The Lake Irwin Campground and day use area, located about 9 miles west of Crested Butte, will close for the summer season on Sept. 8 and will not reopen in 2027 when the U.S. Forest Service plans a “full demolition and reconstruction of facilities,” the agency said in a recent news release. It is expected to reopen in June 2028.

“Facilities at Lake Irwin were built in the 1960s and have exceeded their useful life. The reconstruction project will update the site to meet current recreation needs and improve safety,” the release said.

Nestled at 10,200 feet in elevation with views of the Elk Mountains, Lake Irwin is a popular place for water sports, such as paddleboarding and kayaking, as well as hiking. The Forest Service plans to triple the parking capacity there and add eight new campsites, bringing the total to 40. The agency will also rebuild the roads and trails, and replace the kiosks, picnic areas and restrooms.

The Lake Irwin Campground is one of just a few near Crested Butte where spots are available to , making it prime tent and RV real estate. That’s become an important distinction in recent years, as the town has worked to cut down the number of campers in the area to what it considers a more sustainable level.

During the pandemic, Crested Butte experienced a boom in visitation, and unregulated dispersed camping , including a proliferation of dead and bare ground where there was once wild grasses and flowers, escaped campfires, and sanitation problems. That inspired the town to institute starting in 2021, meaning visitors can only set up camp where sites have been allocated for that purpose.

There are available throughout the Gunnison Valley, according to the Crested Butte Conservation Corps, a branch of the Crested Butte Mountain Biking Association that is dedicated to outdoor stewardship. The sites, which are first-come, first-served, have designated numbers, are marked by wooden posts and offer metal fire rings. Some require an overnight fee. ()

There are other established campgrounds in the area, such as the , but they are usually first-come, first-served.

The Lake Irwin day-use area, which provides access to the shores of Lake Irwin, will remain open beyond Sept. 8 of this year, though the Forest Service said there may be times when access is temporarily cordoned off, or traffic may be slowed. For the latest information, visit .

CORRECTION 1:33 p.m. on Aug. 26: An earlier version of this story erroneously said the Lake Irwin day use area would reopen in 2027. However, it will only remain open in 2026 and not be accessible to the public until 2028.

Bauer had been dealing with the stresses of work and moving apartments. She’d dropped her keys down an elevator shaft and gotten into a fender bender in a grocery store parking lot. Bauer’s dog was experiencing some health issues — and then she discovered she’d lost a roll of film shot on her 1973 Olympus OM-1 camera during a late-July backpacking trip to the Blue Lakes on Colorado’s Western Slope.

“When I was going through my fanny pack and I realized I lost this film, I just totally broke down. I was so upset about it,” Bauer said in a recent interview.

She remembers telling her boyfriend that she hoped someone would find the canister and somehow get it back to her. And she may have just spoken the future into existence, because that����ap exactly what happened.

In late July — just a couple of days after Bauer left the Western Slope — Sandy Lindh was hiking the Blue Lakes Trail with a friend from Grand Junction. This hike was something of a warm-up for subsequent adventures summiting Redcloud and Sunshine peaks, two 14ers located in the San Juan Mountains.

When the duo reached the Upper Blue Lake, they were alone and ventured up a slope to the left of the lake to take in the views from a different vantage point, Lindh said. At one point, she looked down and saw a bright yellow object with the word “Kodak” on the label.

“I thought, I haven’t seen one of these in a lifetime,” Lindh told The Denver Post.

With no prospective owners of the film nearby, Lindh decided to keep it and have it developed once she returned home to White Plains, New York. “I just imagined if I lost a roll of film I would want it back,” Lindh said.

The only realistic way to find the smiling hikers in the photographs, she assumed, was online. Lindh thought it was a long shot, but one worth taking.

So last Thursday, Lindh posted a few of the images to the 14ers.com Facebook group and asked its members,

The images, which have a naturally faded look likely from water damage, immediately captured the imagination of the digital community members. Within hours, the post had dozens of comments from people hoping to help amplify the message and find the owner of the pictures.

Internet sleuths attempted to nail down the age of the film by searching the exact harness worn by the dog in the photos. (We now know the pooch is Bauer’s 6-year-old Australian cattle dog mix named Chloe.) Some built colorful true crime narratives around the mysterious roll of film, scouring each picture for small details that could unlock the truth about what happened to its owner. Others simply relished in the nostalgia of the bygone point-and-shoot era.

“I know this isn’t about the photos, but where did you get these developed?” one person asked.

