Team in Training

Well after the storm moving in last week while hiking Pawnee Pass, all eyes were on the weather during the week.  Initially we were going to hike from the Hessie Trailhead and head towards Rollins Pass and the divide, however a system moved into Colorado the day before bringing constant rain and snow easily to 10,000 feet on Saturday morning.  So instead of doing that hike we met in Boulder and planned the Triple Peak Challenge or at least part of it.  Arriving at the park and ride we normally use it was pouring but it did start to let up, with rain and temperatures near 50 that morning it was going to be an interesting hike.

We arranged carpools (not the original idea of we all drive on our own since it wasn’t too far) and headed to the parking lot at NCAR where we would start.  As the rain progressed and the weatherproofing of the group was challenged we hiked around the many trails in the area.  While looking back at one trail it appeared to be letting up and the sky clearing.

We started hiking on the trail and of course it quickly started to pour once again.

As we started to climb we stopped and made a determination that people were drenched already and it probably wasn’t wise to push forward after about two hours already on the trail.  As we headed back down it was only 10am but it appeared to be much darker.

Back at the parking lot we decided to head to breakfast or lunch, which ended up being breakfast as the lunch place wasn’t open at 11am.  After breakfast we headed across the parking lot to the other spot for a few pitchers and continue to dry off.  Once we left, the rain was gone and the clouds lifting once again and we joked we could have hiked after all.

In early August our Hike for Discovery group hike took us on Pawnee Pass, which starts from Long Lake in the Brainerd Lake Recreation Area near Ward, Colorado.  About a mile into the hike we stopped and from that point moving forward were timed for how long it would take us to hike the next mile which is used to help place us for our final hike.

This next mile got us to Lake Isabelle where we stopped and had a brief clinic on lightning safety as storms could easily move in on days like this.  As we left the spot we started to climb towards Pawnee Pass on the Continental Divide.

Once at the pass we stopped for some lunch as it was just before noon.  Enjoying the nice skies we decided that there may be some rain coming in soon but nothing to be too worried about.

We thought about the next direction to go with those in our group and instead of heading up to Pawnee Peak, it was down to Pawnee Lake.  The trek to Pawnee Lake is less than two miles with about around 1500 feet of elevation loss.

I drew an arrow above where a fellow hiker is in the image along the trail.  As I wasn’t feeling up to it, I started to head back up towards the Pass after just going shy of a half mile to try to meet with the other hikers who should be there by that time.  We also started to notice at that time the clouds were starting to move in and being at the divide it was hard to determine what was happening exactly since we couldn’t see the east side.  When I started up back towards the pass, I radioed down that it was getting dark and the other hikers were starting to head back up by that time as they noticed it as well.

Crossing back over the pass the darkness was aparent, and what was troubling was upon starting to head off the peak other hikers not in our group were still coming up to the pass.  Not the brightest decision based on the skies.

Anyways, I got about a half mile from the pass and it started to rain, and within 5 minutes it was pouring all the way back to the car.  With the uncertaintly of lightning in the area, I started moving quickly and grabbed one of my trekking poles out of my pack to help going over the slick rocks.  I had also thrown on my rain jacket, but didn’t stop for the rain pants.  Close to four miles later I was beyond soaked and miserable like a lot of others I met back at the parking lot from our group.  Within 15 minutes the rest of the group showed up and were all safely back, but it was quite ironic earlier in the morning we had lighning safety.

The Hike for Discovery group hike to Jasper Lake took place in mid-July as it was possible to get into the higher altitudes since the snow had finally melted in most areas.

We headed to the Hessie trailhead which was quite full by the time we arrived leading us up the road towards the Fourth of July trail head and campground.  Realizing we needed to be around the Hessie trailhead a 3 point turn on the road with a steep drop off took place.  I was driving but the person in the front passenger seat was scared of heights and not seeing the drop off or anything over the front of the hood was not going well.  I told her to look up towards Eldora ski resort , sort of above us but she just closed her eyes instead.  The 3 point turn was about a 5 or 6 point turn in reality just to be safe.

Once we got the parking situated and got on the trail we crossed a bridge and were on our way towards the lake.

Making our way up to the lake we passed fields of wildflowers in full bloom as the season was a little behind.  This let some people see the Columbine (Colorado state flower) for the first time as well.

As we approached Jasper Lake there was some snow on the trail, which lead to some snowballs flying in the warm middle of July day.

Stopping for lunch at the lake we then headed back down the trail, making a slight detour to Lost Lake.  Unofrtunately on the trail down one of our trail captains fell and twisted her ankle.  She was able to make it out just fine but skipped the additional mileage to Lost Lake.

