There’s a Troll on the Trail!?

Here we are walking along Little Grouse Mountain Trail in Teller County. Why? We hear there’s a troll on the trail! This is news we have to explore. Let’s go!

We drove three miles south of Cripple Creek to Victor, Colorado, about an hour southwest of home in Colorado Springs. What is unique, and massive, here is the Cripple Creek and Victor (CC&V) Mine, purchased by Newmont Mining Corporation mid-2015. Enjoy a 4:35 minute tour.

This entire area has a long mining history, primarily mining for gold and silver. No kidding. The open-pit mine today is over 9 square mile (6,058 acres) employing about 445 people, doing area reclamation, working with many local non-profit organizations, and helping restore many historic mining sites. Sound too good to be true? Well, I hunted around and it all seems true. We can see the mine as we walk along the trail and look east. You can’t miss it!!

Surprise, here’s our troll!

Rita, the Rock Planter.

She sees us.

Let me give you some perspective . . .

If you are wondering what Rita is doing here, it is an interesting story. She is the creation of Danish sculptor Thomas Dambo. Calling himself a “recycled art activist”, he uses discarded wood pallets, other unused wood, and other kinds of trash to construct the sculptures. His helpers in the actual construction include 22 troll builders that travel with him and many local volunteers helping out at each site.

This summer Thomas embarked on a US tour, Way of the Bird King. Rita is one of 10 sculptures being created in different states across the country. Staying true to the name of the tour, there are birdhouses along the trails and near the trolls. Rita is Colorado’s second troll. Our first is Isak Heartstone in Breckenridge about two hours northwest from here. Each and every troll has a story to tell, and always about taking care of the earth and creatures living on it.

This is what Thomas has to say about Rita (thanks to CBS Colorado):

Rita is next to an old gold mine that is like from the mid-late 1800s where people would come with pickaxes and dig holes and try to search for the gold ore in the ground.

She took a nap back in the late 1800s and when she woke up here again, like a couple of weeks ago, she noticed a couple of small holes in the mountain and she said ‘Oh that’s dangerous, maybe a squirrel or a human or somebody would fall into the hole and get hurt’ so that is why Rita is now covering up the holes so nobody will get hurt.

Let’s take a walk around Rita.

She sees us on this side too!

Had to give her an earring to brighten her day.

The trail takes us a short distance to a bench with beautiful views of the mountains west, layer after layer. The smoke coming down from Canada is giving us lingering haze today.

Mountain Bluebirds are swooping all around, but none landing. Suddenly in the tree top two juveniles pause for us.

This is the type of wood used to create the trolls. Volunteers will find new homes for these remains.

Thomas is making a video for each week he’s in the USA. Check out Week #8, We love Victor and Victor loves us.

There is something very peaceful about hanging with Rita as she fills holes and looks at the beauty to the west. No one seems quite sure if something is meant by the way she faces, well never mind. This Colorado Chipmunk is having lunch on Rita’s foot and she doesn’t mind.

Wondering if there is a troll near you? Check out Thomas’ Troll Map. Click on an “X” to see what and where. New Jersey now has a troll, unveiled June 28, did you hear?

Until next time my friend. . .