The post was shared more than 100 times across multiple hiking and Western Slope-focused Facebook pages before it eventually crossed the feed of one of Bauer’s friends who attended the backpacking trip. By Friday, Lindh and Bauer had connected, and by Saturday, the pictures, along with the negatives, were in the mail headed from New York to Colorado.

Both women were shocked by the response and how quickly the internet hive-mind helped solve this case of lost and found. Perhaps it was the feel-good nature of the story, or maybe the allure of hard-copy photos with no metadata to trace. Either way, those invested in the weekend-long drama got a picture-perfect ending.

“It����ap definitely the happy ending that I needed,” Bauer said.

Weather-wise, spring and fall are the most pleasant times to visit Moab, but with perfect temperatures come heavy crowds, especially in 2026, when family adventure travel bookings are up 106%, according to a report from tour operator . (The entire state of Utah, meanwhile, is bracing for increased tourism this year, in June.)

Summer offers a low-key window for travelers who are willing to manage the heat. Over the last 50 years, temperatures across Utah have risen at roughly twice the global average, according to , and Moab’s mercury regularly climbs into the triple digits during July and August. The town doesn’t exactly excel in the shaded-trails department, either — but try not to let any of this deter you.

Driving into town, take a look, instead, at all the drought-tolerant specialists: rabbitbrush, yucca, Mormon tea, prickly pear, Indian ricegrass, and heat-adapted Utah junipers thrive in the midsummer sun, creating a stunning, if mildly apocalyptic, landscape framed by skyscraping buttes, towers, and precariously balanced rocks.

As summertime tourists, we must adapt like desert plants by adopting a highly customized travel rhythm: active early mornings outdoors; midday resets; afternoons on the water; twilight exploration. To help you pull it off, I’ve rounded up live-like-locals tricks to keep up your metaphorical sleeves. (You’ll definitely be packing sleeveless shirts for this adventure. You might be a little antisocial, but you’re not a total psychopath.)

Tip No. 1: Book a hotel with a pool

Campbell Levy — founder and CEO of Camp Stories, who represents the — is a former backcountry guide and life-long camper. “So, perhaps it����ap notable that I’m saying don’t camp,” she said, referring to Moab’s summertime program. “It����ap simply too hot,” Levy added.

While the camping in Moab is world-class, you need — you deserve — a legit air-conditioned oasis during the heat of the day. No problem there; in recent years, Moab has enjoyed a hotel boom, and nearly every in-town lodge has a pool. Bonus: Most Moab hotels run deals in July and August.

During our most recent trip, my family of five checked into clean, sizeable suites at , which shares its resort-style pool, massive splash pad, and hot tubs with the adjacent . Both hotels offer free coffee 24/7 plus a breakfast buffet (but if you have my refined palette, you’ll head into town for your morning haul).

On previous trips, we’ve bunked at the pet-friendly . For a higher-end experience, there’s , a Main Street-proximate luxury property that sleeps up to six in a room. The pool there is also quite rad.

Tip No. 2: Be an early bird

“It����ap taken years, but I’ve come to the point where I genuinely love summer in Moab,” said Rebecca McAllister, owner and operator of , an artisan market featuring art and jewelry from 200-plus Utah creatives, and housed in the historic Moab Times Independent building.

McAllister’s best advice is to get up early and be done hiking or biking by 9 a.m. Moab-based photographer echoes that advice, adding, “We locals get up really early — around sunrise.”

If you’re like many travelers, you came to see , 5 miles north of Moab on U.S. Route 191 (N. Highway 191), and daybreak is a gorgeous time to experience the landscape, when the air’s still crisp and the sun hasn’t baked the slickrock yet.

Moab’s NPs — Arches and Canyonlands — see their lowest visitation rates in July and August, but still, the entrance gates can get sluggish by midmorning, so it����ap best to roll in early. Arches is open 24/7 and no longer uses a timed-entry system.

Stop at the Visitor Center, just past the gates, and fill up your water bottles (refill stations are available here and at the Devils Garden campground). Savvy hikers carry at least 2 to 3 liters of aqua per person for front-country hikes, and 4 or more for backcountry excursions.

“Drink when thirsty, and remember that when you’re halfway through your water, you are halfway through your hike,” said Anna Rehkopf, a public affairs specialist for the National Park Service.

You’ll have many scenic trails to choose from. Delicate Arch is one of the most popular routes with iconic views. “But remember,” Rehkopf said, “It����ap a challenging uphill hike with steep drop-offs toward the top.”

A little further into the park, Sand Dune Arch Trail is a super-short, magical journey to a hidden arch housed between tall sandstone walls. After playing in the sand, try the 2.3-mile Broken Arch Loop Trail, which crosses a grassland to an arch perched above a pygmy forest before winding through a section of Devils Garden campground.

