Part of the reason I live in Grand County is cross country skiing. My partner in skiing, Anna, and I are never very good at our timing or navigation. We always think we can squeeze in a quick ski before book club, a storm rolls in, or darkness falls. Our navigational skills are also a little on the questionable side. We always have a general idea of where we are and know where we want to get to, but point A to point B is rarely a straight line. Take the trail to the High Lonesome Hut as case in point.
This is one that we start on the main trail and then veer off and follow along the creek. Now, our reasoning always makes us think this is a loop as our side trail should meet up with the main trail on the far side of the first ridge, but book club, storm, or darkness always rolls in causing us to feel the need to cut up the hill and then back down (generally in a terrifying manner) to the main trail on the other side. Neither of us feels particularly good about this, but there you go.
So, imitating Hermione Granger, I recently followed the adage, “When in doubt, go to the library.” Doing a quick catalog search, I found Grand County Library District has quite a large selection of trail books tucked into either the Reference or Non-Fiction sections. Anything from trails for twitchers (birding), trail running (613), or even the International Mountain Bicycling Association guide to building single-track trails (796.6).
Of course, whenever I’m in the catalog, I fall down the rabbit hole. While searching for a local hiking guide, I clicked on the “Explore More” widget. I came across a series of old newspaper stories about people (“Daisy of Strawberry Park”), ranching (“Our main goal isn’t to get rich off any of this, but to be able to stay on the ranch”), and even technique (“The Art of Cross-Country Skiing and Waxing”) circa 1977.
Okay, focus Gallagher. I headed to the 790s and 917s.
I grabbed “Colorado 10th Mountain Huts & Trails” and “Colorado’s Continental Divide Trail” off the shelf. The rough area of where we were was included but High Lonesome isn’t a 10th Mountain Hut, so no luck. I did discover that there are quite a few books about huts and hut trips, but decided to put those on hold as my goal was to find out where Anna and I were skiing, and if we could get through.
I glanced around. Aha! I forgot GCLD stocked the fabulous National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map. Checking through the Winter Park, Central City, Rollins Pass, Colorado, USA, I found our route. Hmmm. Nope. In fact, the trail we were following does not connect back up to the High Lonesome Hut trail but instead peters out about 1 mile further up the road towards Meadowcreek Reservoir, whereas the High Lonesome Hut trail curves in the opposite direction as it heads towards Arapahoe Bay on Lake Granby.
Good to know. Do a search for “trail guide” and who knows where it might lead you.
Wednesday, Feb. 5
Storytime — 10 a.m. at Granby Library. Storytime is a fun, interactive, early literacy program designed for children under the age of 5. For more info, call 970-887-2149.
LEGO @ the Library – 3:45 p.m. at Fraser Valley Library. Bring your imagination and the Library will provide the LEGOs. Create! Share! Play! For more info, visit www.gcld.org.
Read to a Dog – 3:45 p.m. at Fraser Valley Library. Did you know that dogs are the perfect reading companions? They create a relaxed, comfortable, and safe environment for sharing books. Read with a trained therapy dog, Sophie, on a first come, first served basis. Children should be accompanied by an adult. Learn more at www.gcld.org.
Colorado Ballet’s Peter Pan – 4 p.m. at Hot Sulphur Springs Library. Please join us for a recorded live stream of the Colorado Ballet’s performance of Peter Pan. Open to all ages. Learn more at www.gcld.org.
Great Decisions – 5:30 p.m. at Juniper Library in Grand Lake. Join us for America’s largest discussion group on world affairs from the Foreign Policy Association. During this program, a different topic is discussed each week. Register for this free program at www.gcld.org.
Adult Virtual Book Club Meeting – 6:30 p.m. at Hot Sulphur Springs Library. This book club meets quarterly, with a different genre every quarter. Come enjoy food, book discussion, and have a chance to win a great prize! Learn more at www.gcld.org.
Thursday, Feb. 6
Storytime — 10 a.m. at Fraser Valley Library. For more, call 970-726-5689.
Tech Training Classes – 10 a.m. at Granby Library. Let us help you learn to use your devices with ease. To register, call 970-887-2149.
Storytime — 10:15 & 11:15 a.m. at Kremmling Library. For more, call 970-724-9228.
Storytime — 11 a.m. at Juniper Library in Grand Lake. For more, call 970-627-8353.
Colorado Ballet’s Peter Pan – 4 p.m. at Kremmling Library. Learn more at www.gcld.org.
Family Movie Matinee – 4:30 p.m. at Granby Library. For more info, visit www.gcld.org.
Afterschool Program – 5 p.m. at Juniper Library in Grand Lake. For more, call 970-627-8353.
Friday, Feb. 7
LEGO @ the Library – 1 p.m. at Granby Library. For more info, visit www.gcld.org.
Colorado Ballet’s Peter Pan – 1:45 p.m. at Juniper Library in Grand Lake. Learn more at www.gcld.org.
Saturday, Feb. 8
Growing Readers Together Storytime – 10:15 a.m. at Kremmling Library. Storytime is a fun, interactive, early literacy program designed for children under the age of 5. Presented thanks to a grant from Growing Readers Together. For more info, call 970-724-9228.
Young Adult Writer’s Workshop – 2 p.m. at the Kremmling Library. Join this group for writing tips, tricks, and ideas. For ages 11-19. Register at www.gcld.org.
Sunday, Feb. 9
Grand County Community of Writers Critique Group – 2 p.m. at Granby Library. Join this group of aspiring writers of fiction, non-fiction, and memoir and attend the ongoing monthly Writer’s Workshop. For more info, call 303-819-5955.
Astronomy Club – 4 p.m. at Granby Library. Are you interested in astronomy? Join the Grand County Astronomy Club this month for a presentation on astrophotography. For more info, visit www.gcld.org.
Monday, Feb. 10
Storytime – 11:15 a.m. at Hot Sulphur Springs Library. For more info, call 970-725-3942.
Tuesday, Feb. 11
English Classes – 10 a.m. at Kremmling Library. For more info, call 970-724-9228.
Tech Training Classes – 10 a.m. at Granby Library. To register, call 970-887-2149.
Digital Skills for Adults – 11:30 a.m. at Kremmling Library. Bring your device and join us for a facilitated class where you can choose your own course, learn on your own, and ask for help when questions arise. Register at www.gcld.org.
Books Too Good to Miss! — 2 p.m. at Granby Library. Join this book club as they discuss “The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules” by Catharine Ingelman-Sundberg. More info at www.gcld.org.
LEGO @ the Library – 4 p.m. at Kremmling Library. To register, visit www.gcld.org.