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Thursday, July 17, 2014

To Ice Lake With BCB Reader, Dehui Yang


A few posts back you may have noticed Dehui Yang's comment box request to go hiking with Bobbie and I. A graduate student at School of Mines, he was coming over from Golden, Co. in order to explore the mountains around Lovely Ouray—this, largely based on my "beautiful" (his word, not mine) Postcard Photographs right here on the BCB. We had never met Dehui nor communicated before, but that didn't stop him from politely asking to tag along, and we are so thrilled he did. Besides, what better way to get to know someone than on the trail?


Dehui was born and raised in China, a couple hours drive from Shanghai…an urban megapolis that makes New York City seem like a spacious small town. Here's why, according to the China Daily.com:

"The number of resident population in Shanghai exceeded 24.15 million by the end of last year, which is 347,200 more than in 2012, official statistics show.
According to figures released by the Shanghai Statistics Bureau on Wednesday, the number of inhabitants with a permanent residence permit was 14.25 million, while the number of migrant residents reached 9.9 million. Those figures combined form the city's resident population. The number of migrant residents increased by 297,700 compared with 2012.
The average life expectancy of the city's residents with a permanent residency permit reached 82.47, the statistics show. Meanwhile, the city's economy ran smoothly last year, with the gross domestic product growing 7.7 percent year on year to 2.16 trillion yuan ($353.9 billion). By the end of last year, 3,633 enterprises had registered at the Shanghai Free Trade Zone since its launch in late September."  
Dehui is an only child (mandated by Govie). I believe he said his parents were farmers, people of modest means and education, even by China's standards. He received his undergrad degree in China, and was fortunate to get accepted to do paid research for a professor at School of Mines in Golden—I told him "fortunate" because he ended up in one of the best states for doing exactly what we were doing, hiking in wildflower gardens and visiting alpine lakes. He agreed.

Of course we are quite familiar with Golden because MOAB (my nephew and family, Mia, Owen, Anita, and Brent) live there. So it is likely we will see Dehui again. He seemed genuinely taken with our hospitality and wants to treat us to an actual home cooked Chinese dinner…either prepared by him, or at a place he deems authentic, which, apparently, does not yet exist in Golden. 

Now I'm going to tip-toe out on the fragile limb of "generalization" and share a few of my impressions. They could be wrong—I'm not a world traveler—but I have met and talked to people from around the world, both when I worked at the Hot Springs Pool, and now here, at the Skol Fine Art Gallery where I am currently employed. 

It has been my experience that Asian cultures like Chinese and Japanese…South Korean and Filipino, could give a few "Ugly Americans" some lessons in civility, politeness, respect, manners, and just plain old common courtesies. Dehui was no exception to my generalization; what a fine, hardworking student and man he is. Sure, maybe during rush-hour in places like Shanghai the occasional "bird" gets flipped in traffic, but as far as my experience is concerned, I have a great appreciation for Asian modesty and graciousness. I would be proud to call Dehui my son.

In a few years Dehui will have that Phd he's worked so hard for, and out of respect, not to mention an inability to get the exact pronunciation of his name correct, I will call him Doctor D..  It was so nice, and brave, to some extent, for him to reach out to us. Dehui, I hope we remain friends and hiking buddies for a long time. I would like to wish you good luck in school…tho we both know it's more about hard work than luck…and extend an invitation for a personally guided outing to Columbine Lake, the bluest water you'll ever lay eyes on. I promise :))
Mark and Bobbie






Alpine Sunflowers

Red Columbine, a much smaller cousin of the Blue Columbine

Wild Geraniums, small and delicate



Alpine Sunflower and Blue Columbine


Blue Bells

Wading Purple Penstemon 



These Columbine are a much paler blue variety. I have seen a few that are totally white on white











Ice Lake "Baby"

Rusty Crags and Blue Lakes

Yellow Paintbrush Landscape

Red Paintbrush Landscape

Dehui Yang, playing marmot on a rock :)

Leaving Heaven

Heading down…down…down...





Red mountain, green valley, stormy sky 

A Trio of Blue Columbine

Perry's Primrose

A moderately pale version of Blue Columbine

Wet Feet

Dehui Yang, sitting in an Alpine Garden

Blue Columbine…This photo captures the purple "meteor-like" tendrils, streaking from the rear 

Elephant's Head…note the big ears and the obvious long trunk

Tall Jacob's Ladder??? The Bobbie App was not 100% sure on this one...

Bluebells








Goofballs Selfie…note big ears and nose on the guy on the right  :)













32 comments:

  1. I agree with your assessment of the Asian culture. When I use to travel to our regional offices in Singapore, Japan, or South Korea the staff was always friendly, polite, and eager to show and explain their culture. But, their cities are so crowded it was always a pleasure to get back to the USA. Looks like the flowers are in full bloom in lovely Ouray. Your doing well to make it to Ice Lake. Looking forward to seeing you and Bobbie next week.

