Just cleaning up the blog and redecorating a little. :) The weather has been AWESOME lately, and I wish I could be out adventuring everyday, but alas I must pay the bills and therefore must work before play. Or as well as play. But I promise new amazing stories and pictures soon! Watch this space!
Also, I got a callback from the audition in Boulder last Wednesday! It's scheduled for June 12th, so (hopefully) this time I'll have more time to look around and take some pictures up there when I go back.
Have and safe and happy Memorial Day weekend!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Auditions, callbacks, and a sunburn
This past week has been full of indoor and outdoor adventures! And by indoor, I mostly mean 'in car'. I had an audition in Littleton on Monday night for a production of RENT. Littleton is a town just southwest of Denver, about an hour north of Colorado Springs. Its downtown area is quite nice, and that's where the Town Hall Theatre is. I spent an hour in the car to get there, about 30 minutes waiting to audition, and then about 5 minutes actually auditioning, followed by another hour in the car home.
I also had an audition scheduled in Boulder on Wednesday afternoon, and then ended up getting a callback to the RENT audition in Littleton that was scheduled for Wednesday night. I left my apartment at 2pm ready for a long day of auditioning. I had no idea just how long it would be!
The drive up to Boulder was long (turned out to be 2 hours because of traffic), but very nice. I drove through Denver and got to see the Mile High Stadium where the Denver Broncos play.
Boulder is very beautiful as well, and I would have some pictures of it if I hadn't gotten stuck in ridiculous traffic and ended up 40 minutes late for my audition (which turned out fine since they had a lot of cancellations later that afternoon) which left me harried and worried about making it back down to Littleton in time for the RENT callbacks. 
A house being built next to the park. A HUGE house.
Makes me want to have a dog just to let it run around freely in this beautiful park!
Like the name says, there is a creek that runs through the park. It is a crystal clear, icy cold stream that falls over itself in lovely little waterfalls. Dogs and people alike enjoy playing in its rushing waters. It also makes a very soothing sound as it trickles past boulders and over fallen trees. This I discovered when I lay down on a boulder next to it in the warm sun, and ended up falling asleep for about 20 minutes. Just a powernap, a well deserved one after working 8 hours on 2 hours of sleep, but I still paid for it with a lovely sunburn, as you can see.
Roasted flesh aside, I ended the day with a trip to the movies with Mark and Sarafia; two of my friends from work. We saw Ironman 2, and I must say RD Jr is a bad ass. He just is. Can't be denied. :) Territory Days in Old Colorado City this weekend! It's a huge festival full of food, crafts, live music and more. I have to work, but will definitely be visiting it when I'm not slaving away at the 'Bucks. Have a great memorial day, all!
I also had an audition scheduled in Boulder on Wednesday afternoon, and then ended up getting a callback to the RENT audition in Littleton that was scheduled for Wednesday night. I left my apartment at 2pm ready for a long day of auditioning. I had no idea just how long it would be!
The drive up to Boulder was long (turned out to be 2 hours because of traffic), but very nice. I drove through Denver and got to see the Mile High Stadium where the Denver Broncos play.
Boulder is very beautiful as well, and I would have some pictures of it if I hadn't gotten stuck in ridiculous traffic and ended up 40 minutes late for my audition (which turned out fine since they had a lot of cancellations later that afternoon) which left me harried and worried about making it back down to Littleton in time for the RENT callbacks. I needn't have worried. I arrived in plenty of time for the callbacks, and then proceeded to wait. And wait. And wait and wait and wait. The callbacks ran from 6pm to 10:30pm, and I had already been running about all day, (not to mention coughing my brains out as my body tries to force out the end of this stupid cold) and was exhausted by the time we were released. Don't get me wrong, I was happy to be kept the whole time instead of released since that's usually a good sign in the long run, but I knew I had to be at work the next morning at 4:15am, and I still had the long drive back to the Springs.
It all worked out for the best, though, as today turned out to be a gorgeous day, and I didn't mind being up so early since it meant I would be done at 12;45pm and would have the day to relax. Since it was so sunny and warm, I decided to explore outside a bit. Sick to death of my car for the time being, I walked back behind my apartment complex and found a path that lead to the park that is just down the hill from my complex. It's called Bear Creek park and it functions widely as a dog park/trail head that winds around for quite a few acres in the foothills. Here are some views from the highest park of the trail in the park. Beautiful!
A house being built next to the park. A HUGE house.
Makes me want to have a dog just to let it run around freely in this beautiful park!
