Trappers Lake Lodge: Our 4th of July weekend

Aunt Peggy, Uncle Scott, Allana (their daughter), Niko, Chris (Allana's brother)

Our 4th of July weekend was spent about an hour outside of Meeker, Colorado. My cousin Allana was married last year in July, and this weekend was going to be the friends and family wedding reception and celebration of their marriage. Allana lived in Colorado for many years in different areas including Steamboat Springs, Fort Collins, and Lafayette. A couple years ago, she moved to Portland, OR to be with Niko. Allana and Niko planned their wedding celebration back in Colorado because so many of their friends were from Steamboat Springs and Colorado is the perfect place for all of Allana & Niko's outdoor activities.

One great part of the weekend for me was my husband being there! Originally Caleb had not planned on making it out for the weekend with us, but on Wednesday evening he called me from work and said, "You know I love you, right? I really love you a lot." He had switched his work schedule so that he could make the 6.5 hour drive out to Trappers Lake Lodge to be with my family and me. I was more than ecstatic because this was not something he easily could do or had to do. For me, I enjoy experiencing things alongside with Caleb and if he's not there for something like this I feel like my time just isn't complete. So thankful for his sacrificial love and willingness to figure out details so it worked for him to come.

Between my dad's camera and our camera there are many pictures of some beautiful aspects, places, and family time at Trappers Lake Lodge so I'll try to limit the pictures posted to a reasonable amount. Happy scrolling and congratulations again to Allana & Niko. We had a great time celebrating alongside you and your friends in such a beautiful part of Colorado.

Our cabin and picnic table for playing some card games. Notice mom and dad in their long sleeves and pants. It was nice and cool most of the time at Trappers. It's always great getting to wear jeans in the summer.

 The cabins were simple but very cozy. One of the best parts about Trappers Lake Lodge is at 9:00 pm they turn their generator off which means no more electricity anywhere on the whole property. It is so far down a dirt gravel road that electricity doesn't even get out to the property so it's all generator run. One night we were playing a card game in our cabin and had to turn our headlamps on to continue playing because the lights went out. That's rustic living!

 Our beds were plenty comfortable and we enjoyed the neat rustic cabin decor on the walls and windows.

 In 2002, there was a massive wildfire surrounding Trappers Lake Lodge. The whole lodge area was burned and they have rebuilt (obviously) since then. After seeing the destruction of the 2 wildfires around Colorado Springs this summer and last, my mind was set on how devastating and destructive wildfires are. It was almost refreshing in a way to see this area that had burned over 10 years ago because it showed the life that was making its way through the burn scar and that devastation and destruction is not the end of the story here. There is so much more to come afterwards.

 As we  hiked around the Trappers Lake, many analogies came to my mind about life and death. As a Christian, I have the hope of life after death on this earth. What a great hope and faith to have! Although the hike around this beautiful mountain lake was surrounded with destruction from the fire, there was new life after the death of the trees. The destroyed trees will stay dead to this earth, but that's not the end of the story. New life comes and it's even more wonderful than you could imagine for those who had seen the beauty and life that already was there before the destruction. Not the perfect analogy, but this hike had me thinking on a lot of things. Death by this wildfire did not have the ultimate final say. As you can see all of these trees are dead from the fire, but there is life. New young trees are growing in the area. Wildlife animals are making this area their home again. It was still an incredible part of God's creation and it was abounding in wildflowers!

The beginning of our hike around Trappers Lake. Dad and I hiked for about an hour and then decided to turn around and head back while Caleb continued the trek around the lake. The loop was 5.3 miles around the lake. 

Wildflowers seen along the path and covering the hillsides.

 Me and my mom. I love her!

 Dad during our hike around the lake. Notice the burn scar area in the background.

 Horseback riding was available but we didn't do it. Mom and Dad must have walked by the horse barn during a walk around the cabin area.

 He always has me laughing and smiling. Beautiful wildfires were right around all the cabins also.

 Gregory & Betty Miles are some family friends who went to grad school with my Uncle Scott. They have been family friends for many years, and Caleb & I have had the opportunity to get to know them and spend time with them since we've moved to Colorado Springs. They live just 15 minutes from us and are our adoptive Colorado parents. Betty has got me started on making homemade cards using Stampin' Up products and I love it. This is such a great family with their kids Mary & Paul who are our age.

 Allana's beautiful flower centerpieces and decorations for the wedding reception

 Uncle Scott sharing stories, giving advice and well wishes to the couple. 

The reception area was in the lodge's old general store and was decorated so perfectly. Allana & Niko had a nice wedding album with photos from their wedding last summer and their written vows. They had a fun wall covered in papers and marker for drawing art and well wishes. In the corner was a table with really neat handmade gift bags by Allana. They included fun and great gifts like Colorado wildflower seeds, natural outdoor bug spray, handcrafted vegan chocolate truffles, handmade beeswax lip balm. 

Mom and Dad looking through the wedding album.

Our drive to Trappers Lake from Colorado Springs took about 6.5 hours. While coming up and while leaving we saw hundreds of sheep off the side of the road. The part we found strange was they were on national forest land. It was fun rolling down the window and listening to them bleating and seeing lots of lambs walking with their mothers.

 We enjoyed our drive back home through the Rockies and over mountain passes with astounding views. This picture above is of an old mining town. It was just two strips of a few houses and the old mine area. It looked quaint nestled up against the mountainside.

View of the collegiate peaks as we drove towards Buena Vista. Thanks to a couple we met at Trappers Lake Lodge who advised we take a different way back home on Sunday July 7th. They said if we had taken the interstate all the way back we probably would have been stuck sitting in traffic for many hours with everyone going home from the mountains for their 4th of July weekend. We enjoyed an incredible mountain drive back on state highways. What a great ending to a great weekend with family in the Colorado mountains. Thanks Allana & Niko for planning a great celebration!