Articles from Janice and Cowboy John

Ruby Mountain Hike

New friends. Joann and Steve, hiked in the Ruby Mountains with us this summer.

They stayed in JoeAnna Peak’s cozy Guest House in Lamoille (check “Links” on our web page for JoeAnna), and walked just down the street for dinner at the Pine Lodge and breakfast at O’Carrolls. Idyllic Lamoille: Tiffany windows in the vintage church, and deer in the meadow with a snow-capped Ruby Mountain backdrop.

Cowboy John’s cherry red van transported us to the turnaround at the top of Thomas Canyon where we stuffed lunch in our backpacks, grabbed hats and water bottles and began the hike up the stock trail to Lamoille Lake.

On the sunny side of the mountain we’ll see lots of flowers. That’s important today for Joann is a Biology teacher and amateur geologist. She points out glacial U-shaped valleys, interesting rock layers, and vegetation as we move up the mountain. The stock trail, meant for pack trains, is steeper than the hiking trail on the opposite side of the valley. We stop often to admire blossoms and moss that crowd the many creeks crossing the path. This has been a wet spring and summer so flowers and water are everywhere.

Steve is a physician specializing in geriatric medicine. Between the four of us the conversation bounces back and forth all day--medicine, rock, ranching, teaching, and cowboying. We’re having such fun that after a short snack at Lamoille Lake we keep walking past the lake to Liberty Pass, 10540 feet above sea level.

Sandwiches, fruit, nuts, and brownies are spread on the granite ledge and we keep talking while the sun peeks in and out behind lumpy clouds.
Lunch finished, we head down the mountain on the hikers’ trail, where Parry’s Primrose hides in a special grotto, and tall pines shade Heart-Leaf Arnica. Pink-stained snow banks (Steve says it’s bacteria that makes the pink) are still along the trail and filling some of the valleys.

Some folks collect rocks, when they hike. I do that, too, but my best collectibles are the fun people John and I meet touring in our favorite country! Thanks, Joann and Steve!

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