Like the name says, there is a creek that runs through the park. It is a crystal clear, icy cold stream that falls over itself in lovely little waterfalls. Dogs and people alike enjoy playing in its rushing waters. It also makes a very soothing sound as it trickles past boulders and over fallen trees. This I discovered when I lay down on a boulder next to it in the warm sun, and ended up falling asleep for about 20 minutes. Just a powernap, a well deserved one after working 8 hours on 2 hours of sleep, but I still paid for it with a lovely sunburn, as you can see.
Roasted flesh aside, I ended the day with a trip to the movies with Mark and Sarafia; two of my friends from work. We saw Ironman 2, and I must say RD Jr is a bad ass. He just is. Can't be denied. :) Territory Days in Old Colorado City this weekend! It's a huge festival full of food, crafts, live music and more. I have to work, but will definitely be visiting it when I'm not slaving away at the 'Bucks. Have a great memorial day, all! More to come!
Friday, May 21, 2010
(Where's) Waldo Canyon
Well, in Pike National Forest if you'd really like to know, and to my great disappointment none of the mountains or trees were dressed in red and white striped shirts or blue pants. Alas. But everything else about that hike offered no more disappointments. To say this trail was challenging, fun, and beautiful is to do it a grave injustice. All the words I can think of for this experience would be understatements, and all the pictures I'll show you will not do the views justice, but until you come out here and hike the trail yourself, this will have to do. :)
The trail starts just off of highway 24, and begins with a few roughhewn steps up to the trail that leads to the Waldo Canyon loop.
From the top of the steps and up a bit on the trail to the canyon, the highway is already far below. I've only gained probably about 100 0r 150 feet in altitude in this picture, a fraction of the 2000 feet I gained by the time I reached the summit of this trail.
The trail to the Waldo Canyon loop is a little over a mile and a half long itself, and offers some pretty spectacular views along the way. It was a perfect day for hiking: warm, the breeze was very slight, and there were barely any clouds in the sky. Still, though I started the hike in shorts and a t-shirt, I had packed a long sleeve shirt in my backpack . While it was a sunny 75 degrees at the start of the trail, the weather changes pretty quickly 2000 feet higher, and can get cold before you know it. Also in my backpack were my water bottle, an apple, and of course, my blackberry because while it becomes useless as a phone once you enter the canyons, its camera still works just fine.
The trail winds around and up the canyon's edge, pretty darn CLOSE to the edge a lot of the time. One wrong step and you'd be off on a fast journey down the side of the mountain. Syl, Mom, I don't think you'd like it. :) The trail itself is made of red sandstone and pink Pike's Peak granite bits and most of the time isn't more than 2 feet wide.
About halfway through the mile and a half trail to the loop, I came across this amazing rock formation on the inside of the canyon wall. I could hear a waterfall coming from that direction, and after staring and squinting at it, I found it hidden in a crack right down the middle. I knew the picture wouldn't do it justice, but if you click on it and magnify it, it looks almost half as cool as it did in real life. :)
Right before you reach the Waldo canyon loop, the trail suddenly opens up and leads you across this grassy knoll. I'm not gonna lie, being in the open like that made me a little nervous. As beautiful as the trail was and as much as I was enjoying the sights, in the back of my mind always lurked the thought that I was alone, and there were predators up here that were bigger than me. I expected to see the big black shape of a bear moving through the trees, or hear the scream of a cougar any second. Silly, maybe, seeing as it's a very populated and well traveled trail (I probably passed 7 or 8 other hikers during my 3 and a half hour Odyssey through the canyon), but hey, better paranoid than taken by surprise, right?
I finally found the trail head and took the pass to the right. Turns out, according to the hikers I passed (which were ALL heading in the opposite direction), that was the hard way to start. And hard it WAS. Very uphill with a lot of scrambling over loose granite gravel. I was breathing pretty hard by the time the trail leveled out, but the view immediately took my mind off of the thinner air. On the hike up into the canyon and towards the loop, I wondered when I'd get high enough to see Pike's Peak over the lower mountain tops. As soon as I stood up from being bent over gasping for breath, I was greeted by this sight: Pike's Peak reigning over the skyline.
Turning the other way, I could see over the rest of the canyon and out east to the flatter, desert like Colorado landscape.
All along the trail bunches (not sure of the scientific term for groups of cactus plants...bunches will have to do) of cacti sprouted up on both sides of me. Another reason to watch your step. :)
Further up along the trail, the skyline becomes even more dramatic, opening up and allowing me to see for miles. That's probably Kansas over there where the sky meets the land. Who knows?
