We work SO hard!

We forced ourselves to make the trek up to Kennebec Pass today, having heard the wildflowers were great. The last time we were up there was in June 2007 with a dear friend.

As you can see, this is rough work, having to trek over to a waterfall. And we had to avoid stepping on the starkly black and white butterflies that seemed to swarming near one stream.

Just below Kennebec Pass, there's remains of an old mill (the Cumberland Mill, I think), including a double-tank thingy that looks kind of space-shippy. Last year I took pictures of two sweet ladies, one reclining on each of the tanks. Today, a marmot was sunning on each of the hatches; when we got close enough, they dove down inside.

And then there's putting up with the view! It was hazy at lower elevations, but we seem to have gotten above that, and the ring of mountains around the head of the La Plata River was gorgeous! The view posted is westward into the Cumberland Basin, from just south of the crest of Kennebec Pass (11,600 feet above sea level). tv