Cool cloudy day – rain forecasted for the afternoon. Additionally, had a Flatlander visitor this weekend (before a work conference the following week in Denver). Decided on a local hike in Longmont – no huge altitude, no road trip. Quick out-and-back and no one pukes (from altitude sickness) 🙂
Rattlesnake Mountain was renamed ‘Rabbit’ Mountain to increase park attendance. Er…saw zero rabbits but did see multiple snake tunnels near a flat rocky stretch of the hike. But although we saw no rabbits, at the trailhead was an entire prairie dog colony. Camouflaged well against the landscape, life as a prairie dog could be a good one – if they didn’t chirp so often and so loudly. Their ‘alarm’ system worked as an ‘alert’ system for Ro – no possibility of a ‘leash-less’ hike for Rowan O’Roark this week.
Hike highlight – WILDFLOWERS. Vivid spring colours garnished this trail.
Back in before the rain – and no snakes 🙂
https://www.thedenverchannel.com/weather/13462118/detail.html
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- only prairie dogs…no rabbits
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- spring colour everywhere
Recommended highly by a co-worker, was looking forward to our hike in Lyons — was not disappointed.
Lyons is north of Boulder on the road to Estes Park & Rocky Mountain Nat’l Park. Two trails at Button Rock — friendly pedestrian walk to Dam release or Sleepy Lion which traverses UP. Yep, Sleepy Lion for us!
No real snow to speak of (except residual snowdrift monoliths) but being early March, still found it difficult locating/staying on trail because of winter season underbrush. Hiking alone and early in season (ALONE – no other humans), I focus on staying safe, staying on trail — at least it crosses my mind 🙂 Unfortunately. this time we lost the scent so traveled UP for a better look OVER the forest.
Located a river and road far below — but would mean free-climbing with Ro on my back down a steep rock wall. Took a last self-pic on my camera and began the climb down. Ten feet or so near success, Ro squirms causing us to tumble the remaining distance (carry the scar of truth on my arm today :)).
Whew, so we’re down — now a river crossing in March. C-O-L-D! Used a dead pine to steady my crossing carrying Ro underarm. Scurry up a ditch through more underbrush and pop up on a road of suburbanites — looking disheveled, bloody arm, no shoes — yeah, rocking a new look 🙂 I calmly ask — WHERE ARE WE? Luckily less than half a mile from the Dam release (which was a super cool visual).
Climb the reservoir wall, hike halfway around Ralph Price [Reservoir] and start up another rock wall (Cook Mountain) with Ro on my back. What a crazy FUN day! Allowed Rowan 20 minutes of off-leash play time where he learned to swim. Step, step, PLUNGE, doggy paddle back to shore. Ok, good enough for today! LOL>
Except for the bloody arm, favourite hike to date — ok, top 3! CRAZY FUN DAY!
protrails.com – Sleepy Lion Trail/Button Rock
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- Water, rock and trees ahead
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- Horses, seriously?
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- all the comforts of home
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- North St Vrain river
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- named by Ranger who saw a mountain lion sleeping on trail
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- only snow we’re gonna see this hike
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- dropped off the trail; so hiked UP – who wouldn’t?
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- trees to East
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- trees to North
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- gonna be a steep traverse down – aiming for river and road below
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- last pic – always good to have one on your camera
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- free climbing with squirming dog = slightly banged up body
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- free climb down, river crossing, then road
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- crossing in March – chilly waters
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- off come the shoes & used a dead pine tree to steady our river crossing (portaging dog)
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- everything looks better from the other side
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- what was I thinking?
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- river, then a road
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- crazy water blast; reservoir release due to early snow melt
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- hat got smushed on the climb
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- so what’s it look like from the top?
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- dam release less impressive from a distance
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- Ralph Price Reservoir
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- inlet near Cook Mountain
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- drink before the climb
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- dude that’s a long way down; carry me
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- near summit
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- SUCCESS – ‘yellow’ marks the spot
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- REWARD – 20 minutes off-leash play, run, swim
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- happy dog
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- last river crossing – FISH!
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- reflection of our day
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- Beginner Class: use of ropes, no dog
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- next car will be a truck; protrails.com never noted County Road 80 was all dirt
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- …and it’s nap time
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- Sunday morning coffee – no cats allowed!
Spring weather is here and after three consecutive weekends of ROAD TRIP hikes, wanted to keep it close this week. Supposed to be outdoors – but supposed to stay FUN too!
Working in Boulder, several coworkers have talked of Mount Sanitas as a fun local hike. Being only 20 minutes away, Ro & I didn’t hit the trail ‘til 10am and BAM it was packed! Crazy, but everyone else seemed to know it was sunny, warm and SPRING too 🙂 Boulder (and Colorado in general) is a healthy, athletic community – old, young, women, men – don’t just see (U of Colorado) college students on local hikes. LOVE LOVE LOVE this place!
Warm sunshine and a panoramic view of scenic Boulder at Sanitas’ summit. Many folks joined us for summit pics this hike – tens of people make the trip up. Ended the day with a trail run down – 2 weekends in a row! Ro enjoyed the exercise and I enjoyed having part of our Saturday open for a late afternoon walk around Hecla – beautiful weather weekend.
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- first Spring hike of the season
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- water (& burrito) break
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- no ice – Ro’s streak ends
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- nearing the top
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- summit view
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- let’s do it again
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- finished hike w/ trail run (2nd straight week)
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- back home in Louisville