At about 2 hours into the hike, I began to really feel the work my legs were doing, though my feet and ankles were quite comfortable in my new Salomon hiking shoes! :) I stopped at one point to rest, and was astounded when I looked up. I stood and watched as a group of storm clouds swept across the blue sky and touched the tip of Pike's Peak. It's unreal to think about how close the sky is here. 
Another half hour into the hike and my stomach rumbled to remind me how much work I was doing, and how long ago breakfast had been. I had been so excited about my new shoes, the beautiful weather, and this hike, that I hadn't stopped to eat lunch after leaving work at 2pm. I'd brought the leftovers from a pasta dinner I'd made myself the night before and eaten them around 10am when I had my 30 minute break, and had only water and coffee after. It was close to 5:30pm now, and that apple in my backpack was sounding really good. I planned to stop for a rest and a snack when I found a suitable place. Suitable doesn't even begin to describe it.
This outcropping of rock along the trail probably hung about 200 or 300 feet above the tops of those evergreen below. The view was spectacular, and of course I had to climb out on it. Sorry, mom. :)
As I suspected, the picture doesn't at all convey the awesome height and beauty of this place, but I got my foot in the shot...aren't my hiking shoes cool? ;)
Small, but still quite a lovely little mountain stream. I came across many different little waterfalls as it wound it's way down inside of the canyon. The trail was now in the woods, and the temperature noticeably cooler in the shade. The air was thick with the smell of fresh pine sap, and the trail as leading me downhill (at last!)...I couldn't be happier.
I continued to follow the stream, all the while the shortly forgotten fear of predators slowly seeping back into my mind. This was a water source, after all. Something frequented by predators and prey alike. I made sure to keep my eyes up and roaming as much as I could without risking a broken ankle by tripping over the large rocks on the trail. As I traveled deeper into the forest and my surroundings grew darker and colder, I began to wish I had brought a hiking partner with me...or at least a knife. Then, I stumbled upon another waterfall in the stream, and left the trail to get a closer look. I climbed out onto a rock that was covered in wet red clay and sand in order to get a picture. It came out rather sideways, but you get the point. :)
Turning the other way, I could see over the rest of the canyon and out east to the flatter, desert like Colorado landscape.
All along the trail bunches (not sure of the scientific term for groups of cactus plants...bunches will have to do) of cacti sprouted up on both sides of me. Another reason to watch your step. :)
Further up along the trail, the skyline becomes even more dramatic, opening up and allowing me to see for miles. That's probably Kansas over there where the sky meets the land. Who knows?
At about 2 hours into the hike, I began to really feel the work my legs were doing, though my feet and ankles were quite comfortable in my new Salomon hiking shoes! :) I stopped at one point to rest, and was astounded when I looked up. I stood and watched as a group of storm clouds swept across the blue sky and touched the tip of Pike's Peak. It's unreal to think about how close the sky is here. 
Another half hour into the hike and my stomach rumbled to remind me how much work I was doing, and how long ago breakfast had been. I had been so excited about my new shoes, the beautiful weather, and this hike, that I hadn't stopped to eat lunch after leaving work at 2pm. I'd brought the leftovers from a pasta dinner I'd made myself the night before and eaten them around 10am when I had my 30 minute break, and had only water and coffee after. It was close to 5:30pm now, and that apple in my backpack was sounding really good. I planned to stop for a rest and a snack when I found a suitable place. Suitable doesn't even begin to describe it.
This outcropping of rock along the trail probably hung about 200 or 300 feet above the tops of those evergreen below. The view was spectacular, and of course I had to climb out on it. Sorry, mom. :)
As I suspected, the picture doesn't at all convey the awesome height and beauty of this place, but I got my foot in the shot...aren't my hiking shoes cool? ;)After being on the trail for about 3 hours, I began to get worried. The website had described this hike as being about 4 hours long, and having a stream that had to be crossed 'several times', and I was still ascending. I certainly didn't expect to find a stream up where I was. Had I somehow gotten off the trail? I had been lead astray earlier in the hike by a side trail that had been made by hikers before me, but had figured it out pretty fast and had corrected my path. So where was this stream, and was I ever going to reach the summit?
Ye of little faith, I began my descent not long after I had that slight panic attack. It was just like something my sister Katie had said to me once while we were driving in an unfamiliar part of California: "Just when you think you've gone too far, you haven't gone far enough", and that statement usually holds true. The stream was small and the crossings were easy, just like the website had foretold.
Small, but still quite a lovely little mountain stream. I came across many different little waterfalls as it wound it's way down inside of the canyon. The trail was now in the woods, and the temperature noticeably cooler in the shade. The air was thick with the smell of fresh pine sap, and the trail as leading me downhill (at last!)...I couldn't be happier.