I regret not visiting. Visitors there have their pick of dozens of routes — some easy, others strenuous. Plus, there’s the world-famous Needles, with over 60 miles of interconnecting trails. It����ap a 40-minute drive to the Island in the Sky district, the part of Canyonlands closest to Moab, but we only had three days, and if you try to do everything, you’ll miss the whole point of getting away.

Tip No. 3: Institute a mandatory midday siesta

“We locals get up early, take a nap around noon, and then we get ready to go out again,” said Rogers.

I love the idea of a Spanish-inspired daily reset, and your air-conditioned hotel is the perfect place to sleep through the heat of the day. Early afternoon is also a good time to splash around in the hotel pool, and if your kids get antsy, you can always head down to Main Street and duck into the air-conditioned T-shirt boutiques and ice cream parlors. (Moab surely has more ice creameries per capita than anyplace else in the world!)

Wipe off those sticky fingers, then check out McAllister’s stores before wandering over to on North Main Street. (Your kids will get a kick out of the vast displays of fossils and minerals.) Don’t miss , which specializes in natural history and regional titles. The is another interesting place to keep cool and is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tip No. 4: Hit the river

Fun fact: Moab is Utah’s only town located on the Colorado River.

“Everybody who lives in Moab is by the water in the afternoon,” said Josh Surkes, owner of .

Guides from Paddle Moab will help your family navigate Moab’s whitewater on a half-day trip. Whitewater rafting in Moab is more like floating, so no need to worry about fast-moving currents, especially if you opt for the 10-mile Fisher Towers stretch, featuring mild, family-friendly chutes where swimming and splashing around are guaranteed and the canyon walls offer some welcome afternoon shadows.

Standup paddleboarding is Surkes’ go-to pursuit. “If you aren’t into SUP, the kayaking is great,” he said. For an unguided experience, his company’s Rental and Ride package simplifies the logistics of a point-to-point river trip by coordinating the drop-off and downriver pickup. Personal floatation devices come standard with all Paddle Moab rentals.

Canyoneering is another way to keep your cool. In fact, summer is the only time you can explore some of the canyons without a wetsuit. We had a blast on a half-day trip through Bow & Arrow Canyon with one of the pros at I don’t consider myself a traditional thrill-seeker, but rappelling down a sheer 90-foot cliff face was a highlight of our trip.

That particular adventure took off from the Poison Spider Dinosaur Tracksite on Potash Road, located 6 miles west of Moab. The site features fossilized dinosaur footprints embedded in 190-million-year-old Navajo Sandstone blocks. Bookmark this short, moderately steep trail for an early morning trek with younger kids.

Roughly 10 miles south of town, is a literal oasis offering standup paddleboarding, swimming and fishing. Amenities include picnic tables, shade shelters and vault toilets at the campground. To get there from Moab, drive south on Highway 191 for about 8 miles, turn left at the sign, and follow the road to the water.

There are a couple of in-town hikes offering water access: is an easy route with several fun creek crossings, and is a fun, 2-mile (one way) waterside trek ending at Morning Glory Bridge.

Tip No. 5: Grab a bite

If you’re satisfied with a rotating diet of burgers, pizza and ice cream, you’ll find plenty to eat. Health-conscious vegetarians, meanwhile, can grab premade salads and sandwiches at , a hippy-dippy stop-off where my husband scored a hat from the freebies bin.

For a sit-down meal, I enjoyed on North Main Street, and the rest of my family loved the diverse options at . on North Highway 191 is a favorite among locals.

Tip No. 6: Relish the summer nights

“Our summer evenings are long and leisurely,” McAllister said. As the sun dips behind the canyon walls, the desert cools down rapidly, creating another window to head back out for a dusky hike. (Remember a headlamp for evening hikes!)

Astronomy enthusiasts will appreciate Moab’s renowned dark skies. Nearby offers stunning, high-altitude vistas and runs excellent stargazing programming on Friday and Saturday nights.

Tip No. 7: Life’s a journey (but break it up)

While this final tip won’t help you survive Moab’s sweltering heat, it will help you withstand the six-hour drive there and back with children.

In Glenwood Springs, soak away the first leg of the drive at . Its new Sauna Summit expansion features globally inspired saunas and frigid cold plunges. While the hot-cold cycles didn’t completely erase the tension of being confined in a car with my kids, sneaking away to the adults-only mineral pools — one enriched with magnesium, another with potassium — was a nice reset.

In Vail, is a pretty setting for another leg stretch. On the trip home, stop in Idaho Springs. The cauliflower wings at are your reward for enduring five hours in a car with a 7-year-old complaining, “I’m booooooooored.”

