Tag Archives: Glenwood Springs Colorado

Jerry Begly, Wilderness Ranger

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This painting hangs in Alpine Bank, in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. You’re looking at Haggerman Peak and Snowmass Lake, in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area, near Aspen, Colorado.

I used to be a GS-4 Wilderness Ranger at Snowmass Lake. I would backpack up to the lake and camp there for 4 nights as part of my patrol. My campsite was in a “secret” location about 200 feet from the viewpoint of this artist.

I used to make pudding, and keep it cold in the creek right over where that tree stump is on the left side.

The stories of my summer at Snowmass Lake would amuse, stun, and chill you to the bone.

I had the pleasure of camping there with my wife, Marti, several years after working there. I caught the biggest fish of my life on that trip, and surprised Marti when she woke up to a frying pan 2 feet from her head, and a monster trout hanging out both ends of the pan.

If you ever get to Snowmass Lake and see this view, you’ll know why I think it’s the most beautiful place in Colorado.

My First Sunburn

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During the past two days, my wife and I spent our 25th wedding anniversary at the historic Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

We were sent there compliments of our children (Thanks, kids!)

On our way to the Hot Springs Pool a couple stopped us and handed me free passes to the pool. Woo hoo! So Marti my wife, and I went on the water slide as a celebration. Marti sat out the second ride, and I went alone.

“I didn’t hear you scream on the way down,” she said to me afterwards.

“I’ll do it again, and scream in German,” I replied.

The third time I went down the waterslide, I screamed as loud as I could in German. “Ach du lieber! Dis ist nicht gut! Aaaaaagh, heir kommt die krankwagon! Schnell, dumkopf! Aaaaaagh!”

When I came out the end of the tube and splashed into the pool, I looked up. A Japanese lady was videotaping me.

That didn’t make me turn red as much as the glowing sunburn I had that night.

One more thing. I think the pool attendant was an exchange student from Germany.

Why Stamps Went Up

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Well, now I know why the price of postage stamps went up. Here in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, the US Postal Service needs new duct tape for their drive through mail boxes.

Gas prices, health insurance, and level III body armor are a lot for the Post Office to provide for their employees. Mailboxes apparently are at the bottom of the totem pole.

Do they buy duct tape from Lowes at $5.99 per roll, or do they order it from GSA at $13,000.53 per roll? Just wondering.

With all that duct tape residue stuck to  my letters, it’s no wonder it takes them so long to reach their destinations. That poor little snail is all gummed up in grey goo.