I continued to follow the stream, all the while the shortly forgotten fear of predators slowly seeping back into my mind. This was a water source, after all. Something frequented by predators and prey alike. I made sure to keep my eyes up and roaming as much as I could without risking a broken ankle by tripping over the large rocks on the trail. As I traveled deeper into the forest and my surroundings grew darker and colder, I began to wish I had brought a hiking partner with me...or at least a knife. Then, I stumbled upon another waterfall in the stream, and left the trail to get a closer look. I climbed out onto a rock that was covered in wet red clay and sand in order to get a picture. It came out rather sideways, but you get the point. :)
After finding the trail again and coming to another crossing of the stream, I bent down to wash the grit off of my hands in the gently trickling water. Sidenote: mountain streams are COLD.
As I was finishing, I suddenly heard a growl right by my head. I gasped out loud and whipped around to see a golden hued animal flash along the trail. My heart stopped dead in my chest for 2.9 seconds and I seriously believed I would have to fight a mountain lion in those eternal moments. Then, a golden lab bounded out from behind a tree. It was only barely out of its puppy stage, its ears floppy and still nervous of people who are not its master: hence the growl. Followed closely in its paw prints were two other labs, both black, and both much older and wiser. They seemed to take no notice of me as they trotted past, their owner on his mountain bike right behind them. I smiled and gave a nervous laugh and a high pitched hello, and felt my heart slide back down my throat and into my chest where it slowly calmed down.
As it had been a physically and now an emotionally draining journey, the sight of the Waldo loop trail sign may be one of the sweetest sights I've ever beheld, whether the look on my face says it was or not. :)
Though I had reached the sign, I still had another mile and a half to go to get back to my car, but I had done it! The Waldo canyon loop hike was another I could check off my list. All said and done, I'm proud of myself, and the views were so spectacular I'd do it again. And no matter what the other hikers said, I'd take the same route; it was nice to end the long hard hike with a trail through the woods and next to a winding mountain stream...and next time I'll look for dogs before jumping to terrifying conclusions. :)
Stay tuned!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Ute Pass Falls
Today was a typical day in Colorado Springs: different weather every 4 minutes. It was warm, though, and even though it would randomly begin to rain every so often, I decided that I'd find a short adventure to go on after work. Short because I didn't get out of work until 5:30pm, and I'm not familiar enough with anything or anyone to be out on a mountain after sundown, and short too because I would be going by myself. There is an amazing website called www.localhikes.com that I have been frequenting almost daily. It lists all the...well...local hikes in and around Colorado Springs. I've done 2 so far, and have plans to do another on Saturday, and hopefully Section 16 next week.
Today my short adventure was hiking to the Ute Pass Falls in Manitou Springs, aka Rainbow falls, and affectionately known as Graffiti Falls. I love love LOVE Manitou Springs! It's an adorable and very eclectic little mountain town. It has beautiful views and a slew of natural mineral springs that pop up all over the downtown area. Manitou is a native American word for 'spirit', and the Ute native americans, among others, thought the area to be sacred and its springs full of healing powers. Today visitors and locals alike can walk to the path of the different mineral springs and drink from each. They're each said to have their own unique flavor, depending on which minerals gather in that spring area. I haven't tasted any of them yet, but I'm sure I'll do that tour eventually.
This view is just above Manitou Springs. Isn't it lovely? The main trail to the waterfall starts above the town, and of course the creek that flows from it flows downhill and through downtown Manitou. I hiked the opposite way: From the creekside up into the hills where Ute Pass Falls....falls. :)
This is the trailhead I took; a small, red clay, sandy trail that wound closely with the creek up through the forest and into the hills above Manitou.
The trail sometime strayed awfully close to the rushing stream of mountain water, and it took some creative stepping and jumping to keep my feet dry!
Huge boulders (like THAT one! :) ) would interrupt the creek's flow every now and again, forcing it to split in two and rush around the giant rock.
One of the best parts of this hike was the sound. It was so soothing and cathartic to walk along and listen to the gentle rush and bubble of the stream.
Here, before I had even begun the climb up to where the water really started rushing closer to the falls, there were already signs why this place had been nicknamed 'graffiti falls'.
As I ascended the hills, the sound of the water grew ever louder, and the graffiti more constant and colorful.
The water began to rush quickly and to pick up to a near constant roar.... 
