Starting with a 0430 AM wakeup call for the mass ascension at the 45 annual Albuquerque international balloon fiesta.....it proved to be no less spectacular then i remember it as a little kid! The rest of our visit included visiting some of my old favs growing up... such as climbing at Diablo Canyon outside of Santa Fe, eating at La Choza the best New Mexican food on the planet! We then wrapped up our visit with the best New Mexican breakfast and coffee shop in Albuquerque - Java Joes

Inflation - Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

courtyard - la casa de los abuelos — courtyard - la casa de los abuelos

Alpaca Treats - Bluefly Farms - Peralta, NM

water pump - Rio Grande Nature Center State Park

Waited out the weekend crowd then headed to the hills to take in natures fall color display. We explored Lincoln Creek near Independence Pass looking for a place to hangout for the evening before heading to the Maroon Bells the next morning. We found a glorious little gem of an area, maybe my favorite Vanski site to date! Came with its own 4x4 rock slab driveway, rendering it inaccessible to many vehicles. It also came with its own narrow canyon with swimming holes and waterfalls!

Our Backyard for a Night - Lincoln Creek, CO — Our Backyard for a Night - Lincoln Creek, CO

This glorious spot we accessed via some rock slab 4-wheeling

An Old Stagecoach Stop in Route to Aspen

Old Favs - New Mexico Visit

Fall Color Explosion - Elk Mountains