It’s a common adage among hikers who seek to conquer Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks. Others argue that a better rule of thumb is to get below tree line by noon to avoid getting caught in summer storms and to reduce the risk of being struck by lightning.

But Lloyd Athearn, executive director of the , a nonprofit that builds and maintains trails on the state’s highest peaks, takes a more nuanced stance. Forget the rules you’ve heard, he says, and respond to weather conditions as they develop in the moment.

Because conditions can change rapidly and unexpectedly in the high country — it’s not uncommon to witness a whole year’s worth of seasons in one hike — he suggests that hikers prepare for all of them. “In my pack, I usually have full Gore-Tex rain gear. I’ve got insulation. I’ve got extra hats and gloves and things like that, even if it����ap in the middle of summer because I know it can get windy and rainy and snowy at the top of a 14er effectively every day of the year,” he said.

One of the scariest things hikers can encounter, though, is lightning. July, which is prime 14er season, is historically the stormiest month with an , according to the National Weather Service. August ranks second with 4,811 daily flashes, followed by June at 2,856.

Those statistics directly correlate to human-involved lightning incidents. From 1980 to 2024, 101 people were killed, and 490 were injured by lightning strikes in Colorado, the National Weather Service reports. Of those,

The most recent fatality occurred this July, when five people were struck by lightning atop Mount Blue Sky near Idaho Springs. One of them, a teenage boy, died from the strike.

While lightning strikes can happen at any elevation, they are attracted to the tallest thing on any given landscape, which can often be people above the treeline. And even if it’s not a direct hit, the residual shock from a nearby strike can have serious consequences.

Here are Athearn’s tips for managing lightning risk while hiking 14ers:

Adequately prepare and be flexible

The first thing Athearn suggests is to check weather forecasts ahead of time. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it bears repeating because forecasts can change in the days leading up to your hike or even the day of.

There have never been more tools to get a sense of what weather may be coming, so “there really should be no excuse for people being unprepared, not carrying equipment or not being informed about what weather risks are going to be for their destination,” he said. He suggested using the on a desktop or laptop computer, which allows users to plug in the specific 14er they want to visit and receive highly precise forecasts for the area. That includes the chances of precipitation and thunder and estimated wind gusts on an hourly basis.

Still, Athearn cautioned not to take the outlook as gospel. Unexpected weather can roll in even when the outlook is favorable. For example, on Aug. 1, Athearn summited 14,230-foot Mount Shavano, in Chaffee County’s Sawatch Range, as part of a statewide effort to to celebrate Colorado’s 150th anniversary. The forecast was picturesque, with little to no rain predicted. On the hike down, however, clouds coalesced, and Athearn still saw some lightning.

“Weather can’t read the forecast; it doesn’t know what it����ap supposed to do. It����ap just going to do what it wants to do,” Athearn said.

If the weather looks questionable, the safest thing hikers can do is to change their plans or cancel their trip. Then they can return to the high country when the conditions appear less sketchy.

“As the saying goes, Mother Nature bats last,” Athearn said. “It’s just going to be a better experience if you go when the conditions are going to be better than if conditions are going to be super windy or high lightning risk or monsoon rain… if you can, why not shift to a better spell of weather?”

“Keep your head on a swivel”

The primary reason hikers aim for the summit or tree line by noon is that Colorado storms usually occur in the afternoon. But again, Athearn cautioned against expecting that to be the case every day.

In 2015, for example, the National Weather Service recorded an incident in which 1 around 10:30 a.m. roughly 500 feet below the summit of Mount Bierstadt. Everyone survived, except for one dog.

It����ap important to “keep your head on a swivel” and monitor conditions as they develop throughout your adventure, Athearn said. If the clouds start building up, getting taller and darker, it����ap time to turn around. In other words, no matter what time of day it is, “if all the signs and sounds around you are indicating storms are building, lightning’s already happening, and you’re hearing thunder, you probably need to dramatically reconsider and get out of there.”

What about driving to the summit?

A select few 14er summits, such as Mount Blue Sky and Pikes Peak, are accessible by car. And while having a car as shelter offers an extra level of safety, Athearn advised that drivers follow all of the same guidance as hikers in preparing for a trip and assessing the weather.

Best practices include scheduling your visit and buying entry tickets after checking the forecast, and being mindful of how conditions develop while you’re there. If the weather starts to turn while you’re out exploring the terrain, return to your car or get inside a building to wait out the storm.

“If you’re standing on the mountain, you’re as much at risk as if you hiked up there,” Athearn said. “The car is your island of safety.”

