We had such a full and fun Labor Day weekend! We did so many things that I split up it up into a few posts. We went to Colby's Aunt and Uncle's ranch, Ouray hot springs, Via Ferrata and Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico.
If you want to see pictures from Beautiful Ouray, Colorado and from the Ranch click here.
If you want to see pics from Bandelier National Monument, which are ruins from an ancestral pueblo people, click here.
We had such a blast being in the mountains and one of our most intense outings was hiking the Via Ferrata in Telluride. A Via Ferrata is an Italian word meaning the "iron way." It is a protected climbing route that takes you along cliffs and ledges that normally during a hike one could not do. You wear a harness and rock climbing gear. A lot people take a guide, but you don't need one if you have gear and its way to expensive! So we bought our own gear and went! There is only one way to go, so you can't get lost :) Most Via Ferrata's are found in Europe, but there is one in Colorado of course! I had never heard of a Via Ferrata before I met Colby, but some of his family and extended family did the Telluride Via Ferrata for a family reunion couple weeks ago. We were unable to go to the reunion, but lucky for us we were able to hike the Via Ferrata for labor day weekend!
At first we didn't know if we would be able to complete it because of the raining weather, but Saturday morning we checked the weather and found it would not be raining the whole day. We went in the morning and half way through the hike it started to rain a little bit. We were on the hard part at the time and using the cables and heavy duty iron hand holds and I was nervous. But we said a prayer and almost immediately it stopped raining and the weather cleared! I would love to do it again! Enjoy the pictures! By the way, most of the pictures are of me because Colby had the camera and I had the gopro to film it. I wish I had more pics of Colby.
The route of the Via Ferrata
View of Telluride on our way up to start the via ferrata. If you look close you can see a rainbow over the valley
Bridal Veil Falls. There is a house that lives on the cliff next to it! Crazy!
Before the hike
Just about to start
And were off...
The views are glorious!
First picture of the main event which is where you are on the cliff and go around a corner only using the cables and steps provided. This was the scariest and funnest part of the Via Ferrata!
As we drove back down to Colorado we spent labor day morning at Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico. They are ruins of an ancestral pueblo people from 1100 A.D.! It was really neat to climb ladders and explore their old home and their way of life. Check it out!
Hello?
On our way to the Alcove. 140 feet up on the cliff side. You have to climb ladders and stairs to get to it!