Finally, I came around a large boulder and spotted the falls. They lie almost hidden behind and overpass for highway 24. The roar here was very impressive, and equally impressive was all the graffiti. Every available surface was covered with painted letters, words, goodbye's, hello's, anthems, beliefs, truths, hobbies, bands, books, characters, and anything and everything else you could imagine. While some would say that it takes away from the natural beauty of the place, I didn't feel that way at all. Perhaps I would have if it were just a few tags of swear words or derogatory slurs, but I would say 85% of this was truly art. I found it beautiful.
After marveling at the falling water and the myriad of colors surrounding me, I started back down the rock side and back towards my car. Before traveling back to my car, I stopped atop the hill and watched as the sun sank below the top of the mountains. And you know what? At sunset, mountains really are purple.
I took a couple of videos, since waterfalls and rushing streams can't be truly caught in still pictures, but I'm not sure if they work. If they do, hooray and enjoy! If not, I'll edit this post and delete them. :)
Today my short adventure was hiking to the Ute Pass Falls in Manitou Springs, aka Rainbow falls, and affectionately known as Graffiti Falls. I love love LOVE Manitou Springs! It's an adorable and very eclectic little mountain town. It has beautiful views and a slew of natural mineral springs that pop up all over the downtown area. Manitou is a native American word for 'spirit', and the Ute native americans, among others, thought the area to be sacred and its springs full of healing powers. Today visitors and locals alike can walk to the path of the different mineral springs and drink from each. They're each said to have their own unique flavor, depending on which minerals gather in that spring area. I haven't tasted any of them yet, but I'm sure I'll do that tour eventually.
This view is just above Manitou Springs. Isn't it lovely? The main trail to the waterfall starts above the town, and of course the creek that flows from it flows downhill and through downtown Manitou. I hiked the opposite way: From the creekside up into the hills where Ute Pass Falls....falls. :)
This is the trailhead I took; a small, red clay, sandy trail that wound closely with the creek up through the forest and into the hills above Manitou. 
The trail sometime strayed awfully close to the rushing stream of mountain water, and it took some creative stepping and jumping to keep my feet dry!
Huge boulders (like THAT one! :) ) would interrupt the creek's flow every now and again, forcing it to split in two and rush around the giant rock.
One of the best parts of this hike was the sound. It was so soothing and cathartic to walk along and listen to the gentle rush and bubble of the stream. 
Here, before I had even begun the climb up to where the water really started rushing closer to the falls, there were already signs why this place had been nicknamed 'graffiti falls'.
As I ascended the hills, the sound of the water grew ever louder, and the graffiti more constant and colorful.
The water began to rush quickly and to pick up to a near constant roar.... 
Finally, I came around a large boulder and spotted the falls. They lie almost hidden behind and overpass for highway 24. The roar here was very impressive, and equally impressive was all the graffiti. Every available surface was covered with painted letters, words, goodbye's, hello's, anthems, beliefs, truths, hobbies, bands, books, characters, and anything and everything else you could imagine. While some would say that it takes away from the natural beauty of the place, I didn't feel that way at all. Perhaps I would have if it were just a few tags of swear words or derogatory slurs, but I would say 85% of this was truly art. I found it beautiful.
After marveling at the falling water and the myriad of colors surrounding me, I started back down the rock side and back towards my car. Before traveling back to my car, I stopped atop the hill and watched as the sun sank below the top of the mountains. And you know what? At sunset, mountains really are purple.I took a couple of videos, since waterfalls and rushing streams can't be truly caught in still pictures, but I'm not sure if they work. If they do, hooray and enjoy! If not, I'll edit this post and delete them. :)
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
New Hiking Shoes!
So here they are in all their Salomon glory! Gor-Tex inside layer designed to keep your feet dry even when the trail you're hiking leads you through mountain streams, snow packs, dewy fields, and muddy terrain. Bottom designed to be flexible and comfortable while protecting you from rocks on the trail and gripping texture to help your feet stick to the rocks. Well, I hope all of that is true, but really they were 40% off so that was a big selling factor too. :)
They're to arrive in 3-6 days, hopefully in time for my next adventure!
Meanwhile, I've been busy memorizing monologues and practicing songs for 2 auditions I have coming up on the 24th. Hope you're all having a good week!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Cougars!
Now first of all, let me say before you all freak out...I DID NOT TAKE THIS PICTURE...and...THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN NEARLY 3 YEARS AGO.
Ok, after that disclaimer, here's the scoop:
A girl from Detroit was visiting Colorado Springs, and was taking a walk early one morning in the Garden of the Gods. She was walking on the Scotsman trail, the same trail I was running on two days ago when...*sigh*...when I fell on my face. All I saw were rocks, trees, cacti, and horse poop. She saw something different.
