hiking

hike #70: Lory State Park, Ft Collins

Published March 15, 2014

Too much ‘swim, bike, run’ makes K* a dull guy.

Woke early on Saturday to break up the routine with a hike – yep, back in the mountains. That’s what I need.

Ash, Tom, my friend Matt & both dogs loaded up – destination: Horsetooth Rock in Fort Collins. Been more than a year since I’ve hiked Horsetooth, so plugged the address in my iPhone. An hour half later we parked Matt’s SUV off a dirt road within Lory State Park. Technology – argh! No Horsetooth this day.

Overcast & windy conditions wouldn’t stop Ro & Marty from enjoying 5 miles of off-leash freedom. Well Gulch to Timber Trail, then SNOW! A week before Spring, most folks are tired of all winter precip – but I can’t help smile anytime snow’s flying 🙂

Clouds lifted soon after, exposing an almost artist’s rendering of Horsetooth Reservoir. Beautiful!

Showered & groomed again, spent the remainder of the weekend in Denver catching up with former NYC co-workers. Miss my former NYC peeps but still LOVE LOVE my Colorado life! 🙂

: are we there yet?

: easy decision – Moderate to Difficult

: windy, a bit nippy — but good to be outdoors

: SNOW!

: BFFs Marty & Ro

: Horsetooth Reservoir overlook

: 4.2 mile hike — great way to start off any weekend

: Happy Hikers

hike #69: Como Lake, Blanca

Published December 14, 2013

Coming off a marathon run last weekend AND 2 weeks of crazy cold sub-zero temps, thinkin’ this might be my best chance/motivation to complete gift purchases & send out holiday cards. Only 11 days ’til Christmas!

Think again…. received an email from Fort Collins hiking buddy, Cammy – Erik & her are free 2 of the next 3 weekends. Winter 14er hike? Heck yeah! (I’ll get holiday inspired next week 🙂 )

Teamed up with M & caravanned down I-25 to the Sangre de Cristo Range – destination: Blanca Peak. Located the pull-off from Highway 160 & managed maybe a quarter-mile off road before burrowing deep in mountain snow. Erik unloaded chains – determined their Subaru would make the journey UP.

Most cars can drive about 1.5 miles up before it gets rough. 4WD SUVs and trucks can slowly make it 3.25 miles to several pull-offs at 8,800’, before the road turns nasty.

As the clock ticked 1 (a.m.), pulled out sleeping bags & crashed for a few hours before tomorrow morning’s ascent. Ice formed on the inside of M’s jeep – all liquids froze except for a last minute Gatorade purchase. Cold, super cold!

3 of us crazies started the hike UP, catching the most beautiful pink sunrise. (M drove on to Alamosa for the day.) Snow was only wind-blown patchy in areas so I make an über dumb move & leave my snow shoes behind – opting for a lighter pack.

Another mile further we reached sunlight – warmth improved my spirit while ice dangled from my beard.

I struggled this day in knee-deep snow (why did I leave my shoes in the car? ARGH!) Found myself lagging far behind. Who wants to be that person? Decided this just wasn’t my day so I would head back – but needed to first catch Cammy & Erik. Not once but twice I almost reached the Super Hikers, only to see them complete their mini- snack break & push even further. LOL>

Snow is now waist-deep. Thinkin’ I’m D-U-N (done). Only .5 miles further to Como Lake. Totally do-able.

SUCCESS! Kicked back on the frozen lake, I refuel & catch some zzz’s.

Return hike is soooo much easier – no longer cutting a trail UP in snow. 11 mile roundtrip winter hike. No Blanca Peak today but gotta thank Team Ft Collins for pushing me this day. I’ll be back…in the summer 🙂

Wait, wait – this tale’s not finished.

Back on the highway & only another 15 minutes down the road, we take in an hour at Great Sand Dunes Nat’l Park. Sand dunes & snow — followed by Mexican food in Walsenburg. FANTASTIC finish, FANTASTIC day!

: sunrise over the Sangre de Cristo Range

: rated as the most challenging 4WD road in Colorado — no driving this day, we hiked UP

: beard ice

: staying alert – slab avalanche watch

: only 1/2 mile further — Como Lake (trailhead to Blanca Peak)

: creature comforts — camping here next year

: pre-Cambrian granite (approx 1.8 billion years old)

: tough 11 mile hike — waist-deep snow, 4000 ft elevation gain

: Fort Collins represents at Como

: Celebrate!

: we’ll be back — 14er Blanca Peak awaits

: Great Sand Dunes Nat’l Park

: windblown ice crystals

: winter sand

: sand & snow against the bluest blue — WOW!

: dune warriors

: goodnight moon – amazing 18 hour day

Posted in the Springs/Pueblo | Tagged hiking, nat'l-park, snowpocalypse | 4 Comments

Saguaro National Park, Arizona

Published December 7, 2013

Friday night flight into Phoenix, rental car pickup – then southeast 2 hours to Tucson. Marathon weekend!

Breakfast, race packet pick-up, runner’s expo purchase (picked up KT Tape Strips & 6 packets of GU), scheduled an after-race massage at the Hilton – chores over. Headed 20 minutes west – today’s adventure destination: Saguaro National Park.

In Alaska, my pre-race destination: ice climbing; while in Arizona, gotta do a cactus hike.

My dad was a huge fan of Westerns. So whether I was actively paying attention or not, gotta say John Wayne, cowboys, Indians, cattle & cactus were forever imprinted on my young mind. Plus if I run out of water, these spiny plants are full of liquid (assuming I remembered my machete to hack thru their tree-like trunks 🙂 )

Instead of leaves, from which water escapes easily, this magnificent plant has spines, which greatly narrow down water evaporation.

The saguaro cactus can grow unto an astonishing 45ft. Probably the most amazing fact about this plant is that even in its harsh climate some cacti can survive over 200 years! These adaptations allow certain cacti to survive 3 years without water; a human can barely survive 4 days.

Stopped at the Visitors Center for a photo opp with Santa, then a quick mile further to Hugh Norris Trailhead.

Tucson temps were far warmer than the sub-zero front fixed over Boulder for the past week. That said, surprisingly needed a jacket – windy & 45 degrees this day.

Ridge hiked for an amazing view of the valley, peppered with columnar cacti. In addition to saguaro cactus (my new fave), spotted barrel, cholla & prickly pear varieties too! FAAANNNTASTIC day!