My Proud Mountains

My home is Colorado

With her Proud Mountains tall

Where rivers like gypsies

Down her black canyons fall

--Townes Van Zandt, My Proud Mountains

For those of you unfamiliar with Townes Van Zandt, he's the writer of the Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard classic "Pancho and Lefty." Though Van Zandt was not a native Coloradan, he lived there and the mountains made quite the impression on him. Perhaps growing up in Colorado, we often take the beauty for granted, but on our trip home this summer, we tried to take full advantage of the outdoors. We hiked Jack's Trail in Gunnison, the Grand Mesa with Mimi and Papa, Rocky Mountain National Park with Uncle Justy and Aunt Cami, and rode the gondola in Breckenridge with Nana and PopPop. Asher loves his backpack, but we have a sneaking suspicion that the young man will no longer be so fond once he starts doing some hiking of his own. After that happens, stay off the trails, because there will be a wild man on the loose!

Disclaimer: These pictures have no order.

Asher on the Gondola in Breckenridge. "Hey, who's that good lookin' guy? I like his Phils hat."

Mommy and Asher in Rocky Mountain National Park

The Woytek Expedition. This was Lincoln's and Heath's first long journey in the backpacks.

Dad and Asher on Grand Mesa

Asher and PopPop in Breckenridge

Grand Mesa

Hiking down in RMNP

RMNP

Aunt Cami, Heath, Uncle Justin, and Linc