Now, this would be why I was told NOT to hike in the early mornings or at dusk. Luckily, the girl was able to keep her cool. I know many of you are thinking: "WHY THE HELL IS SHE TAKING A PICTURE?!? SHE SHOULD BE RUNNING AWAY VERY FAST!"
That, however, would be the wrong thing to do. Cougars are cats, as you know. BIG cats, but cats just the same. What happens when you put something in front of a cat and then move it quickly and sharply in it's line of vision? Usually, it pounces. Hence why that is the wrong thing to do.
If faced with this situation, you should never run, never (EVER) turn your back on the predator, and try to make yourself look bigger and badder (less of a target, less like prey) than the cat is.
The girl in question put up her arms, made her hands into claws, and growled as loudly as she could. The cougars in question stared at her, then eventually padded away when she turned up the volume on her growl. Nicely done.
Here's hoping I don't have to put her methods to practice....but good to know they worked for her.
Syl, this is for you. :)
Ok, after that disclaimer, here's the scoop:
A girl from Detroit was visiting Colorado Springs, and was taking a walk early one morning in the Garden of the Gods. She was walking on the Scotsman trail, the same trail I was running on two days ago when...*sigh*...when I fell on my face. All I saw were rocks, trees, cacti, and horse poop. She saw something different.
Now, this would be why I was told NOT to hike in the early mornings or at dusk. Luckily, the girl was able to keep her cool. I know many of you are thinking: "WHY THE HELL IS SHE TAKING A PICTURE?!? SHE SHOULD BE RUNNING AWAY VERY FAST!"
That, however, would be the wrong thing to do. Cougars are cats, as you know. BIG cats, but cats just the same. What happens when you put something in front of a cat and then move it quickly and sharply in it's line of vision? Usually, it pounces. Hence why that is the wrong thing to do.
If faced with this situation, you should never run, never (EVER) turn your back on the predator, and try to make yourself look bigger and badder (less of a target, less like prey) than the cat is.
The girl in question put up her arms, made her hands into claws, and growled as loudly as she could. The cougars in question stared at her, then eventually padded away when she turned up the volume on her growl. Nicely done.
Here's hoping I don't have to put her methods to practice....but good to know they worked for her.
Syl, this is for you. :)
Hiking Red Rock Canyon
After meeting everyone at my new Starbucks store and telling my moving story and my life story again and again about 12 times over, I met some pretty cool new people. I'm very lucky in that the people at my Starbucks are kind, laid back, outdoors-y types who are more than happy to recommend the best places for hiking, eating, shopping, etc., to the new girl. Some of them even volunteer to take the new girl out hiking around (after said new girl has dropped about a million hints that she'd love to go hiking but doesn't think it's a good idea to go alone...very subtle I know, but it worked!). Abby and her husband William kindly offered to go hiking with me on Saturday, should the weather hold out.
The weather did indeed cooperate, and we met in the parking lot of the Red Rock Canyon trails at a little after 1 on Saturday afternoon. Being the excited first time hiker than I am, I arrived early and took some pictures around the trail head while I waited for Abby and William.
The east trail head canyon map.
There was a very interesting mountain bike practice park that you can see in the left background of this picture. Apparently it's meant for mountain bikers who want to test their skills. It's filled with curved inclines, teeter-totter logs that move as you ride over them, small posts to hop across on your tires, and near-to-vertical paths that you're somehow supposed to ride across, rather than up or down.
The trail began as I had thought it would, just red clay paths wide enough to accommodate families, bikes, horses, runners, wagons, etc. I thought I was in for a lovely afternoon walk around a trail that looped for just under 2 miles before it rejoined the parking lot from the west. Well, now when I go hiking with Abby and William again, I'll know better.
The path did indeed start out just as it looked, and for a while we walked briskly around it, taking in the sights. Well, it was mostly me taking in the sights, I suppose, since Abby and William have lived in the Springs for about 3 years now, and they're no longer at tourist status.
Beautiful flowering trees decorated the bright red path as we made our way along the trail, talking and joking. The air was fragrant and the sun was very warm when it wasn't behind a passing cloud. We walked for about a quarter mile when we came upon this quarry that was used in the 1900's. Hasn't been used in almost 100 years, but it has certainly left it's mark on the land, as you can see. Here, we veered off the main path to follow a smaller trail up and into the quarried cliffs.
