Some favorite backpacking loops in the Denver - Boulder area of Colorado. Read More ...

Continue reading Backpacking Loops – Mags Favorites at PMags.com.

someone and I had planned a ski trip to the Teton Valley and nearby areas in later March. Some Nordic backcountry in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and the surrounding area was the idea.. An early spring altered our plans. But it was still a fun and relaxing trip.

The trip started off with an evening drive up to Wyoming after work.  A coffee-fueled drive that brought us to Rawlins, WY.

From there, we took 287 and made our way along the Great Divide Basin, through small towns I remember from my CDT hike of 2006 and along the Wind River Range before making our way to the final destination of Victor, ID.

In Victor, we would be staying with friends of someone's who have a cabin in the foothills.

When we planned the trip, visions of skiing were on our mind.  Fluffy powder, long tours and all framed by geysers and mountains.

Continue reading Teton Valley – Winter Becoming Spring at PMags.com.

Been busy, so ski trip photos and report to follow soon…

In the meantime, here is what I sent some family and friends…

..yes, the attached photo is what you think it is. 🙂

someone and I met on a full moon hike and have always valued our time together 
in the outdoors. It seemed fitting to ask her to marry me not over a fancy
dinner or at a B&B weekend  but during a moonlit stroll in the Boulder
foothills.

A hike to a favorite spot of ours in Boulder by the light of the full moon
seemed more appropriate and fitting to for what we value.  A bottle of wine,
some chocolate and strawberries accompanied the evening (of course! 🙂 )

We hope to have many more strolls together in the future!

And for my family and friends in RI: I can assure you there will be NO hiking
into any wedding we plan.

Continue reading Best Full Moon hike ever… at PMags.com.

One of my favorite hikes is what I call the Beer Thirty Hike.

An approx ~14 mile stroll from Copper Mtn to Frisco mainly along the CT/CDT with a veering off the main trail to walk directly into Frisco for a beer. The free shuttle bus back to Copper makes this hike a wonderful one way jaunt.

In contrast to last weekend, this hike featured perfect Colorado fall weather. Sunny, blue skies. Warm sun. Beautiful views and blazing aspen almost at peak. Could I have asked for a better day?

The hike started off at Copper Mountain as we climbed steeply up the switchbacked trail. Shortly thereafter, we popped above treeline and enjoyed views towards where we came and saw the splash of color on the hillside.
 

We continued along the ridge and enjoyed the now easy hiking along the rolling ridge.

At the top of the ridge, a leisurely break was had (and a call for a MGP among the crew!)

We made our way down the trail and back into treeline.

Continue reading Beer Thirty – Copper to Frisco at PMags.com.

Sometimes the most memorable trips are ones of perfect weather, far reaching views and where the whole day seems to be done delight after another.

This was not one of those trips.

The hike for this past weekend, was to enter Paradise by going through Hell. Into Hell's Canyon, over Hell's Pass and then a descent into Paradise Park. A total of just under 20 miles and 3500' gain. Eight miles of this route would be 'schwacking.

Hell's Canyon and Hell's Pass are in national forest lands that borders Rocky Mtn National Park. Paradise Park is unique in that NO camping is allowed nor are horses. It is also trail-less. A steep price to pay, but a magnificent area to see.

We drove from Boulder Fri night, stashed my truck at a trail head (and having to explain to a Park ranger what we were doing at a National Park TH at 9pm at night.

Continue reading This Side of Paradise at PMags.com.

Buffalo Mountain is a 12000 ft+ peak right off of I-70 that really dominates the scenery for the town of Silverthorne.

Located in the rugged Gore Range, it is a mountain I have seen many times and have even done some trail restoration work on as well.

But, I did not know the backside of the mountain too well.

The Gore Range is surprisingly remote feeling because it does not have any 14ers. As such, it is ignored by many hikers…and trail maintenance crews!

Every time I go in the Gore Range there is always route finding challenges (sometimes difficult, sometimes no so much), rocky, rooty and steeps trails…and awesome mountain scenery, secluded areas and wide open walking.

This past Sunday was no exception. Throw in PERFECT early Fall weather, and the hiking was awesome.

The route for the trip was a loop around the mountain that was about 15 miles or so with 3500' elev gain (a guesstimate on my part).

Continue reading Ring Around The Buffalo at PMags.com.

On my last backpacking trip, I looked up and admired the Kenosha Range.

The mountains were rounded, broad and were open. I thought of how wonderful it would be to walk along this range. Looking at my topo in camp that evening, the map confirmed my thoughts: The range would be a very do-able, non-technical hike. The range called; I wanted to walk along the ridge and see these mountains that did not even have official names.

After a little research, it turns out that Gerry and Jenny Roach have given some unofficial, but widely accepted, names to that part of the range. Further research also confirmed my thoughts: A walk along this range would be a memorable experience.

The plan for the jaunt was to park a car at one end of the range and have another car parked at Kenosha Pass. We'd walk the ridge and also do some "bonus" peaks just before getting back to the vehicle.

Continue reading Kenosha Mountain Range Traverse at PMags.com.

On Saturday, I just did a local hike. About 8 miles and 3000' elev gain at a quick clip made for some good exercise. The foothill wildflowers continue to amaze me and the smoothie at the end of a hot hike was just what I needed to cool off.

On Sunday, I did Estes Cone via the new trail at Lily Lake. The trail is so new that few websites have this new trail info.

The new trail offers better views of Longs Peak and meanders gently up to the base of the cone. Once at the base of the cone, the trial climbs STEEPLY to the summit.

It is well worth the climb, though. Fantastic views of Longs, the Divide and the plains far to the East. It is also accessible the full year. Makes it a perennial favorite of mine.

And afterward? I had a beer..another perennial favorite past time of mine.

Continue reading Estes Cone via Lily Lake at PMags.com.

With the heavy snow year in Colorado, very little of the high country is open to hiking.

Lost Creek Wilderness is fairly snow free, though, and it continues to entrance me.

The wide open spaces, those gorgeous and unique looking red rocks and the views that encompass not only the Continental Divide, but also the not-so-distant Pikes Peak.

I really can't phrase the description better than local guide book author Gerry Roach:

"You can hike hours through trees, then burst upon a private universe far above roads and cities. These summits let you taste freedom and touch the sky. They will draw you back."

This past Saturday, my friends Mark, "Tall Dave" and Tara decided to join me to summit Bison Peak.

On the way up to Bison Peak

At "only" 12400', it is peak most peak baggers ignore. If you want to see few people and explore a magnificent area, I suggest this peak.

Continue reading Walking among the Bison : Bison Peak at PMags.com.

For the third year in a row, we’ve done a tour of the Boulder Open Space on foot. It is a traverse of the Boulder sky line.

In 2006 and 2007, we called it the Boulder Grand Slam. Essentially doing the Boulder ridge line by taking in Sanitas, Anemone Hill, Flagstaff, Green Mountain, Bear and South Boulder Peaks. As measure by GPS, it is about 18 miles and 8400′ elev gain or so.

This year, we decided to up the ante and do the Boulder Super Slam. Besides the previous years’ ridge walking, we also did the Mesa Trail, climbed up to South Boulder Peak, hiked our way north and looped back around from Sanitas via a road walk to Chautauqua.

This loop hike ends up being about 25  miles and 10k ft elev gain in a day. A stiff little walk to say the least. A great way to shake the rust out and get ready for the hiking season.

Continue reading Boulder Super Slam 2008 at PMags.com.