Four things to accomplish outdoors in July

As if you needed an inspiration to get outside after the long, wet spring we had, here are four recommendations to enjoy the outdoors in July:

1. Pick wild raspberries. Sunny mountain streambanks thrive with the delicious fruit, making a nice snack on a hike. Just make sure to leave some for the bears and birds.

2. See Colorado's largest bat colony fly out for a night's work from the Orient Mine in the San Luis Valley. Find out more online at olt.org.

3. Get a 2 a.m. start for a solstice sunrise breakfast atop Colorado's highest fourteener, Mount Elbert. Get more info at fourteeners.org.

4. Drop your inhibitions, and your pants, at a backcountry hot spring. Rainbow and Conundrum are two Colorado favorites.