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After an extensive breakfast in Pagosa Springs we explored the city and the eponymous Hot Springs, which not too far back were even added to the Guinness book of records. Then we took a beautiful hike within the Wolf Creek Ski Area along the Continental Divide Trail, up to 11.500 feet near Alberta Peak. The air was getting thin up there and the hike a little cumbersome, but arrived at the top we were compensated for all. The vista was simply breathtaking - great! Back to the car we made it quite fast then.

On the top of the mountains temperatures were quite pleasant, but arrived in Pagosa again the mugginess was almost unbearable. It was only a question of time when the redemptive rain shower would come...

And it came, right when we wanted to take a short shopping tour. The vacation village also had an indoor pool, so we used the afternoon for some swimming. We had a lot of fun there, and even some water was 'swallowed'.

We finished that evening in a cozy American restaurant (Aspen Moose) with tasty food and some good wine.

Pagosa Springs
Pagosa Springs

View onto San Juan River and the Hot Springs

Pagosa Springs
Pagosa Springs

The oldest one of the famous Hot Springs

Pagosa Springs
Pagosa Springs

Closer look at the oldest of the Hot Springs - and the water is hot, indeed!

Pagosa Springs
Pagosa Springs

Start of our hike along the Continental Divide Trail

Continental Divide Trail
Continental Divide Trail

This way...

Continental Divide Trail
Continental Divide Trail

Nearly atop - view over the tree tops which are looking quite bad because of the drought

Continental Divide Trail
Continental Divide Trail

A chipmunk posing in front of the camera

Continental Divide Trail
Continental Divide Trail

Arrived at the top - panorama of the surrounding mountains

Continental Divide Trail
Continental Divide Trail

A small lake far down in the valley

Continental Divide Trail
Continental Divide Trail

A closer look at the lake

Continental Divide Trail
Continental Divide Trail

Beautiful view on the mountains

Continental Divide Trail
Continental Divide Trail

The lucky hikers

Continental Divide Trail
Continental Divide Trail

'Atop' means in this case 11.600 feet

Continental Divide Trail
Continental Divide Trail

Another scenic view before the descent