Cory and I camped here two Septembers in a row – about an hour and a half outside of Colorado Springs on Rt 24, turn left just past the town of Lake George (anyone else love how simple directions can be when you’re going to the middle of nowhere?).
The first time, we had a campsite out in the open (read: expansive views, windy windy windy windy). For the second, we picked a more isolated spot with a little bit of a hike-in and some nice tree cover (read: not windy, more non-people related noises at night).
If we camp here again, we’ll probably go for one of the boat-in (or much longer hike) sites – though you have to be much more careful with animals/food/etc and probably travel a little lighter than we have on past trips. They are SO beautiful though, hard to resist.
There are lots of trails to hike around the big lake (reservoir?) – I can imagine that in the summer this place fills up, but in early September, you have plenty of space to yourself. We like to do a whole lot of nothing when we camp – hiking, reading, sitting by the fire, and of course, roasting marshmallows.
{Public Service Announcement for S’mores people: switch your chocolate bar for a peanut butter cup and it will rock. your. world. Pinkie swear.}
Last week, lifehacker posted about how getting out into nature makes you smarter (my paraphrase) – it didn’t surprise me, but it’s truly amazing how doing “nothing” for a while, whether it’s camping or hiking or just being outside, can refresh your drive for all the “somethings” you’ve got going on at home.
The article also said that even photos of nature have similar effects, helping people operate at their best. So here you go, I just helped you rock. You’re welcome!
Have you noticed that escaping to the outdoors helps you be more creative/productive?
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As a full-time freelance writer, I find myself holed up in my home office for days/weeks/months on end. It’s only after ADVENTURES that I feel the spark again — so yes, escaping to the outdoors is part of my therapy!
🙂
I feel ya – I work in a windowless office (which I am constantly lamenting) so I have to be intentional about getting outside, but it really does recharge that creative spark 🙂
beautiful! and yes, i have noticed nature does that to me a little. great post.
Wonderful post, and it really looks like a gorgeous location. I definitely agree that escaping to the outdoors helps me be more productive – it just feels great to refresh your mind and body and I feel more energized when I’ve had time outdoors.
Thanks for sharing and congrats on being freshly pressed!
I LOVE escaping to the outdoors! I wish more people appreciated appreciated natural beauty the way I do. Even something as simple as a walk, makes me feel alive and present.
Thanks for sharing your story and those lovely, nostalgic-looking black and white photos:)
Lovely photos!
P.S. Thanks for the tip for upgrading my S’mores. Will definitely try to remember that one for fall! 🙂
you will LOVE it – I am a peanut butter fiend and I can’t believe I hadn’t thought of this sooner!
There simply something about Black and white that captures my fancy. Thanks for sharing.
wow you must have had a great time !
nice pics ..
Thank you, we did – it’s one of our favorite place to camp!
Everyday Adventure: great title.
Thank you – it’s something I aspire to, making everyday a little adventure 🙂
Peanut butter cup smores = my one true love. Great photos!
so fabulous, right?
Lovely post, would love to go there one day
Awsome photos. I don’t really like s’mores but love PB cups so will give it a try.
It was a great feeling to see the nature look so beautiful in black & white mode. There are very few people in this planet, who love to spend time with the nature. And you are one of them. So enjoy the adventure. You are really doing a great work.
gorgeous photos! looks like a lovely trip. thanks for sharing
Ahhh I can’t wait to go camping in the summer! It’s one of the best experiences in the world 🙂 Will definitely have to try those choco-pb smores 🙂
I like the textures you capture in these photos. Great job. Connie
Outdoors is the most productive way to find inner answers and to resolve anxiety. I love being outdoors, and your pics are amazing.
http://valentinedefrancis.wordpress.com
Wow. What a lovely spot! I’ll have to add it to our wish list Totally agree that getting outside like that helps productivity, creativity and mood generally. One of my current projects to help my children learn that and to have ‘outdoors’ as their default setting.
Cool pictures. We are always looking for new ideas. Are you familiar with Black Canyon Gunnison National Park? We are headed that way this summer and was wondering about the hiking/ camping. Our blog profiles a lot of state parks, national parks, etc. We would love it if you checked it out.
I am familiar, and have driven in that area, but not camped – Colorado is a beautiful state. Hope you enjoy your travels this summer!
Beautiful photos! And I couldn’t agree more with that article and your observations. Camping more is one of my in-the-next-few-years goals. Colorado’s top of the list now.
