It was the final stretch of the trip before heading back to Denver, driving from Gunnison to Fraser for to Hideaway Mountain Lodge. The lodge is situated in the mountains, far from crowds and in nature. Exactly my idea of a great last night of holidays. It looked very well equipped for the approaching snow season, had a recreational room filled with boardgames, movies, an indoor pool and hot tub. The sky was cloudless on the night I was there and the stars were crystal clear, unfortunately not much a phone camera to can justice to when taking photos.

While I was there I drove to Grand Lake which had a lot of interesting souvenir shops, cafés and restaurants. It was a beautiful place to walk along the Gene Stover Lakefront park.

There is a trail I found near the Lakefront park: on Google Maps it’s called: “Trail Head – Continental Divide National Scenic Trail”. It was just the right distance for about an hour’s hike, beyond that I saw it links up to the Rocky Mountains National Park for further trails.

Right at the front of the trail there is a sign warning for “LION COUNTRY. Mountain lions frequent this area.” Their safety suggestions made me simultaneously laugh, get seriously nervous and want to carry a firearm! If you see one, the sign said: “STOP! Do not run… Pick up small children. Stand tall (Yeah fantastic advise for someone who is 5 foot 1…) If attacked, fight back!” Fair enough, chances are I wouldn’t see one and I plodded along anyway. I survived 27 years in Africa I think to myself, shrugging and carrying along.

Along the trail there was some nice elevation giving great views of the surrounding lake and snowy mountains in the distance. I didn’t encounter any mountain lions in the end, and it was a great hike.

roadtrip progress:

32 hr (1,973 miles) – Direct route travel