On Wednesday, the (CFI) published its annual hiking-use estimates report, showing the state’s tallest mountains saw 256,000 hiker-use days last year. That����ap down 3%, or 9,000 days, compared to 2024. That estimate was the lowest tally since the nonprofit began tracking hiker-use data in 2015, according to a statement.

A sizable portion of that drop was attributable to restricted access to Mount Blue Sky, which saw visitation between 20,000 and 25,000 in 2024. The road to Summit Lake, where hikers usually hit the trail, was closed for construction all last summer and only recently reopened in May. CFI estimated Mount Blue Sky visitation cratered to just 1,000 to 3,000 hiker-use days in 2025.

“Continued volatility stemming from peak closures and re-openings masks the underlying trend that the fourteeners continue to be exceptionally popular hiking destinations,” Lloyd F. Athearn, executive director of Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, said in a statement. “Closing access to Mount Blue Sky’s most popular route cut use by an estimated 18,000 hiker days.”

Many of Mount Blue Sky’s would-be hikers appear to have explored elsewhere, however. Estimates show each of the most visited peaks received increased use in the neighborhood of 1,500 to 5,000 days.

The busiest 14er last year was Mount Bierstadt with an estimated 31,000 hiker-use days, followed closely by Quandary Peak at 30,500. Both totals were when those peaks saw visitation in the 25,000 to 30,000 use days range. Mount Democrat on the Decalibron Loop came in third with an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 hiking-use days, up more than 5,000 over 2024, CFI said.

The Front Range and mountains nearby once again proved the most popular places to hike 14ers with 152,400 hiker-use days (59%) spent on the 12 peaks closest to the metro area. Use increased 5.6% compared to 2024 on those 14ers, which include Longs Peak, Pikes Peak, Torreys Peak, Grays Peak, Mount Bierstadt, Quandary Peak, Mount Elbert, Mount Lincoln, Mount Bross, Mount Democrat, Mount Sherman, and Mount Blue Sky. The remaining 46 peaks accounted for 103,600 hiker days last year, the report said.

Several ranges saw notable declines in visitation compared to 2024, including the San Juan Mountains (down 30%) and the Elk Mountains (down 17%). Conversely, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains saw a 65% boost in visitation compared to the year prior.

Given these ranges are among the least traveled, Athearn said swings in visitation can appear quite large on a percentage basis. Most of the 14ers in those areas saw just 1,000 to 3,000 hiker-use days, while a few of the more well-known peaks like Mount Sneffels and Humboldt Peak saw between 3,000 and 5,000. (Now you know where to beat the crowds.)

One reason CFI believes the Sangre de Cristo Mountains saw more hiking is that 2025 marked the first time since 2021 people could access Mount Lindsey, which was previously closed due to landowner liability concerns.

Despite historically low visitation, the statewide economic impact of hiking Colorado fourteeners in 2025 was $69.4 million, based on historic fourteener hiking-use expenditure studies, CFI said.

CFI uses several metrics to compile its annual fourteener visitation report. On some peaks, there are automated counters along trails. It also employs other data sources and mathematical models to extrapolate its estimates.

Trip organizer Helen Graham passed out bags of food that she had divvied up with the night����ap meal so that everyone shared the load. Nalgene bottles frozen full of raw scrambled eggs for the following morning’s breakfast were tucked in people’s packs to keep the salmon and salad ingredients chilled.

Denise Larsen had the all-important task of carrying the wine. “Who wants to hike with me?” she asked, joking that if she and buddy got lost at least they’d have the most important provision, right next to the roll of toilet paper strung to her pack by bungee cord.

The women were preparing to ascend 1,200 feet in elevation to the Betty Bear Hut, one in a robust network of off-grid cabins throughout Colorado known as the 10th Mountain Division Huts. The huts, which are available for rent, provide shelter to backcountry skiers, hikers, sheep herders and others exploring the state’s alpine wilderness.

Though this specific hut was new to the women, the experience was not. Every year since 1997, they have chosen a different hut for a one-night stay, embracing an opportunity to push themselves physically, cook a gourmet meal and simply enjoy each other’s company. It����ap a summer ritual they endearingly call the Hen Hike, and when it started, the women were new moms seeking a brief moment of self-care out in the Rocky Mountains. Now most are in their 60s with enough life experiences to fill the packs they carried.

This year marked the 30th annual excursion, and while everyone’s lives have changed with time, the spirit of the reunion remains the same.

“Life is filled with challenges and hurdles and opportunities and people and business and stress. But it����ap super important to take time for yourself and recharge. This group allows us to do that,” Graham said.

