Needed a nudge to get Ro & I out of Boulder County before we ran out of unique hikes (yeah, yeah – that’ll never happen in Colorado :)). East Coast (flatlander) friend here for a visit – ROAD TRIP!
Travelled north to Fort Collins and after some minor difficulties locating the trailhead, were on track to see Horsetooth Falls. Waterfalls in winter? Gotta do this, check 🙂 [Lesson learned: using GPS coordinates to map trailheads going forward.]
Layering is a hiking must in Colorado because of our 300+ days of annual sunshine. Snow underfoot but warm sun and high altitude = necessary clothes shedding. Sun-exposed trail was clear of snow; shaded side of mountain was more than a foot deep [of snow]. LOVE LOVE LOVE this place!
Can’t say Horsetooth Falls was a waterfall gusher but the Falls created a beautiful February icescape. ALSO tacked on a 5th consecutive week to Ro’s obligatory ice-walk pics 🙂
Fort Collins is home to Colorado State University so have heard hikes at Horsetooth can be crowded. Happy to report, February is the ideal time to go! Minimal hiker traffic, plenty of snow – AND a waterfall!
protrails.com – Horsetooth Falls
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- Horsetooth trailhead
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- fresh snow…TGI the weekend!
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- Sunshine & Snow (jacket optional) – Reason #105: why we call this HOME!
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- How high are we going?
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- bottom of the Falls (thanks to photographer Stephen)
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- weekly obligatory pic of Ro walking on ice
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- Waterfalls in winter ROCK! AMAZING day!
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- Don’t leave me down here!
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- Pic from behind the Falls
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- Sno Ro
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- 35F – time to shed the jacket
A week later but still a lot of snow on our roads from the Feb 3rd mega-storm.
No need to travel far for our weekly snow trek – er…hike. Been passing a trailhead sign on those work days when I take back roads to avoid large road traffic delays. Teller Farm – seemed good a time as any to explore.
Cows, horses and cow pies – all new experiences for Ro. Check, done 🙂 Growing up on a farm, should have remembered cow pies; unfortunately, I didn’t catch on until well into Ro’s first taste – yuck!
In addition to snow & cow pies – (Lucky for Ro) he met several dogs on this hike too. Hooray! Strangely, lil’ guy never warmed up to cows – though was super interested in all horses near the end of our trail. Horses roll over, frolick, play, enjoy snow – cows lumber and stare. OF COURSE Ro likes horses – like a brotha from another mother 🙂
4th consecutive week for Ro ‘ice walks’: Wonderland Lake, Golden Ponds, Waneka Lake – and now Teller Lake. Go Sno’ Ro!
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- I remember this same sign at Rock Center – NOT!
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- Intro to Cows
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- All carb breakfast – Cow pies! (Yuck)
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- wait, wait, wait…..
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- DOG!
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- Can almost make out the mountains in the background – obscured today by snow clouds (expecting 2 more inches tonite)
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- Can we go?
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- Wouldn’t be a weekly hike without Ro standing on an ice-covered lake
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- I could sit here all day; these dogs are BIG.
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- and a Horse of another colour
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- quick nap before bath time & puppy class
After almost 2 feet of snow, woke up to a sunny Saturday and thought – where can Ro & I hike that doesn’t involve driving to a trailhead?
Waneka Lake in Lafayette is only a mile from my home so this local park worked perfectly in our plans. Iced over and winter home to flocks of Canadian geese and wood ducks, hard to imagine folks paddle-boating here after Memorial Day.
Because of our heavy snow, the walk to Waneka itself provided part of the fun for this day hike. Did I mention – my dog LOVES snow. Burying his head deep in the snow or racing in circles at break-neck speed were prime for this day. Since the lake was frozen, we dropped off the path and snowshoed an area which is usually water – our only competition this day were cross-country skiers and sledders.
Beautiful sunshine, beautiful snow, beautiful day.
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- Skiing, sledding & ice fishing – Colorado
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- Don’t think we’re supposed to drop off the path
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- Waneka Lake in February
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- Help I’m stuck!
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- Wait, wait for me!
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- Snow angels
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- Geese!
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- And I’m sleeping again…long day.
