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Hiking and Sketching in the Colorado Rockies

Destination: Grand Lake, CO

| Activities: Hiking and Sketching

Hike through forests and meadows, along sparkling creeks and cascading waterfalls. Stop along the way to sketch the beauty of summer in the Rockies. We provide a watercolor set and journal that fits in your day pack, along with expert art instruction and a supportive, creative hiking group. Maximum group size: 13

Highlights

Hiking on some spectacular trails in Rocky Mountain National Park
Experiencing a variety of Rocky Mountains ecosystems, from Aspen and Pine forests, mountain meadows and wildflowers
Practicing using your sketchbook in a new way to really see and record the beautiful vistas
Learning some basic art elements to improve your drawing and watercolor sketching techniques
Enjoying the camaraderie of other women who love to hike and be creative

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Inclusions

Two of our experienced hiking guides; one is Botanical Artist/Art Educator and other is a long-time Field Artist/Nature Sketcher.
Six nights lodging in rooms with 2 or 3 people
All meals from breakfast Sunday to breakfast the following Friday
All transportation once you arrive in Denver CO
A small travel sketch set with journal, water brush, travel watercolor set, and micron pen

What's not included: Travel to and from the Denver airport, alcoholic beverages, guide gratuities, and travel insurance.

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The trip requires some aerobic conditioning, such as walking vigorously up hills, jogging, cross country skiing or stair stepping for 30 - 45 minutes at least 3 - 4 times a week. Additional endurance exercise may be suggested. There are typically 4 to 6 hours of daily activity.

This trip is for women in good physical condition who can hike for two to five hours a day in mountainous terrain. There will be an option of hiking distances on 2 days, giving you the freedom to determine whether you're more inspired by the hiking and surroundings, or the time to stop, sketch, and smell the wildflowers. You will have the opportunity to participate in all of the options if you train for a rated 3 trip by engaging in aerobic conditioning, such as walking vigorously up hills, jogging, cross country skiing or stair stepping for 30 - 45 minutes at least 3 - 4 times a week. Rating: 1 [2] [3] 4 5.

This is both a hiking trip and an opportunity to learn and practice basic art elements. Enjoy the mountains and improve your drawing and watercolor sketching techniques.

We will spend one night at a hotel near the Denver airport and five nights at the Shadowcliff Mountain Lodge. Shadowcliff is a non-profit organization focused on sustainability. The property is made up of rustic lodges and cabins built through the efforts of approximately 650 volunteers over the course of 4 decades. The Cliffside Lodge, which we will have to ourselves, has a deck, kitchen, dining areas, a large third floor lounge with a fire place, and fantastic views. There are 5 bedrooms, each with one double bed and a set of bunks, and there will be 2 - 3 women in each room. Beds will be assigned randomly. There are also two single rooms. There are a total of four shared bathrooms, none of which are attached to individual rooms. We feel that this is a great place for our group to connect with nature.

Below is the proposed itinerary for the trip. As is true on any adventure travel trip, plans for any specific day may be modified due to weather considerations, unforeseen circumstances, new opportunities, and group interests.

DAY 1

Arrive anytime today at the Denver airport. We'll be staying at a nearby hotel with an airport shuttle so you can arrive whenever it's convenient, and begin acclimating to the mile-high elevation. Our first formal get together will be tomorrow morning, although everyone who's arrived can get together for dinner.

DAY 2

We'll leave Denver about 9:00 am for the two-and-a-half hour drive to Shadowcliff Mountain Lodges, elevation of 8,600 ft, and our home for the week. Shadowcliff is located on Grand Lake, right on the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park. After sharing a picnic lunch, we'll have an intro to sketching materials and playing with watercolors, with an interactive color wheel exercise. Then, we will walk to the Kawunweeche Visitor Center, 1.5 miles gentle uphill, as we continue to acclimate to Colorado's higher elevations We'll stop along the way to do some easy thumbnail (tiny) sketches to learn about drawing composition. Next, we'll settle into our rooms in Cliffside Lodge at Shadowcliff. After dinner we'll head outside for a nature walk and sketching the sunset over Grand Lake and the mountains.

DAY 3

This morning we'll hike right from our lodge on the North Inlet Trail, which is part of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. The out-and-back trail provides an opportunity for two hiking groups: Whomever wants a longer hike, Cascade Falls is 7.4 mile round trip. The falls are multi-tiered cascades that drop roughly 50 feet through a narrow granite chute. Those wanting to stop and sketch/paint the meadows and mountain vistas along the way may opt for a shorter hiking distance. Regardless, later in the afternoon we will have short lessons and practice to learn about perspective, proportions, and perception in landscape drawing. We will also cool off in the stream and enjoy the atmosphere at Shadowcliff, which often includes evening music jam or games.

DAY 4

Today, we'll hike on the East Inlet Trail past Adams Falls where a rocky outcrop provides views of the rushing falls though a narrow gorge. We continue hiking through aspen and lodge pole pine forests and lush meadows with abundant wildflowers. The out-and-back trail today starts with a gradual up and then proceeds more steeply above the mountain valley with numerous rocky outcroppings and spectacular vistas. We'll again have the option to split into two groups for a faster or slower pace and more or less opportunities to stop and sketch trees, rocks, and wildflowers. While distances and elevation changes will be determined by the group paces, the maximum distance this day will be about 7.1 miles with an elevation gain of 1000 ft. Our art class today will focus on value, light source, shadows, and shapes.

DAY 5

This morning we will get an early start to avoid afternoon thunderstorms above timberline. We drive an hour to the Alpine Visitor Center, situated at an elevation of 11,800 feet, with exhibits about the alpine ecosystem and spectacular 360-degree views across the Continental Divide. From the visitor center, we'll hike downhill for 4 miles, dropping 950 feet in elevation, to Milner Pass, an alpine lake and our van. If the weather is conducive, we will stop for quick watercolor sketches along our hike. Options include close-up studies of tiny alpine plants, the snowy peaks of the Never Summer Range, and a series of pristine tarns (small alpine ponds) and their reflections. We'll demonstrate techniques for reflections and water before our drive back to Grand Lake with time to explore the town, starting with the local art gallery.

DAY 6

Today we have options for a longer loop hike (7.5 mi, 1300 ft. elevation gain) on the Onahu, Tonahutu, and Green Mountain trails, or an out-and-back hike of 3 miles with time to explore some great views, historic buildings and points of interest in the area, as well as more time to watercolor sketch. Tonight, feeling like the accomplished hiker/artists that we are, we'll go out to celebrate at our final celebration dinner in Grand Lake. We will also share our favorite sketches from the week - a mini-art show of our own.

DAY 7

Today we'll pack up and clean up, sadly bidding farewell to our home for the week and this gorgeous Park. We'll be back at the Denver airport by 12pm and you can plan flights out any time after 2PM.