In Search of Simple Pleasures – A Photo Essay

When you live in Colorado, you don’t have to go far to find pleasure in the beauty that surrounds us.

Simple pleasures can be as easy as taking a walk. Last Saturday, my husband Danny and I hit the Mt. Royal Trail in Frisco. It is an intermediate hike that winds through Masontown which was destroyed in 1926 by an avalanche. Now it is a ghost town. The forest had been primarily evergreen, but aspen grew in its wake.

This steady climb was like stepping up stadium stairs. As we gained elevation, I imagined a new bride on the back of a burro mumbling, “How much further is it Charlie?” as she regretted her quick decision to marry a miner.

I took these photos with my Droid cell phone. Click on each photo to enlarge.

White aspen trunks stood like haunting ghosts along the path. Aspens have darker trunks in lower elevations where they tend to be stressed out.

Signs of fall.

A view back at Frisco and Lake Dillon after a quick rise in elevation.

I spied a fancy-like boulder wearing a wreath. Perfect for a little fairy dance!

A few poisonous mushrooms dotted the forest floor.

 I loved these Dr. Seuss flowers with mop tops!

Even after almost 25 years, Danny is still full of surprises! He packed cheese and crackers too. This was truly a simple pleasure.

We plan to come back when the aspens are in their full autumn splendor.

Like a metaphor for life, the path back included a few twists and turns.

What a wonderful hike full of life’s simple pleasures.

This coming Thursday, August 30th will be another Use Me and Abuse Me Day! Come back and post a link to your blog, book, or video in my comment section. Make some new friends by clicking on other links and saying hello!

Where do you find simple pleasure?