I was to post more on the Alpine Loop. However, as of this moment, I am sitting next to a heated pool where my children are swimming, and the pool is at the Bavarian Inn which is located in Custer, South Dakota, Black Hills region. The southwestern corner nestled by Nebraska on the south, Wyoming to the west.

We are on another trip.

So...the Alpine Loop. It was a fantastic trip full of memories. To expedite this portion I will sum up.

The town of Animas Forks located about at the half-way point on the loop is a ghost/mining town of several buildings. This was a popular junction on the loop since it can be accessed by many mining/four-wheel roads. The town's homes and other buildings are in great condition.

We also passed a house that is advertised in some literature as a house one time belonging to Henry David Thoreau. I doubt this greatly due to the newness of the house.

Cinnamon Pass and Engineer Pass are about 12,000 feet. The tundra terrain is stark and all three jumped, crawled, scaled the rocks all around. The wind was stiff, but they all leaned into it and played.

We visited the American Basin which was still splattered with snow that the kids played in and threw. The Basin is a jumping off point for hikers headed up Handies Peak, a 14'er. The basin was beginning to be dotted with wild flowers.

Grizzly Gulch, I think, or Wager Gulch was an area that also led to a ghost town called Crystal City. This town isn't in as good of condition as Animas Forks but the location was exceptional and we had it to ourselves.

Off of the loop, we ate at a soda shop recommended by the kid's orthodontist, Dr. David McReynolds.

Lets finish this trip here with just a little more.

After leaving Lake City, we stopped in Creede for a bite and a purchase and made it to near Alamosa when we decided to turn north to the Great Sand Dunes. The dunes stand in the shadow of Blanca Peak which is the sight of my first and failed attempt to climb a 14'er. A little about that. I attempted this climb with Brent Auvermann and Bill Walker. We met in Walsenburg, drove to the trail head, slept in the vehicles, started early up a ridiculous road, got to Lake Como, kept climbing, were not going to make it, started back down, exhausted, got in truck, drove to Walsenburg, ate a steak, drove back to Amarillo that night with B. Auvermann as we took turns sleeping in the back of his truck.

The sand dunes were a big hit. Not a location for a long stay but just right for us then. The kids climbed a large dune that they should have, did, feel proud about tackling.

Stayed in a Comfort Inn with a pool in Raton. The pool was the thing. Awoke and drove to Amarillo to visit with the Auvermanns.

I walked that afternoon around their house. We all walked to a park and talked in the early evening. The next day we were home.

That was a bit quick.

Out