Roggen to Fort Morgan, CR-127 to CR-104, then CR-110 thru Pawnee National Grassland to Pawnee Buttes trailhead.
Any of this sound familiar? Nope. Drove to the ends of the earth today — 13 miles south of Nebraska, 16 miles to Wyoming. Not only my first Colorado ‘Plains’ hike but my first time on a dirt road for 14 solid miles. Internet research recommended we travel with a full tank of gas – COOOOORRECT! Only visible signs of life I saw were drill wells & 3 Pronghorn antelope.
My friend Stephen travelled in from New Hampshire for a quick weekend visit – but what to do with only 2 days? Luckily, John had sent out an email on Tuesday inviting those available to join him & son Nate on a hike to Pawnee Buttes. PERFECT!
And Ro? Couldn’t have been happier – off leash & free to explore with Annmarie’s Jack Russell, Karma.
Temps in the 50’s & sunshine – beautiful day hike. Internet research warned this hike was prone to rattlesnakes & a scorcher in the summer (no trees). Mighty happy to bang out [this hike] while temps were comfortable & small pockets of snow still show.
Deviated off trail, opting to follow canyon ravines carved around both prominent buttes. Rock climbing was not an option today – these formations consisted of only sandstone & clay. Kinda like giant mud patties left baking in the sun for centuries.
Traversing around the opposite end of West Pawnee Butte, caught some amazing views while trekking above the gorge wall. Posted multiple ‘WOW’ shots — both John & Nate mugged from some sheer crazy drop-offs.
I attempted to scale West Pawnee Butte – made it up maybe 15 feet max. Had to stay loose & light – and NOT grip too tightly or the clay climbing wall would literally crush in my hands. Going up, no worries. However, climbed down blind. Hard to get a foothold without breaking clay. Whatta AWESOME life experience! Check, done 🙂
Drove State Highway 14 to Fort Collins on the return (rural but paved), stopping to eat burgers at Coopersmiths in Old Town before verving off on our respective trips home. FUN end to a crazy FUN day!
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- 14 miles of dirt on CR-127, CR-104 & CR-110 (yep, middle of nowhere)
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- first Colorado ‘Plains’ hike (13 miles south of Nebraska, 16 miles to Wyoming)
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- the Pawnee Buttes (wind turbines in far background)
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- yucca & cactus (this ain’t the Rockies)
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- Nate, John, Annmarie & Stephen
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- following the canyon ravine
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- taking it all in – John, Nate & Annmarie
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- Overlook escarpment
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- West Pawnee Butte
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- East Pawnee Butte
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- Lips Bluff
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- off leash RUN
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- 50 degrees & sun – but Ro still finds SNOW
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- rock climbing? nope – this is CLAY
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- Ro & Karma
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- tricky trek above gorge
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- no worries for Ro
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- WOW pic – John
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- WOW pic – Nate
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- climbing West Pawnee Butte
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- AWESOME day hike – check out that smile!
FULL Colorado weekend – group hike on Saturday, half marathon on Sunday.
Not a lotta consistent training this month but a goal is a goal – one race a month (minimum) until completing a marathon in 2013. Set my alarm for 5a.m. – up and out for my 2nd half marathon of the year.
Downed my morning oatmeal & honey, walked Ro & set the GPS for Hughes Stadium in Fort Collins – an hour fifteen north of my Louisville home. (Last minute) bib pickup from 7-8am, directly before our half marathon start at 830am.
After another snowy week, completely lucked out with sunshine & 50 degree race day temps. Warm enough to run in shorts & a long-sleeved dry wick. Wore my Red Sox’s cap – supporting victims & families of Monday’s Boston Marathon bombing.
For religious reasons, I rarely enter races on Sunday – so today’s run, the 1st in Colorado after Monday’s bombings, was certainly unique. Started off with 26.2 seconds of silence, then moments later saw our runner pack wave forward (didn’t hear a gun start – guess I was that far back :().
HILLS – have never run so many hills in all my life. However after adjusting mentally, I found today’s course to be an advantage. Fort Collins is home to Colorado State University so our field was crowded with college runners. One key advantage for us older folks – we’re stronger mentally & the young guns can’t run hills. Running UPHILL, they’d drop down to a walk. Running DOWNHILL however, they’d not only catch me but fly right past me. Actually started to look forward to the next monster mountain ahead – just so I could pick off another young gun again 🙂 Additionally, volunteers flooded the hill tops and cheered each successful runner’s climb. Mighty nice.
Didn’t stop for water until mile 10 & then again at 12 miles.
Finish line ahead but couldn’t believe the ticker – under 2 hours, my goal time. WOW! Seriously? and with sooo many hills? Cut more than 5 minutes from last month’s Moab finish. Top 25%. Crazy nice surprise.
2 (maybe 3) races to go before Alaska. 1000% gonna do this thing!
OVERALL RESULTS HORSETOOTH HALF MARATHON
Results courtesy of Runlimited Timing Results on runlimitedfc.com & active.com
Place Div/Tot No. Name Nettime
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451 28/48 1006 K R Haga 1:59:41
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- Start: Hughes Stadium, CSU (Fort Collins)
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- we ran today for Boston; started with 26.2 seconds of silence
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- Gatorade, bananas, oranges, hot dog & live entertainment (yep, I’d do this again)
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- inspiring Longs Peak (on my 2013 ‘bucket list’)
Crazy unusually dry November weather greeted my East Coaster guest Stephen. Unlike past visits where I’ve tested his ability to instantaneously acclimate to our high altitude, this time I selected a Northern Colorado trail just over 5,500 ft elevation.
The terrain on this week’s hike reminded me of the desert landscape near Pueblo (May hike). Fantastic rock formations jutted from the surrounding arid plains vista. Lotta folks on today’s hike – guess not everyone was out Christmas shopping 🙂
Picture stop at the Keyhole, then off to Hunters Loop. Only 3.2 miles roundtrip this day – but everyone went home with a smile on their face. No altitude sickness & beautiful canyon pics — FAAAAANNNTASTIC!
Happy hike #48 – always a ton more fun hiking with friends.