Graham is the unabashed matriarch of the flock, who every year chooses the destination, books the hut, plans the menu, does meal prep, and designs the commemorative T-shirts. The others affectionately call her Head Hen and describe her as the nucleus of the group.

“She is organized beyond repair,” said Karen Fleming of Conifer, who was part of the original crew and has attended all but two Hen Hikes. “I just go and say, ‘Yes, that sounds great.'”

Graham planned the first Hen Hike after attending a similar, ladies-only adventure in the late 1980s that traversed from Aspen to Crested Butte, over the Maroon Bells, and back. Graham had been a tagalong in that bunch and thought it would be even more memorable to backpack with women she was close to, including her mother, who attended the first two events.

For their inaugural voyage, the Hens hiked to the Jackal Hut near Camp Hale, outside of Leadville. It was a grueling, steep climb most remember as an exercise in bushwhacking after the group got lost and had to make their own trail. That didn’t deter them from returning to Jackal Hut to commemorate the 10th and 20th annual Hen Hikes, though it’s since been blacklisted.

“It’s an ugly hike, and we’ve done it enough. We don’t need to climb up this stony dirt road anymore,” said Centennial resident Sue Smith, another original member with 25-plus hikes under her belt. “We like the meadows and the trees, and going in and out of the flowers, and getting on our stomachs and taking pictures, and running into moose.”

In the early years, where the ladies hiked was largely decided by how far they had to drive from the Denver area, where most of them lived. After all, they had young children at home and could only get away for so long. But as time wore on and their kids grew into young adults, the women were able to venture further into the mountains.

Graham now lives in Tucson, Ariz. and returns each summer for the hut trip. This year’s destination, the Betty Bear Hut, was the most remote location they’ve ever sought out, requiring an overnight stay at an Airbnb in Carbondale and then a nearly two-hour drive into the wilderness to reach the trailhead the next day. The extra time was well spent catching up, since many of the hikers now only see each other once a year for this special event.

“I keep coming back because of the people,” said Kelli Kane, who joined her first Hen Hike in the early 2000s. “It����ap a group of very strong, courageous women and everyone is welcoming.”

Courage is a prerequisite for this backpacking trip, since it involves a high level of physical activity, no running water and usually a little bit of improvisation. A few years ago, for instance, the Hens reached a hut after a long hike to find the cistern had run dry. They had to locate a stream, forage for water and then haul it back to the hut in large metal packs. Another time, happy hour was almost doomed after someone knocked over the Nalgene bottle of pre-mixed margaritas.

“Helen started licking those margaritas right off the table,” laughed Michelle Wetzel, a Highlands Ranch resident and Hen Hiker of 24 years.

Though the flock has grown to welcome friends of friends into the fold, not everyone has been cut out for the adventure. Once a newcomer arrived ill-equipped for the altitude, the veteran Hens had to rally around her to ensure she made the trek safely. Smith took her pack and another “basically had to carry this woman up and down the mountain,” recalled Castle Rock’s Audrey Kiszla, who’s attended about 20 hikes.

As the Hen Hike has evolved to reach new places and include new faces, the most exciting part of the trip has become dinner. For the last 15 years, Graham has focused on making “MasterChef”-worthy meals that nourish the body and brain — a significant upgrade from the “bad camping” food they ate on the first several trips, she said.

This year’s menu featured poached salmon, asparagus and a citrus salad with lemon-tahini dressing. And, as always, the post-hike happy hour spread included shrimp cocktail, a hummus and veggie platter, and plenty of wine. (The trick is to buy boxed wine and pack only the bags, said Larsen, noting the optimal ration is “as much as we can carry.”)

Graham began intentionally focusing on cooking healthy meals not just because they’re delicious, but also because nutrition plays an important role in supporting brain health. She understands that firsthand from years spent working with her husband to offer cognitive training to high-performance athletes, individuals with brain injuries and neurodivergent kids.

The Hens on this trip ranged in age from 59 to 67, a time in life when it’s important to invest in mental and physical health so they can keep climbing mountains, Graham said — both literally and figuratively.

“We’re all post-menopausal, and the mushy brain of menopause has affected every one of us. It’s disconcerting,” she said. “Some of the bond that we’ve shared has been about going through those changes, being conscious and aware, and asking, what can we do to manage the transition that you’re going through?”

That sentiment perhaps best sums up what makes the Hen Hike such a special tradition. It’s as much about sharing a collective experience in the wilderness as it is sharing life experiences collectively among the women. The opportunities they’ve had to commune rank highly among the Hens’ most cherished memories, up there with the stunning wildflowers, awe-inspiring moose and handsome Argentinian sheep herders they’ve seen along the way.

