Author Archives: josephtruss

I was fortunate to get a long weekend due to MLK Day on Monday and decided to take the prior Friday off as well. I needed take a shakedown drive in Pigpen to work out a few issues and decided on the very remote Picketwire Canyon in Southwest Colorado as my destination (ahead of aContinue reading “Picketwire Canyon, January ’22”

A reunion of old college friends was planned for October in New Orleans. I usually drive Pigpen west, north, or south from Denver, but I’d never gone east/southeast. It would have been simpler to fly, but not nearly as much fun. So, I took a week and made a trip out of it. Denver-Amarillo-Shreveport-Natchitoches-Baton Rouge-Picayune-NewContinue reading “To New Orleans and Back, October 2021”

Sometimes I forget, living in Denver, that the actual world-famous Rocky Mountains are just a few miles away. With no long distance trips planned for the summer, I decided to take advantage of a few days off work and, with no set destination, ended up traveling to several places in Colorado I’d never been: Crestone,Continue reading “Colorado Backyard Trip, Summer 2021”

I was able to get a couple of days off last week and decided to head into the mountains for two nights before coming back in for a concert at Red Rocks. I spent the first night in a perfectly deserted, beautiful spot in the Buffalo Creek Wilderness. The next morning, I headed south toContinue reading “Quick and Troublesome Mountain Escape, May 2021”

I suppose two years in a row makes it an annual tradition. Last year’s trip was hard to describe. I was tied in knots. This year was about liberation, celebration, and overcoming a couple of breakdowns, one of which could have ended the trip if not for the giant heart of a friend and anotherContinue reading “Southern Utah, Winter 2021”

A few weeks ago, I was able to get up to the hills and over to Moab one last time before the snow arrived. I spent the first day crossing Guanella Pass and Independence Pass, then headed up to a narrow, beautiful trail in Rifle Gap. The next day I met up with some fellowContinue reading “Rockies/Moab, October ’20”

We’re fortunate and grateful to be part of a group of families who visit Wellington Lake outside Bailey, CO each Labor Day for a weekend of mountains and water. I didn’t get many pics, but we had a great time and the weather was fantastic.

Last year, I added the high top and a diesel furnace to the Syncro because I wanted it to be a true four-season camper. What I neglected to consider is that summer is a season as well, and traveling in 90+ degree heat with the windows down absolutely sucks. I needed to add air conditioning.Continue reading “A/C Project”

As part of my official entry into oldmanhood, my daughters were nice enough to take in a hike in Golden Gate Canyon with me this week. I’m eternally grateful to have these kids and to be so close to these mountains.

I went on a short walkabout last weekend to a few places in Colorado I’d never been. I went down through Buena Vista and over Cottonwood Pass, camping on the west side of the pass in Gunnison National Forest Friday night. Saturday I went past Taylor Reservoir and hiked at Lottis Creek and followed itContinue reading “Cottonwood Pass/Taylor Res/Crested Butte”