Planes, hot springs and snowmobiles

The Hutchinson’s are back in town and before it gets too cold I thought we’d go on a mission…. actually I needed a hand to get this mission accomplished and they were the first willing participants.

No real rush to start the day so we skied Keystone on a gorgeous not-a-cloud-in-the-sky day.

hutch-13hutch-03The tree is the background is the state tree of Colorado…..  don’t piss on it.

hutch-05

The Breck’n’fridge in the background – will be there on Friday.

hutch-04

Now for the mission part.

I have heard of these natural hotsprings about an hour from my place, they are on the Colorado River (the same one that runs through/and created the Grand Canyon).

First plan didn’t work but the 2nd one did.  The walk in – Paul’s right hand is pretty much where the springs are.  Notice all the tracks in the snow?  Those are animal tracks – they are attracted by the warmer water and there were lots of bear warnings.

I wasn’t too concerned, I don’t think it is bear season and I don’t have to run faster than the bear…. I just have to run faster than Paul.

hutch-02

hutch-16It was a bit of a scramble down the rocks into the springs but it was worth it.  Here is Catriona looking like she is popping out of the rocks.

hutch-08  hutch-11

We didn’t come unprepared….

hutch-10 hutch-14

What goes in…. must come out.  Don’t drink the water at the Hoover Dam.

hutch-12

Paul saw some deer or elk on the way home…. even the deer/elk in Colorado can smell the naughty intentions of a Kiwi.

hutch-01

Enough fun for the kiddies, now I had some work for them to do.  Time to pick up my girl… Poly.  We have missed each other and she gave me the cold shoulder but we all had cold shoulders considering it was 5F(-15C).

hutch-15hutch-06

The next day Dougie had to come up because my ‘Computer Nerd Arse’ couldn’t change a darn tyre.  Another cold but beautiful day.

hutch-17