“We’ve had marriage, we’ve had babies, we’ve had divorce, we’ve had death, we’ve had a lot of things,” said Lisa Platz of Littleton, who joined the hike for the first time 10 years ago after going through a divorce herself. “Some of these people I don’t see as often, but you can pick it up right where you left off.”

Back at the trailhead, the ladies donned their commemorative 30th annual Hen Hike baseball caps and gathered together for the ceremonial pre-hike photo. With a few hoots and hollers, and even a couple clucks, the group took off on their ascent to the Betty Bear Hut. As they disappeared into the forest, the hike felt unmistakably like a metaphor for life’s journey.

The women had come so far together over the last three decades and were now eagerly trudging forward, side-by-side, to whatever came next.

“Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined this becoming what it has become,” Graham said, giving a nod to new events it has inspired, like the Chicks and Hens Hike, which welcomes the next generation of young women to join in the adventure.

How long does she expect the tradition will continue? “As long as possible,” Graham said, “absolutely.”

CORRECTION at 12:22 p.m. on July 30: An earlier version of this story erroneously characterized ADHD as an intellectual disability. It is, in fact, a neurological disorder and not a disability. The story has been updated to reflect that change.

Boulder Mountain Fire Protection District first took a report of a downed paraglider near Wonderland Lake around 9:15 a.m., according to spokesperson Carolyn Rindels. That paraglider was injured in the fall, according to Boulder Fire-Rescue spokesperson Jamie Barker.

Another paraglider was injured in a separate fall in the Boulder area, Barker said.

Barker did not immediately answer questions about the location and time of the second paraglider’s fall, the severity of either of the fallen paragliders’ injuries and any identifying information about either person.

This is a developing story and may be updated.

Oh-Be-Joyful is a great name for the Crested Butte area and this beautiful place. Many families come for the camping and for the river that runs through the campground at the trailhead. The trail is also popular because of its wildflowers and waterfalls.

When you’re ready to hike, look for a sign that says “bridge and trail.” On the other side of the bridge, you’ll walk along the creek then turn uphill. This hike gets steep at times and it starts here.

At about a half mile from the parking lot, you’ll get your first view of the Oh-Be-Joyful valley and see your first waterfall. You might call this more of a waterslide. There are several cascades making up this scenic waterfall. Families can turn around here, but it����ap worth it to keep going.

It����ap another half mile or so to a sign board with wilderness regulations, like keeping your dog on leash. Keep walking. A short distance away you’ll hear the next waterfall before you see it. Walk over to the edge of the trail for a view through the trees. There are a couple of steps down to get a better view.

A short distance past the waterfall, you’ll come out of the trees into a meadow with incredible views. Look up — not just at the peaks around you, but at the waterfalls cascading down the hillsides in front of you and around you.

Read the full trail breakdown from our partner at .

Those are the selling points of dispersed camping sites, according to folks who use camping app The Dyrt, which recently released six .

Shavano Mountain ranked No. 3 in the mountain region and, surprisingly, was the only Colorado spot to make the cut. Rankings were based on The Dyrt����ap user ratings and reviews.

Located on Bureau of Land Management land, the area is a favorite because it has plenty of options along three loops that climb the mountainside and because it serves as a good home base for fishing and rafting adventures on the Arkansas River, The Dyrt wrote.

Additionally, the area is located near two of Colorado’s tallest mountains. Mount Shavano, near Poncha Springs, reaches 14,228 feet, and there’s a hiking route that connects to Tabeguache Peak at 14,157 feet. Because the dispersed camping is on BLM land, there’s no fee for overnight stays.

“Elevation delivers expansive vistas, with many sites overlooking the valley and mountains, and some offering a view of the city lights below,” The Dyrt said. “Sites are big and private enough that some campers report not seeing a single car pass by all day, and most come with existing rock fire pits.” (The forest is currently under , so remember always to check before building a campfire.)

The fact that only one Colorado destination made the list is surprising, since last year The Dyrt ranked two local campgrounds among the best in the entire country. In fact, Lost Lake Campground near Crested Butte took top honors as the No. 1 campground in the U.S.

Campers in the mountain region instead seem to be frequenting the desert this year, with Valley of the Gods in Utah placing first on the list and Navajo National Monument Canyon View Campground in Arizona coming in second. The top five was rounded out by Dark Sky RV Park & Campground in Utah (No. 4) and Lost Moose Meadows Campground in Montana (No. 5). ()

If you’re seeking camping recommendations in Colorado, here are 10 of our stalwart favorites. But if you’re looking to go somewhere off the beaten path, check out Lake City, an underrated destination where you can find an amazing spot even during the height of summer tourism.

