Hot Sulphur Springs

The fishing access along the White River was not very accessible so we went on to Craig. Lots of places to fish along the Yampa but it was so low! I don’t think it was even deep enough to float on.  The fish and game department was recommending not even fishing it as the water is so warm and the fish are stressed by the terrible conditions.  We went on to Steamboat Springs and kept right on going as it was Friday night and the rodeo was in town! Lots and lots of people……very beautiful but busy and touristy.

We wound up spending the night on the top of Rabbit Ears Pass. It is not a really high pass but it is a long pull up the mountain. And it was a lot cooler up there.  This is all new exploring for Jim and I had not been to the Steamboat area in years. The drive down into Kremmling was beautiful; sage covered rolling hills, rocky outcroppings and aspen trees. Kremmling and beyond were our old stomping grounds so it was like coming home. We drove on into Hot Sulphur Springs to check out the Colorado River there. There is a really nice primitive camping area there called Pioneer Park, managed by fish and game. Even though it was Saturday we were able to find a nice spot. Two very useful websites I have come across: www.freecampsites.net and www.rvdumpsites.net

It is a beautiful spot, right on the river with lots of huge cottonwood trees for shade. They even have porta potties and trash pickup! From the campground we can walk to the hot springs. This is one of my favorite hot springs as there are multiple pools of varying temps and lots of minerals in the water. Most are outdoors so the views are great. Hot Sulphur Springs Resort

The only drawback is the noise from the trains that go thru many times a day. As it is in a canyon the echo is quite mournful. Lots of freight trains and the California Zephyr which runs between Chicago and San Francisco and back. I rode it 4 years ago with my granddaughter Kalyn; from Denver to Glenwood Springs…incredible trip! Amtrak

Hot Sulphur Springs is a great little town. Info and history of Hot Sulphur Springs. Did you know the first competitive ski race was held here is 1911? Here is a link to the Denver Public Library’s Digital Collection of old photos of the area, including the Hot Springs Resort. It has been in continuous operation for 140 years. DPL digital collection

We met several new friends while we were there and got to share in a little boy’s 1^st caught fish. It was at least 16” and he caught it on one of those little plastic kid poles and a worm. His dad didn’t know if the pole could handle it! Pictures of Pioneer Park

We also met a guy who is riding his bike on the Transamerica Trail. He is biking 4200 miles and plans to take about 3 months. His blog is www.crazyguyonabike.com/8333. He left Yorktown, VA on May 9^th and was on day 48, and had biked 2,435 miles when we met him. The previous day Ed had ridden over Hoosier Pass south of Breckenridge, the highest point on the trail at 11,500 ft. His wife Cathy drives the support vehicle and sets up camp and packs in the morning. What a great adventure!

We are also starting a new chapter in our adventures. While we were at Trappers Lake we got to know the camp hosts there, Bobby and Shirley. I had always been under the impression that camp hosts were strictly volunteer positions…not so. We talked a lot about their experiences camp hosting, some of which include an hourly wage and your RV spot. As a result we really felt that this was a path in our lives that God wanted us to take. We did a lot of research over the next few days and found several positions to apply for. On Friday, June 29^th we got a firm offer from a campground/motel/gas station/store in Hatch, Utah. That is where we are headed on Monday! Hatch is 30 mins from Bryce National Park and the whole area of southern Utah we’ve wanted to return to and explore. In the meantime we are off to Winter Park and the “Blues from the Top” music festival.