we have it a little closer to home. 

Have you ever heard an elk bugle? It's pretty unique. 

When I first heard it I thought some one was screaming in the woods. :) 

River loved hearing them. He couldn't see them because they were too far away, but we would listen quietly until a big old male bugled and River would point to his ear and smile. He called goodbye to them as we were leaving. 

We ended our day with a yummy dinner at Grand Pizza, and cozied down in our cute little room at the Spirit Lodge in Grand Lake for the cold mountain night.   

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