Maple's Mountain Adventure: Camping and Fish Tales in Leadville — Day 1 of 3

Day 1:

I can't believe we're already on our third camping trip! We got a last-minute invite about a week ago, and I didn’t hesitate to clear my calendar. The group was a mix of good friends and a couple of new faces, and things felt pretty fluid—just how I like it. As usual, we opted for dispersed camping, and this time, I took it upon myself to find our spot.

The place was packed. Leadville's Boom Days event had definitely drawn in the crowds, and the RVs had taken over the open spaces like a mini motorhome city. There was plenty of room for them to park and spread out, but driving those bumpy, rocky roads? Well, that was a different story. Each jolt made my poor car groan in protest, and I had to grip the steering wheel tightly as Maple dug into my lap, with the occasional glance up as if to say, "Dad, can you drive better?". I didn't raise you to be a backseat driver, Maple!

After what felt like forever, we finally found a gigantic lot that could have easily fit 20+ tents. Of course, there were only eight of us, so it was definitely overkill, but with Boom Days happening, I wasn’t going to take any chances. And hey, I had perfect phone signal—a luxury I don’t take for granted when camping.

Setting Up and Waiting… and Waiting Some More

Since we left early, we had hours to kill before the rest of the group arrived. Most of my friends had to work in the morning or a full day to avoid using PTO. To quote Monty Python, "That makes me sad." I’m always happy to be included in any adventure, but waiting alone wasn’t exactly thrilling.

I set up our tent in what I thought was the perfect shady spot under the trees. Spoiler alert: by noon, the tent was roasting under the relentless sun, practically cooking the bugs that had gathered under the rain fly. At least they stayed outside. Privacy? Forget about it. We had neighbors within view from every angle, making bathroom breaks a bit of a challenge. But for now, the tent was up, and Maple? She didn’t care one bit.

Maple’s Solo Exploration (and Tangling) Begins

I decided to let Maple roam around the campsite, her leash trailing behind her as she sniffed every blade of grass. Her ears twitched at every rustle in the nearby forest, and every so often, a gust of wind would send the tall grass swaying. Maple would pause, tail flicking, taking it all in like a miniature explorer surveying her kingdom.

The grass was a bit tall, but keeping track of her was easy. I’d recently bought her a dog leash that extends up to 16 feet, thinking it would give her more freedom while making it easier for me to keep an eye on her. Did she still get tangled up? Oh, absolutely. But it was a win overall—until I realized that with this longer leash, I had to react way faster if anything happened. Lesson learned.

Killing Time at the Fish Hatchery

With plenty of time to kill before the others arrived, I decided to snoop around and check out what we could do while we waited. A few hikes caught me eye, but the Leadville National Fish Hatchery really stood out. Established in 1889, it’s the second oldest in the U.S.! Pets aren't really allowed in the fish runs, but they didn't have signs, and they had a few runs out front just for people to look at, so I took the risk to introduce her to fish for the first time.

Maple? Not impressed. She perched on her backpack, barely giving the fish a second glance as they darted around the narrow run. I didn’t have any fish food to toss in, so there wasn't any dramatic feeding frenzy to grab her attention. She yawned, as if to say, “This is it? These scaly things? Meh.” Honestly, it was probably for the best—if she had decided to jump into the water, that would’ve been a disaster. And let’s be real, no one wants to be banned from a fish hatchery because their cat took a swim.

Funny side note: I spent way too much time searching my state park passport for the hatchery, only to realize it’s a national hatchery. Whoops!

A Hike in Nature, Bribery Included

After the hatchery, there was a short nature trail that seemed perfect to kill some time. The sun was blazing, the air was sticky, and I was regretting my decision to wear pants and long sleeves. But most of the trail was shaded, and I figured if we had a little breeze, it might make the hike downright enjoyable.

The hike was beautiful, if short: the trail is just over a mile (my app said 1.4 miles) and we were done in 40 minutes. Towering trees offered us much-needed shade, a babbling brook ran alongside the trail, and there were ponds shimmering in the sunlight where the hatchery raises fish. It was peaceful and quiet, with only the occasional person interrupting the sound of water and wind rustling through the trees. Unfortunately, Maple wasn’t feeling it. She needed to be bribed with treats almost immediately, and her enthusiasm for the hike was… well, nonexistent.

I couldn’t help but worry. What if Maple isn’t cut out to be a hiking cat? That would be a serious disappointment. One of my biggest goals with her is to share these adventures, and I’ve got dreams of us hitting the trails together. If she can’t handle a short hike like this, what does that mean for our future adventures? I’m probably getting ahead of myself—it was uncomfortably hot, even for me, so I’m hoping that’s all it was.

I hardly stopped to read any of the information plaques along the way; I was too focused on getting Maple back to the car. Bribing her with treats was becoming a full-time job at this point!

Finally, Some Company

We made it back to the campsite without much fuss, and by the afternoon, my friends finally started trickling in. I’m pretty sure I told everyone I was bringing Maple, but they still seemed surprised when they saw her. Of course I brought her! She’s part of the adventure!

One by one, the rest of the group arrived, and we spent the evening around the campfire, sharing stories and roasting marshmallows while Maple continued her mission of getting tangled every ten seconds. At this point, it’s basically her favorite hobby. But despite the tangles and the waiting, it was a great start to the trip. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!