Being closer to the Hessie trail head there were more people at Lost Lake, but still it was quite empty for such a beautiful area.

Having found Lost Lake we continued back to the trailhead and off to dinner/drinks in Nederland .  It was quite a long day of hiking but an entertaining day as well with one of the first memorable quotes of the hike season stated at dinner in Ned.

In the month of July for a Hike for Discovery group hike we headed to Elk Meadow Park which is one of the many Open Space Parks in Jefferson County, Colorado .  Connected to Elk Meadow Open Space is Bergen Peak which is part of the Denver Mountain Parks and this was also part of our hike.

We started off from the parking lot off of Stagecoach Blvd. and spent a good amount of time on the trails within Elk Meadow prior to it getting warm.  It was obvious at that time it was going to be a warm hazy day, but we were hoping that it would not get too warm as it had been in Denver, and that the near 8,000 foot elevation would help with the weather.  While on the Painters Pause trail, you could understand why it was called this with the long grasses growing in a scene which could remind you of a painting scene especially in the right light.  Moving onward around the edge of Elk Meadow we added an out and back on the trail to add another 1.4 miles to the hike to get us well over the 12 mile mark for the final tally on the day.  Heading back on this additional trail we could see Bergen Peak ahead which would consume the next three plus miles of hiking as we made our way to the top.

After hiking the Too Long Trail we made it to the junction of the Bergen Peak trail which would take us to the top of the peak.  Prior to making the final mile to the peak we stopped for some lunch and to refuel ourselves after a warm climb to the junction.

At the top we were just shy of 10,000 feet and looking out in some hazy skies.  It was uncertain if some of the haze was due to the wildfires in California at the time, however from past hikes to the top of Bergen Peak I knew the view was quite limited.  After a short break we headed back down the Bergen Peak trail all the way which was rocky at spots and was worse on the body then heading to the top.

Hike for Discovery is the endurance hiking fundraising program for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society . If you would like to donate as I raise money for the LLS visit the Neil Corman Hike for Discovery Donation page . I thank you for supporting my hiking this summer and more so the LLS.

Matthew/Winters Park was the destination for this past weekends Hike for Discovery group hike.  This was also a Friends, Family and Fido hike as participants in Hike for Discovery were able to invite others on the hike.  Located next to Red Rocks Amphitheater just off of I-70 at Morrison Road Matthew/Winters Park is quite popular with hikers but also mountain bikers. As there was not much shade on the trails here it was nice it was a cooler day than the hikes the last few weeks.  With blue sky over the foothills and threatening skies towards the city it made for an interesting contrast in the skies as we started to hike.

We started off on the Red Rocks trail and headed into the park going through meadows, small gulches and finally to the junction of the Morrison Slide trail.  As we headed up the switch backs of  the Morrison Slide trail we were greeted with more views of the surrounding area and out towards the plains.  We also found less mountain bikers to contend with on this trail.  At the top of the switch backs there was an open meadow leading towards the foothills west of the trail and the vista in the other directions.  Descending down the Morrison Slide trail we reached the trail junction of the Red Rocks trail and took this over to the end of the trail near Highway 26.  As we crossed the highway we quickly made up any elevation we had just lost as it was a steady climb up to the top of Dakota Ridge (aka hogback).  Like last week at Heil Valley Ranch , it was quite obvious on the trail as we passed through the different layers of rock making up the ridge.  As we reached the top we were welcomed with a view of C-470, as well as Green Mountain shown below.  There was also signage showing us the different layers of rocks making up the ridge and other details about the area.

For the last two miles we hiked on the top of Dakota Ridge rolling with the terrain and contending with a rocky trail.  This was one of the first trails I attempted to mountain bike upon moving to Colorado 11 years ago, and whenever I hike along the ridge I question why I did this trail first.  Reaching a junction for the Zorro trail, we stopped and waited for the rest of the group to catch up for one last uphill section of the ridge and then back to the parking lot in the final mile.  While waiting I took the following image of Chad (a fellow hiker) and his friend Tiffany who hiked with us this week.

As this trail was quite close to the city it was nice it was a little cooler, as the summer brings some additional warmth to our hikes.  But overall the 6.8 mile hike was a nice short hike, as the upcoming group hikes will easily be twice this distance.

Hike for Discovery is the endurance hiking fundraising program for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society . If you would like to donate as I raise money for the LLS visit the Neil Corman Hike for Discovery Donation page . I thank you for supporting my hiking this summer and more so the LLS.