“Honestly, it was the best day,” Joy Wobido said.

Then, it wasn’t.

As they walked back down to the trailhead, Atlas was spooked by some other hikers and took off, beginning a month-long emotional roller coaster for the Wobidos. When they couldn’t find Atlas on their own, they called for help.

“We thought they would just give us advice,” said Andrew Wobido.

Founded in 2020 by , Brandon Ciullo and Melissa Davis, the Summit County nonprofit is structured similarly to a traditional mountain search and rescue group, but works specifically to find missing animals.

Its volunteers have searched in some of Summit County’s most severe weather conditions and hazardous mountain terrain — including along Interstate-70 — to get lost animals to safety. To date, the group has found nearly 1,500 missing animals–mostly dogs, but also cats, horses, donkeys, llamas, a parrot, a snake and a turtle. For instance, in July, Summit Lost Pet Rescue helped find Bones, a 7-year-old cat, who jumped out of a truck on I-70 and ended up in the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel.

The Wobidos spent the first night in their car at the trailhead. The next morning, Ciullo met them to explain how the rescue mission worked. Their biggest and most surprising lesson: Atlas would be in survival mode and would not recognize them or respond to their calls. “Sure enough, I saw him twice,” Andrew said. “He ran right by me, going 100 miles per hour.”

The Wobidos took the first week off from work. With the help of 30-plus Summit Lost Pet Rescue volunteers, they hung neon “Lost Dog” signs with a description of Atlas and a number to call to report sightings. They searched each place he was seen.

The calls came in spurts. Atlas was seen running along Highway 9 in Blue River. Then in Frisco, 20 miles north. Every report said Atlas was running. When a day passed with no sightings, Joy and Andrew Wobido’s hopes sank. But then Atlas was seen again – this time, running on trails south of Breckenridge. The next day, across the highway at the ski resort, on Peak 8. Then, Peak 7. Then, back across the highway, north of town.

Greg Shoenfeld, Summit Lost Pet Rescue volunteer, estimates Atlas may have run as many as 300 miles during the time they searched for him. Though it is not uncommon for lost dogs to run, typically, they’ll stay within a smaller radius, he said. “The amount he was running, the distances he was covering–that he was able to maintain that pace for so long—was incredible.”

Joy and Andrew Wobido admit they would have eventually given up on Atlas if it hadn’t been for Summit Lost Pet Rescue. After a week, both had to return to work. They were relieved to know the search for Atlas would continue in their absence. “These people were passionate about finding Atlas, like he was their own dog,” Joy said.

“That����ap a big part of what Summit Lost Pet Rescue is all about: being there for the owners,” said Sam Harris, who began volunteering after the group helped his sister find her lost cat. “If they can’t get out that day, they have a team of 30-40 volunteers that have their back.”

Summer is the busy season. Once the snow melts and the trails open, “it����ap game on,” Ciullo said. “People visiting, people leaving, pet sitters, a lot of car accidents.”

For Ciullo, director of operations, who works part-time as a server at a local restaurant to supplement his income, and Davis, executive director, that often means long, unpredictable days and 7-day work weeks. Shoenfeld will often volunteer for 20 to 30 hours per week when a rescue mission is in progress. Many of the calls the organization receives are for animals found within a few hours, a day or two.

Summit Lost Pet Rescue uses large cages to lure and trap missing animals and cameras to monitor the traps to ensure no animal that enters — whether wildlife or the intended animal — is in the trap for more than a short time.

Volunteers had set up a trap for Atlas — the bait included a mix of bacon, kibble and peanut butter — in a construction area near the bottom of the Breckenridge gondola, but moved it when a homeowner up the hill reported she had seen Atlas several times. By then, 29 days had passed. Joy and Andrew had been staying in Silverthorne, but Joy returned home to pack for a work trip the following day. Andrew felt numb. Would they ever find Atlas?

Then he got the text: “We got him.”

Andrew jumped in his truck and drove to Breckenridge. They loaded the trap into Shoenfeld’s truck and drove to a volunteer’s house, where they carried the trap into the garage and closed all the doors before letting Atlas out. “He just went into Andy’s arms and bowed his head; he seemed relieved the ordeal was over,” Shoenfeld said. “Everyone in the room started to cry.”

“It was an act of God that Atlas got lost in this county that has this incredible organization,” Joy said. “This may be the best place in the country to lose a dog–despite the large area and forest and mountains,” Andrew Wobido agreed.