It has been a long time between blog posts but that’s because of Facebook which makes it easy to put out quick regular postings of information and updates.  I almost forgot there was a Blog.  Also, there’s the newsletter which has gotten totally lost in the pile of social media.

But…important things are underway and I’m committing myself to more regular blogging and a December newsletter which will give updates on the Winter Park to Grand Lake route for next summer.  This trip is definitely on, but will be offered only 2 to 3 times and is a definite work in progress and I’m sure will change over the years.

If you’ve never done an inn-to-inn I advise the WTW first as the Winter Park trip will have some kinks I’m sure.  I also plan to offer the Over-the-divide trip during the same time as I can send people over just before I go over to work the route.  One date will be the first week of August.  Then there will be one or two other weeks no earlier than that.

The Winter Park trip will have the same Footpaths trip components: well-organized self-guided hiking with diverse lodging and plenty of Rocky Mountain scenery.  Yet, where the WTW circles the Estes Valley then heads south always in Rocky Mountain National Park, the Winter Park trip is different.  Grand Valley is a wide north-south ranch valley with Winter Park Ski Resort sitting at its southern base.  Getting there requires driving over the Continental Divide.  The trip begins with high mountain tundra-walking.  With this in mind, a day of acclimation may be in order.  Staying in downtown Denver and then taking the train from Union Station to Fraser where we can pick you up could be a really fun beginning and help with acclimatization.  

The trip continues with access to the Divide once more and a hike into the town of Winter Park which is different from the resort.  The third days heads north along the Fraser River into the ranch town of Granby.  It finishes with several length options into Grand Lake and Rocky Mountain National Park.  We’ll have a condo-style lodge for two nights, quaint town lodge, a super fun motel and a grand historical lodge at the end.

That’s an overview.  I hope to return in the spring for some snowshoeing on the first day and then I’ll spend some lengthier time there in April.

For now, winter is underway and snowshoe trip bookings are way up.  We’re offering both day trips and getaways with lodging.  Warming House is also looking at offering self-guided customized backpacking trips for next summer.  You fill in the blanks, book it and arrive ready to go.  We’ll have your permits, your route card, all your equipment, food and gear ready and give you a ride to the trailhead.  Done.

Oh and don’t forget France.  We’re booking this trip self-guided as well.  Best booked from late April to early October.

Onward….