A Day off and a drive on the Needles Highway

Well the start of week 3 of work and we are all settled in so we decide to do some more exploring. The Needles Highway had been closed because there was still snow on it when we arrived but it is open now so off we go! The Needles Highway is a scenic byway filled with twists and turns and narrow one lane tunnels.

and the Rock Formation from which it derives it's name

A tight squeeze even for us!I make a friend along the wayThe views are fabulous

Where'd Gary go???



Cathedral Spires in the distanceCaution Wild Life at Large! (in small tunnels)

It's been2 weeks since we have done our hike-a-day and I have put back on 2 of the 10 lbs I lost getting here - so I think we should tackle the Cathedral Spires Trail. Seems the trail hasn't been groomed in awhile!



Since that was so much fun we added on the Sylvan Lake Loop



All throughout the forest there are downed trees that have been cut up into blocks.

Apparently they are having a major problem with a destructive Pine Beetle. Cutting the infected trees into smaller chunks reduces the larvae's ability to survive. After 100+ years of Man suppressing forest fires, the forests have become too dense allowing disease and pests to transfer easily from tree to tree.

Next on the list was Mt. Rushmore but as we leave Sylvan a dense fog is coming in. So this is what we saw of Mt. Rushmore! Oh well another day!