It's not summer camp anymore...

I've ventured to Gunnison 11 summers since 1991. It's the cozy mountain town that Western State College calls home. Every year, it's included one afternoon in Crested Butte. And every year, it's been as a middle school camper or being somewhat responsible for middle school campers.


But this trip is different. I'm not responsible for anyone else this time. I'm not constantly counting heads. I'm not answering questions about what we'll do next, how to fix a headache and who said what to who that was such a big deal. I'm not worried that Michael will get lost or the 9th grade girls will meet local junior and senior high school boys. And there will be no "afternoon activity" lists including Wal-Mart or shaving cream fights.


You see, Gunnison, Colorado, is not only home to Western State College but also The Great Escape - my most favorite middle school camp ever. You can learn more about that here. I've also blogged about it. You can see pictures from 2007 and 2008, read stories about Mrs. PacMan, see why I love it so much and laugh at tales of 8th-grade girls trying to set me up with someone who was "cute for an old guy."


And I love camp. I really do. But this weekend is different. It's weird. I'm not wandering around spending four hours looking at every trinket they sell on main street in Gunnison. We're not eating ice cream in Crested Butte because it's sunny and gorgeous outside, but cold enough for there to be snow on the ground. We're not looking for coffee to stay up late for night games.


Instead, we're drinking a good, local beer in a pizza place just below the gorgeous ski mountain that is eagerly collecting snow for the season to begin. Becky, the friend I'm visiting who calls Gunnison home, is preparing a pathophysiology lecture for her class at WSC tomorrow morning, and I'm playing with picture projects, blogging and reading a good book.


It's different than my normal Gunnison and Crested Butte adventures. And it's wonderful.


Here's to vacation...cheers!

Becky & Her Office

Mears Hall...oh, so many broken windows...

Taylor Hall...and the lawn where so many shaving cream fights, Ultimate Frisbee games and middle school dances have taken place.

Mount Crested Butte

Good Afternoon, Crested Butte!

The mountains hiding behind the ski town that I thought were so gorgeous!