Being outside in nature is such an easy, affordable and lovely way to de-compress. It saddens me that more people don’t do it every day, even for a few minutes. This afternoon it was (!) 60 degrees here in the Hudson Valley so I sat by the edge of the river and watched the geese. Even 10 minutes of that is so restorative.
I heard that the weather has been unseasonably warm out there, that is awesome. We are getting our first big snow of the year tonight, so our run with mild winter might be over! Enjoy while it lasts 🙂
I loved your post and your translations (read windy windy ..) etc which had me giggling, I walk my dog every day which I love – I love the fresh air – although sometimes it can get a bit fresh – this place looks glorious – minus the telephone poles and odd power station; my first camping and only camping trip was 10 years ago to a ghastyly over sub-scribed place somewhere (UK), I know they aren’t all like this as my grandpa had one at the bottom of his lane and they used to let me borrow their pool when I was young – this looks like a really fab trip – loved your post and photos xxx
I would love to camp in the UK – you should give it another go!
I can say that camping has changed my life. There is no better way to get away from it all. Thank you for sharing your experience, I loved reading your blog.
There is absolutely nothing like spending a day in the great outdoors to reenergize, refresh, and erase! Love this post! Beautiful!
Glad I stumbled upon your blog. It’s always nice to meet fellow Coloradans in the blogging world. I love the photos. I’ve been to 11-mile, but not long enough to enjoy the scenery. Looks like one more place to add to my must-stop places in CO. 😉
yes! we are trying to get the most out of it as we can this year – my husband is going to hike a few fourteeners this summer I think 🙂 any must see places you’ve loved?
From a photographer (in the makings) point of view, the light in your photos is truly beautiful!
I absolutely agree that escaping to the outdoors helps us to be more creative/productive. There’s no better way to recharge the batteries than traveling. It puts my nervous system to rest from all of the information it accumulated from work and all that. Hence, when I travel, I really leave gadgets but camera to ensure I get the kind of pause I need to be more creative and productive when I get back.
Classic ! All in black and white. I also have a posting that contains a black and white slide show video. Please visit it if you have time. Thank you so much in advance
Gosh, so much depth can be taken in from simple black and white photos. I am a WordPress photographer, and it makes me so happy to see others who share a common interest of looking into a world of beauty and emotion through a camera. Great, great job on these!
Thank you so much!
i fully agree with you! i was working a dead end job last year and hated it so i took 6 months off and hiked the entire pacific crest trail from mexico to canada and the trip changed my life forever. I had a saying to the people who asked me if I was going to leave mid hike to go back to school. id say to them “dont let school get in the way of your learning experience” I learned some of the greatest lessons of life while spending six months in the outdoors. So much to the point that im doing it again this year! cheers from a new follower! 🙂
I agree – so many great life lessons to learn through travel and exploration – totally addicting if you ask me! Glad you enjoyed the post.
I do like your ‘nothing’ and ‘somethings’ quote, I run the outward bound programme in the Himalayas and it resonates, has done for many years of my life, happy to have found your stories.
Love the pictures! B&W makes it even more enchanting…
Keep going Anna…have a blast everyday.
The images are really gorgeous, what a wonderful place!
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Amazing!!!
nice photographs! enjoy! 🙂
nice scenery .am also a nature lover living in India .photos were amazing.. leaves u with a tranquil feeling !! Thanks for sharing .
Hey, I liked this post bunches….I’m a hiker too and feel recharged when I’ve reset myself from the outside world…I like what you got going on here…
I have many things to say.
1. You’re really pretty, but I guess I’m not the 1st one to say that.
2. It’s my dream to go camping such and all. That’s why I’m working on startups and different projects and experiments in college. Get the money, then make life a roller coaster ride, whether I have to live a nomadic life, doesn’t bother me.
3. Thanks for this post, reminded me of the ultimate goal in my life, roaming around places, camping, and happiness!
This is beautiful! I love camping so much.. can’t wait to go again this summer!
[…] some friends still came out to have kabobs and s’mores with us under the stars.Check out Beautiful Geometry‘s knock your socks off s’more tip. It is fun to go away from home for the night and […]
A really beautiful account
I totally agree with the fact that when you are in nature’s embrace the world seems a much brighter place
I am totally inspired and i’m going camping next week all thanks to you 😉
Love the B&W photos… being out in nature certainly makes me feel much better about everything and lifts my spirits completely.
awesome blog!
Peanut Butter Cup S’mores ARE the BOMB! ~ Red
such a beautiful nature 🙂