Vail Athletic Club and Spa

Dancers from the New York City Ballet practice in the Gerald Ford Theater in Vail for a new ballet set to the music of Ray Charles. The theater has covered seats and seats out in the grass. This photo was taken as we walked past the rehearsal by chance.

Dancers from the New York City Ballet practice in the Gerald Ford Theater in Vail for a new ballet put to the music of Ray Charles.

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Dancers from the New York City Ballet practice in the Gerald Ford Theater in Vail for a new ballet put to the music of Ray Charles. The theater has covered seats and seats out in the grass. This photo was taken as we walked past the rehearsal by chance.

Comercial columbine in Betty Ford Garden in Vail.

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At the Betty Ford Garden in Vail, Colorado

Betty Ford Gardens in Vail, Coloado

Marsha in the Betty Ford Gardens in Vail, Colorado

Mule deer fawn behind our condo in West Vail.

Fishermen along beautiful Gore Creek which runs through Vail and down past our rooms in West Vail.

Tuesday. Parry's Primrose along the stream on Shrine Ridge Hike.

Marsha with fairy primroses she discovered. We've hiked in Colorado summers for 17 years and have only seen fairly primrose 4 or 5 times.

Looking south from Shrine Ridge hiking trail towards the pink granite mountains of the Gore Range.

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A very large snow cabinet remaining from the 190% snowpack last winter. About 11,500 feet above sea level. See Marsha on top as a reference as to how large it was.

Shrine Ridge hiking path.

A peek between the mist of the 14,000+ peak, Mount of the Holy Cross, named for the cross of snow that appears on the north face. A rock slide destroyed the western arm of the cross many years ago.

Blue Lupine flowers on top of Shrine Ridge protected by small spruce. The buffeting winds and cold temperatures at 11,400 feet limit the size of the trees and flowers that can survive in the harsh conditions. Here, the dense foliage of the spruce protect the delicate lupine plant and the sturdier red indian paintbrush

Shrine Ridge formations, as scene upon reaching top of climb.

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Mount of the Holy Cross from Shrine Ridge, which gets its name from its "shrine-like" placement to Holy Cross.

Mount of the Holy Cross in distance. This Colorado "14-footer" mountain can be seen from many hiking places in the Vail and Breckenridge area.