Peter Rowan and Younchen Lhamo…Bluegrass in Pagosa Springs, Colorado! A beautiful weekend in the mountains…

Moon over Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Photo taken from our condo looking east to Wolf Pass (click here) in the San Juan Mountains.

Pagosa Springs 2014 Folk’n Bluegrass Festival  click here…

PETER ROWAN Grammy-award winner and six-time Grammy nominee, Peter Rowan is a singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades. From his early years playing under the tutelage of Bluegrass veteran Bill Monroe, to his time in Old & In the Way and breakout as a solo musician and bandleader, Rowan has built a devoted, international fan base through a solid stream of records, collaborative projects, and constant touring.

Peter Rowan, featuring Younchen Lhamo  Click each highlighted link for more, included music…

Since her 1989 pilgrimage on foot from her beloved homeland of Tibet, Yungchen Lhamo has emerged as the world’s leading Tibetan vocalist. From the quays of Sydney, Australia to the spotlight of New York’s Carnegie Hall, her haunting a cappella performances have enchanted audiences in more than 70 countries and garnered critical praise worldwide.

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Our first weekend in Pagosa Springs, Colorado starting June 6th, was one of the most memorable highlights of our recent road trip.  At 7000′ in a beautiful valley with natural hot springs to heal your body and soul, Pagosa Springs was a memorable experience.  The “Folk’N Bluegrass Festival” was the trigger that motivated us to spend time here, but there was much more to enjoy in this community, including the hot springs.  Driving over Wolf Pass en route to Pagosa Springs was a heavenly experience.  The high mountain valley was in full spring bloom with wildflowers everywhere.  Water collects in shallow grassland valleys and creeks that stretch for many miles over Wolf Pass westward from New Mexico.  We couldn’t get enough of the flowing  green grass as far as our eyes could see.  It is an easy and safe drive with very little traffic and a remoteness that is transfixing.  The high elevation may have something to do with the peaceful feeling of complete mindfulness and spiritual connectedness.

To get to the bluegrass festival, we walked up to Reservoir Hill Park (click here) near town.  It was on this short hike at 7000′ that suggested we were no longer 40-something hikers…..  It was my idea to walk rather than take the shuttle bus, for which we paid the price once getting to the top of the hill.  It was a special treat to experience bluegrass music, often with a Celtic twist, on both Saturday and Sunday.  Peter Rowan’s  performance was the closing act on Sunday evening.  His addition of the spiritual notes and powerful voice of Younchen Lhamo was moving and engaging for the audience.  It seems Peter Rowan may have found a loving and inspirational partner in his later years to make new music for his adoring fans.

Next stop, Moab, Utah and Arches National Park… (click here for previous post)

Steve Sparks. Author, My Journey of Healing in Life After Trauma, Part 1, and Reconciliation: A Son’s Story…  Click highlighted titles for my author page…