For all of you fall campers, here is a sweet and salty halloween treat that can easily be made with the family at the campsite or made ahead of time at home.
They're so simple and very spooky. We took them on last year's Spooky Run and they were a big hit.
1. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment or wax paper.
2. Place the chips in a double boiler over just-simmering water and melt, stirring frequently. As soon as the chips are just melted (there may even be a few solid ones left), remove the pan from the heat and remove the top section of the double boiler so the chocolate's temperature doesn't keep rising.
3. Stick marshmallows onto both ends of the pretzels, with the marshmallows' flat sides parallel to the pretzel.
4. Dip each pretzel in the chocolate and lift out with a fork, letting the excess drip back in the bowl. Lay the bones on the baking sheet and refrigerate for 30 minutes to harden the chocolate. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator or at a cool room temperature.
We took a road trip to south central Colorado to see the final colors of fall. With Gunnison and Crested Butte as our destination, we made a few stops along the way to enjoy the scenery and see a few new sites. A couple hours into our travels, we veered off the beaten path to find a Colorado ghost town.
Saint Elmo was established in 1880 and originally named Forest City because of its remote location. It was founded to support the men working in the nearby mines and at its height was the largest town in the area with almost 2,000 residents. In 1890, part of the town was destroyed by fire and never rebuilt. By 1900, the town population was only 64 residents. However, the Stark family ran the general store until the 1950's until Annie Stark, the last of the siblings passed away.
After finding no ghosts at the ghost town, we headed onward to our destination via Cottonwood Pass. We spotted some lingering Aspen gold along the pass, but the vibrant yellows and golds were soon exchanged for white snow as we reached the 12,126 ft summit of Cottonwood Pass at the Continental Divide. Here we stopped to stretch our legs and let Furry B romp in the snow. This stop offered great snow capped views of the Sawatch (not Sasquatch) mountain range. After snapping a few pics, we continued on the unpaved section of the pass into Taylor Reservoir, and on to Gunnison for the night. Gunnison is surrounded by three mountain ranges, mountain streams and beautiful scenery, making it a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Even though the sun shines almost every day, it is also known as the coldest town in winter in the United States due to its location at the bottom of several valleys. Western State Colorado University calls Gunnison home, and its "W" located on Tenderfoot Mountain is the world's largest collegiate symbol. Their athletic facilities are also a world record holder, being recognized as the highest collegiate football field in the world at 7,750 feet.