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    1. Looking forward to hiking and meeting the newly retired boss…thinking of a Mount Abrams summit…about 13,000 feet. I hope you are in training :))
      mark

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  2. You would be perfect hosts for the foreign students attending school in the US. Long time Boulder friends have been doing that for University of Colorado students for decades. When they travel outside the US, they now have some of those one time students as a place to visit as they reciprocate the Boulder hospitality shown them.

    I was invited to the friends' house one evening as their Chinese guest created a dinner that has never been duplicated. I envy you the opportunity to enjoy his chef creations.

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    1. Well, not sure I will reciprocate by traveling to China…I'm still working on seeing all of Colorado, and Utah, and Arizona, and the Northwest, and the Canadian Rockies… (sigh)
      You should jump in your new high mileage car an hike with John Q and us…and maybe Boonie…and marathon man leonard…and whoever else shows up. Were all oldies and slow, especially me for now. You can pick and choose which hikes to go on and how far, and stay in our spare room.
      mark

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    2. A visit to Ouray will have to wait until 2015 when I plan to explore several parts of Colorado. Perhaps I can take you up on that spare room offer next year. Or maybe the studio apartment for a month long stay??? :-)

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  3. You are having a righteous display of flowers!

    It is fantastic how our blogs encourage connections we would never have made otherwise. You have the most incredible scenery to share with people, what a lucky pair you two are!

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  4. Someday I will lie down in one of your alpine gardens with the biggest smile on my face. (Unless it's infested with biting ants or bees??) We're camping not far from home this weekend and were quick to notice how "standoffish" the small crowd at Kettle Moraine's Ottawa Lake was as we walked the campground loop. As you know it's not really like campers to not at least shout out a "hello" as folks walk past. Not a single one, and one couple who passed within a foot of us on the road didn't even return our greeting. It was definitely weird. Enjoy all your summer guests along with your returning health!

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    1. We have experienced the same "stand off" too, in campgrounds and RV parks. I think it's getting better (easier) though, with the new RV forums and RV Village, and Escapees "Birds of a Feather" groups. I still think the best way to meet like minded RV folks is through BLOGS. You can see what their interests are, where they like to go, if they boondocks more than they stay in RV parks (as in, would rather not have RV park Sardine Can lifestyle, road noise, and a billion rules), not to mention if they have real mountain bikes that get used instead of just hanging permanently on the rear ladder :)). Pal Boonie screens his prospective rv friends this way…so he can avoid the "Twenty Questions" game of "where ya from, what did you do, where ya headed…"
      It's how we met up, a long, long, time ago. I must say tho, that his blogging persona, lack of personal info and photos scared us off for a while :))

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  5. What an outstandingly beautiful hike! And such a nice story.

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    1. The world need more "nice stories…"
      thanks, Linda.

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  6. Your mountains are on my bucket list.

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    1. Well then, drop a line when you are ready for a guided hike :))

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  7. and now we know who got the best fortune cookie... "You will meet two strangers and walk among beautiful flowers on high paths as friends ".

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  8. Dehui couldn't have found a better couple to spend the day with to see this beautiful area. I am sure you and Bobbi gave him a day he will remember for a long time:) I guess Dehui chose the correct time of year to hit the trail. The flowers are amazing! I am so very glad you included so many gorgeous photos. Thanks! We are planning to spend next summer touring CO. We really must hit Ouray when the wildflowers are blooming. Ice Lake is on my list. You have posted too many magnificent photos over time.

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    1. Be sure to come mid july or a little before as for the wildflower show. And drop by while here so we can finally meet and hike :))

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    2. Thanks, Mark! Can't imagine a visit to the area without finally having the opportunity to meet you and Bobbi.

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  9. Ice Lake, huh? Sounds like your recovery is going well! And I bet your new young hiking partner never complained once about the climb or the distance;)
    Gayle

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    1. Yes…Ice Lakes was a "test." I guess I passed…which beats "passed out."

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  10. Thanks for introducing us to Dehui...what a nice guy....I would have liked to listen in on your conversations, as you walked. The postcards were great, as usual...seems Lovely Ouray is in good hands. Thanks for all the recent pic's around town....gives me a boost each day....

    Laverne

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  11. Stunning photos of what looks to be an outstanding hike. Kudos to Dehui for seizing the day!

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  12. Although it is beautiful in Wyoming and Montana, I miss hiking in CO. I do not go on long hikes here because of all the Grizzly warnings.

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    1. You know, I see people hiking alone up there…but it does feel better with a group. I'm sure you have Bear Spray, but maybe you can find a hiking partner with a similar schedule. It would be a shame to not explore the area while you are there.

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  13. You're making me long for Colorado again...and it takes a lot to pull me off the coast in summer! Great that you got to spend the day with Dehui. Having grown up in Asia (and lived there again for many years as an adult) a part of my heart lies with the Asian culture.
    Nina

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    1. Yes, Nina, that's the dilemma…Oceans, Mountains…Mountains, Ocean. One tugs at my heart when I'm at the other…typical restless soul :)) I guess you can alternate years, tho…
      I need to quit my summer job!!!!

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  14. What great ambassadors you and Bobbi are!

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    1. Well, one parades what they love, and we do love it here…about eight months a year. A month of snow and winter is all I need :))

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