July 19, 2026

After church today and lunch at Mickey D’s we decided to skip the heat again. We went up on the Uncompahgre and headed down Payne Mesa. On the divide it was quite busy and dusty. The dust was a surprise as the last few afternoons it’s been looking very stormy up there. Down Payne we met one SxS. It was quiet and peaceful. We sat for an hour or so under a big ponderosa pine tha was probably 350 years old or more. We didn’t want to come down, but decided that we are going back tomorrow for an overnight camping trip. It’s supposed to be in the upper nineties the next few days and we are OVER this heat. Yesterday was the first day we’ve seen the San Juans clearly since the Gold Mountain Fire started. Also last night was the first it’s not been choking smoke. We even put cellophane wrap ever our master bath vent as the smoke has been filling the bathroom every night. Praise the Lord. It seems the rain up there is taming that fire. Panasonic G97