Long walk 2015
I've survived one more endurance hike. This one was different because it was followed up a week later with my first cataract surgery. I was concerned that, if I didn't go ahead and walk, the snows would end my hiking season. So I walked....
I was aiming for 26 miles (last year was 24 miles) but it ended up being more like 30. I started at home in Bear Creek Valley and walked up Bear Creek Trail to Kipling which was little more than a road walk to Jewell Avenue. The altitude increased until the mist turned into fine ice. It was just enough to keep me from overheating. Then, I followed Jewell up to Green Mountain.
This is a view from the flanks of Greem Mountain. The notch in the mountain is where I was going. That's Bear Creek Canyon and you can just see Morrison, Colorado behind it.
Here's another view from Green Mountain. I don't knnow what that mountain is called but it's a promenant rise west of Denver.
And this is Green Mountain. Not very impressive but the views are pretty spectacular. Unfortunately, this was a foggy morning and I decided not to waste effort climbing to the top for pictures.
From Green Mountain, I walked through the open air geology museum called Dinosaur Ridge - pretty cool exhibits, which lead straight into Red Rocks Park. I didn't go all the way to the amphitheater. I figured the House would be going there sooner or later and it was beginning to get late so I just took some pictures in the park. Here's one.
It's just a rock ladies and gentlemen. It doesn't bite. (Dang, I hate tagging this as Adult Content but this is America........)
That pyramid up ahead is Bear Creek Canyon, the shortest canyon I've ever seen. It towers above Morrison, which is a pretty little mountain town. It was getting late so the ice cream shop was closed and I just walked through town and the canyon. After I got into Denver proper, things went south. I was doing fine up til then and there was Bear Creek Lakes Park where Bear Creek Trail disappeared amidst a maze of park trails. I spent 3 hours trying to find the way through the park, over Carbon Mountain, and through the two golf courses on the other side. That was grueling and I ended up very tired with plantar blisters on my feet. Instead of it being dusk when I returned home it was quite dark, but, over all, the hike was great. It's my first hike into the mountains (still not the Rockies - just the Front Range, but maybe next year - maybe I'll have someone drive me up to Black Hawk and let me out to walk back - oooooh.)
So, I recovered in the requisit three days and was ready to start my cataract surgeries. I'm through all that now with one more post op and fitting for a new set of glasses. I think this year will end satisfactorily.
:)
I was aiming for 26 miles (last year was 24 miles) but it ended up being more like 30. I started at home in Bear Creek Valley and walked up Bear Creek Trail to Kipling which was little more than a road walk to Jewell Avenue. The altitude increased until the mist turned into fine ice. It was just enough to keep me from overheating. Then, I followed Jewell up to Green Mountain.
This is a view from the flanks of Greem Mountain. The notch in the mountain is where I was going. That's Bear Creek Canyon and you can just see Morrison, Colorado behind it.
Here's another view from Green Mountain. I don't knnow what that mountain is called but it's a promenant rise west of Denver.
And this is Green Mountain. Not very impressive but the views are pretty spectacular. Unfortunately, this was a foggy morning and I decided not to waste effort climbing to the top for pictures.
From Green Mountain, I walked through the open air geology museum called Dinosaur Ridge - pretty cool exhibits, which lead straight into Red Rocks Park. I didn't go all the way to the amphitheater. I figured the House would be going there sooner or later and it was beginning to get late so I just took some pictures in the park. Here's one.
It's just a rock ladies and gentlemen. It doesn't bite. (Dang, I hate tagging this as Adult Content but this is America........)
That pyramid up ahead is Bear Creek Canyon, the shortest canyon I've ever seen. It towers above Morrison, which is a pretty little mountain town. It was getting late so the ice cream shop was closed and I just walked through town and the canyon. After I got into Denver proper, things went south. I was doing fine up til then and there was Bear Creek Lakes Park where Bear Creek Trail disappeared amidst a maze of park trails. I spent 3 hours trying to find the way through the park, over Carbon Mountain, and through the two golf courses on the other side. That was grueling and I ended up very tired with plantar blisters on my feet. Instead of it being dusk when I returned home it was quite dark, but, over all, the hike was great. It's my first hike into the mountains (still not the Rockies - just the Front Range, but maybe next year - maybe I'll have someone drive me up to Black Hawk and let me out to walk back - oooooh.)
So, I recovered in the requisit three days and was ready to start my cataract surgeries. I'm through all that now with one more post op and fitting for a new set of glasses. I think this year will end satisfactorily.
:)