Caribou Ranch - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

[I've been having issues with posting pictures from Picasa.

Sorry for the blankness. Hopefully, these are visible.]

Another hike is never just another hike...
It rages, roars, and teaches.

This hike took place at Caribou Ranch Open Space near Nederland CO, approximately 8200'.

Nederland has an annual frigid fun festival called The Frozen Dead Guy Days.

4000 acres of river, willows, vista, meadows, streams, wildlife, and sky

Caribou opened a Recording Studio in 1972 in a converted barn. Artists such as Dan Fogelberg,
Elton John, John Denver, Carole King, Stephen Sills, Phil Collins, Earth, Wind & Fire,
The Beach Boys, Joe Walsh, and Blood, Sweat, and Tears recorded at Caribou.

The barn burned in the mid-80s and was not rebuilt.
John Lennon recorded here as well, contributing to an Elton John album.

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

The City of Boulder and Boulder County own the ranch and administer the Open Space.

Also on site is the Blue Bird Mine. In the late 1800s, silver and blue azurite were mined.

Blue Bird Mine - entry shaft to mine was locked (in background).

1904-1919 the Denver Boulder and Western Railroad ran through the property,
carrying tourists on what was called the Switzerland Trail.

The miners' bunkhouse later became a boarding house for the travellers.

Bunkhouse for miners.
Later a boarding house for tourists.

In the 1940s, Warner Brothers shot portions of two movies here:
Arabians of the Rockies and Sons of Courage.



Portions of the 1965 remake of Stagecoach with Ann Margaret and Bing Crosby
were also made on the Caribou Ranch.

4000 acres
The land is exquisite and extensive.

It was an easy hike. Six miles with little to no elevation gain. Six of us hiked and the rain waited until we were sitting in the Pioneer Inn cafe/bar where the musicians mentioned strummed and sang.
The Pioneer Inn still delivers music seven nights a week.
The names not quite so famous...

Today was train, mine, movie, and music history.
Accompanied by ever-present Mother Nature,
the melody that endures.