In the background of this picture you can see the main trail that we left, and this is the smaller trail up the side of the cliffs that started us on our adventure! Up the side of the quarry walls, we saw a man made stairway carved into the cliff side. There was another, which I don't have a picture of, that was much much MUCH further up the rocks and on a different peak all together. Of course we saw it and I jokingly suggested we get to them and climb to the summit of that rock formation. To my surprise and slight nervousness, William and Abby said sure, they thought we could find it. It was at that exact moment that I began to wonder what I had gotten into, but I was still excited. Abby is, after all, almost 5 months pregnant, so I figured whatever path we took wouldn't be too dangerous. The views were beautiful and there was still an easily negotiable trail beneath my feet, so onward I went.
Abby, in front of the carved staircase.
The quarried walls of Red Rock Canyon from the ground. Before the day was out, we'd see these walls from hundreds of feet above.
Once the smaller trail ended, we began picking our way up the rocks along the canyon wall. The higher we got, the better the view got, so I started taking some pictures. I thought we were almost as high as we'd probably get when I took this one. Luckily and happily, Abby and William were ready to show me some REAL Colorado hiking. 
To the east, a thunderstorm was brewing. We were climbing west, towards the sun and higher mountains, so the storm stayed behind us.
The quarried walls from above this time! They look a little like Mayan ruins from this angle. From here we kept climbing up. Finding hand holds and foot holds, I hauled myself over cliff sides and up and around huge boulders. One thing I learned today: to be the rock climber I want to be, I have to be a lot stronger! This hiking trip was turning out to be exactly the challenge and adventure I came to Colorado for, but it only whet my appetite for more. Now I can't wait for the next hike, the next trail, the next mountain! But it was tiring, and my body was slowly becoming more aware of having less oxygen to feed my muscles.
The same quarried hills from even higher! Just after I took this picture, I realized that in order to effectively and safely hike, one should have hiking shoes, not Nike running shoes. We had to cross a pretty steep rock wall to get across the face of one of the rock formations and find our way down to join up with the trail again on the other side. I watched a bit nervously as Abby and William crossed it, but Abby told me not to worry, and to trust that my shoes would stick. Had my shoes been hiking approved apparel, perhaps they would have. As it was, I started to slide. I didn't panic, since panicking doesn't help any situation ever, but I tensed my legs and immediately scrambled for purchase with my hands. The rock wall we were crossing ended in a drop about five feet away and if I kept sliding I would end up over the edge pretty fast. Abby and William kept me calm and pointed out good places to step and hold as I made my way across the steep wall. After I was safely across, I put new hiking shoes at the top of my shopping list.
We did indeed find those second set of stairs, only it started about halfway up the cliff side, too high to reach. So we just congratulated ourselves for reaching our destination, and started back down the other side of the canyon.
We came across a scenic overlook on our way back down, and William volunteered to take a picture of Abby and I out on a boulder. Notice the look of fear on Abby's face as I totter out to the edge of the rock. :)
I made it though! Notice again Abby's easy going stance on the edge of the rock, while I am not quite yet so comfortable, and therefore am clinging to the rock with my hand. :) I'll get there.
The storm in the east really started picking up as we made our way out to the back of the trail loop. We were now heading towards it, and could feel the wind from it and even see some lightening strikes in the distance. It was a trip to see the storm in front of you, but to feel the warm sun on your back.
The weather did indeed cooperate, and we met in the parking lot of the Red Rock Canyon trails at a little after 1 on Saturday afternoon. Being the excited first time hiker than I am, I arrived early and took some pictures around the trail head while I waited for Abby and William.
The east trail head canyon map.
There was a very interesting mountain bike practice park that you can see in the left background of this picture. Apparently it's meant for mountain bikers who want to test their skills. It's filled with curved inclines, teeter-totter logs that move as you ride over them, small posts to hop across on your tires, and near-to-vertical paths that you're somehow supposed to ride across, rather than up or down. 
The trail began as I had thought it would, just red clay paths wide enough to accommodate families, bikes, horses, runners, wagons, etc. I thought I was in for a lovely afternoon walk around a trail that looped for just under 2 miles before it rejoined the parking lot from the west. Well, now when I go hiking with Abby and William again, I'll know better.
The path did indeed start out just as it looked, and for a while we walked briskly around it, taking in the sights. Well, it was mostly me taking in the sights, I suppose, since Abby and William have lived in the Springs for about 3 years now, and they're no longer at tourist status.
Beautiful flowering trees decorated the bright red path as we made our way along the trail, talking and joking. The air was fragrant and the sun was very warm when it wasn't behind a passing cloud. We walked for about a quarter mile when we came upon this quarry that was used in the 1900's. Hasn't been used in almost 100 years, but it has certainly left it's mark on the land, as you can see. Here, we veered off the main path to follow a smaller trail up and into the quarried cliffs.
