July 18 - 22: Green Ridge cg, Arapaho National Recreation Area

Driving into Green Ridge, thought it might be a mistake; going through a neighborhood of "little cabins" seemed a little too congested for a campground and any semblance of wilderness. However, the entire east side of the lake and everything south of our campsite for miles was Rocky Mountain National Park and/or National Forest.

Sad but common site in the area; pine beetle victims cut down and awaiting burning

Our campsite turned out to be terrific, backing to the wilderness, a meadow full of birds, squirrels, chipmunks, prairie dogs, and an astounding number of humming birds (Gary said we needed to be wearing safety glasses because of the large number of "close calls" - nearly got skewered in the eye!)

The campground, however, was below the dam, which I always find a bit unnerving....must be my California earthquake upbringings...never sleep underneath something heavy.

Gary cooking a Tinfoil dinner - fresh veggies and fresh-caught trout.  Our resident Osprey couple passing overhead....their squatter nest (made by the bald eagles, taken over by ospreys in the summer) is in a dead tree, dead center of the last photo...