In the background of this picture you can see the main trail that we left, and this is the smaller trail up the side of the cliffs that started us on our adventure! Up the side of the quarry walls, we saw a man made stairway carved into the cliff side. There was another, which I don't have a picture of, that was much much MUCH further up the rocks and on a different peak all together. Of course we saw it and I jokingly suggested we get to them and climb to the summit of that rock formation. To my surprise and slight nervousness, William and Abby said sure, they thought we could find it. It was at that exact moment that I began to wonder what I had gotten into, but I was still excited. Abby is, after all, almost 5 months pregnant, so I figured whatever path we took wouldn't be too dangerous. The views were beautiful and there was still an easily negotiable trail beneath my feet, so onward I went.
Abby, in front of the carved staircase.
The quarried walls of Red Rock Canyon from the ground. Before the day was out, we'd see these walls from hundreds of feet above.
Once the smaller trail ended, we began picking our way up the rocks along the canyon wall. The higher we got, the better the view got, so I started taking some pictures. I thought we were almost as high as we'd probably get when I took this one. Luckily and happily, Abby and William were ready to show me some REAL Colorado hiking. There was no red clay dirt path to the second set of stairs we'd seen earlier. To get to those, we'd have to climb up the canyon wall. Climb in small pieces, I mean. It's not like I scaled a sheer cliff side, so don't worry. :) We climbed up and over some 7 and 8 foot rock walls; William with the ease of a seasoned rock climber, Abby with amazingly light feet and gracefulness for a pregnant woman, and me with clumsy steps, hail Mary hauls, and the help of a conveniently placed tree. Trees I know, trees I've climbed, and I trust them to hold me. Rocks crumble and make me nervous, but I made it up and over and was quite proud of myself. After congratulating me on my successful rock climb, William and Abby led the way further up the cliff side. The views up there were dramatically better, so I pulled out my blackberry whenever I thought my footing was good enough that I wouldn't need my hands.
To the east, a thunderstorm was brewing. We were climbing west, towards the sun and higher mountains, so the storm stayed behind us. 
The quarried walls from above this time! They look a little like Mayan ruins from this angle. From here we kept climbing up. Finding hand holds and foot holds, I hauled myself over cliff sides and up and around huge boulders. One thing I learned today: to be the rock climber I want to be, I have to be a lot stronger! This hiking trip was turning out to be exactly the challenge and adventure I came to Colorado for, but it only whet my appetite for more. Now I can't wait for the next hike, the next trail, the next mountain! But it was tiring, and my body was slowly becoming more aware of having less oxygen to feed my muscles.
The same quarried hills from even higher! Just after I took this picture, I realized that in order to effectively and safely hike, one should have hiking shoes, not Nike running shoes. We had to cross a pretty steep rock wall to get across the face of one of the rock formations and find our way down to join up with the trail again on the other side. I watched a bit nervously as Abby and William crossed it, but Abby told me not to worry, and to trust that my shoes would stick. Had my shoes been hiking approved apparel, perhaps they would have. As it was, I started to slide. I didn't panic, since panicking doesn't help any situation ever, but I tensed my legs and immediately scrambled for purchase with my hands. The rock wall we were crossing ended in a drop about five feet away and if I kept sliding I would end up over the edge pretty fast. Abby and William kept me calm and pointed out good places to step and hold as I made my way across the steep wall. After I was safely across, I put new hiking shoes at the top of my shopping list.We did indeed find those second set of stairs, only it started about halfway up the cliff side, too high to reach. So we just congratulated ourselves for reaching our destination, and started back down the other side of the canyon.
We came across a scenic overlook on our way back down, and William volunteered to take a picture of Abby and I out on a boulder. Notice the look of fear on Abby's face as I totter out to the edge of the rock. :) 
I made it though! Notice again Abby's easy going stance on the edge of the rock, while I am not quite yet so comfortable, and therefore am clinging to the rock with my hand. :) I'll get there.
The storm in the east really started picking up as we made our way out to the back of the trail loop. We were now heading towards it, and could feel the wind from it and even see some lightening strikes in the distance. It was a trip to see the storm in front of you, but to feel the warm sun on your back. The trip down the canyon was uneventful, and we made it back to the parking lot just as drops of rain were falling on us. We went to a small cafe in downtown Manitou Springs afterwards and had delicious gyros and the best pita chips and hummus I've ever had. We finished the day with some Manitou Springs custard, and headed back home. All in all, a perfect hike, and a perfect day. I can't wait to hit the next trail.
Stay tuned!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
