Hike #8: Cove to Lake to Cove, La Quinta and Lake Cahuilla

Date: February 22nd, 2020
Hike Distance: 6.6 Miles
Location: La Quinta, California.  Cove to Lake trail
Hike Start Time: 7:00 AM

Condition: Clear, Sunny, warm

Total Miles: 33.78

I think the American West really attracts me because it's romantic. the desert, the empty space, the drama
-Ang Lee

Once again, this posting will come in a day after the hike occurred.  I'm writing it on the same evening, but I just finished publishing the ladder canyon report after the blogger app debacle, so I"m saving a post for tomorrow night.

I was excited to go hiking for two days in a row.  that never happens with my schedule back in Colorado, but since I was on vacation, I figured I should go for it.  Originally my wife said she would go with me.  The plan was to leave the munchkin at the condo with Grandma and go together.  It became apparent though, that she had no desire to go with me, but was instead concerned about me hiking alone in the desert.  I appreciate the thoughtfulness, but I relieved her of the responsibility.

hike #7; chutes and ladders. Ladder Canyon, Mecca California

Date: February 21st, 2020

Location: Ladder Canyon, Mecca California

Distance: 4.88 Miles

Condition: Clear, sunny, Warm, Nice Breeze

Total Miles: 27.18

If you say you're going to jump the Grand Canyon, You can't jump a different canyon

-Evel Knievel

 First of all, sorry for the late post.  I've been trying to get my trail postings up the evening that I go, but last night there was a problem.  I didn't bring a laptop on this trip, and last night attempted to write the post using the Blogger app.  I learned the hard way that the app doesn't save your progress as you're writing.  I spent two hours writing using the little keyboard on my phone, and went to push the publish button, and the app crashed.  Everything gone, no save at all besides the title of the post.  I'm going to look on the bright side and assume that it'll be even better the second time I write it, but I am a little salty regardless.  I'm borrowing my SIL's computer to hopefully not have a repeat disaster, so here we go.

Hike #6: Where the Sidewalk Ends, Snowshoeing Naylor Lake

Date: February 16th,  2020
Hike Distance: ~3.4 Miles
Location: Guanella Pass, Georgetown, Naylor Lake
Start Time:8:00AM

Weather: Overcast and Windy.  Light Snow

Total Miles: 22.3

When life gives you Snow, go Snowshoeing.

For the last couple of years all of the brother and sisters in law in my family have done a gift exchange in one form or another.  We did secret santa for a couple years, and this year decided to do a White Elephant Exchange.  It was supposed to be actually good things and the theme was "Colorado" so everything was supposed to be Colorado based.  I put a pub pass that got free beers at twenty breweries and my present that I got came from my Brother in law and was a snowshoeing or X-country skiing adventure.

HIke #5, Learning flexibility through failure (Bobolink Trail/South Boulder Creek)

Date: February 15th,  2020
Hike Distance: ~3.7 Miles
Location: Boulder, Colorado. Bobolink/South Boulder Creek
Start Time:8:30AM

Weather: Clear, Sunny, and Icy

Total Miles: 18.9

“In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.”
― Dwight D. Eisenhower

  Last week, I wasn't able to do a hike because I was taking a beginning blacksmithing class.  It was a great weekend of learning something new, and swinging a hammer so many times my shoulder felt like it was going to fall out of it's socket.  I got my arm workout in for sure.  Then it started snowing all week.  Off and on all week there was snow and I was beginning to think I wouldn't be able to hike for another weekend.  Midweek, the weather report said there would be a hiatus to the flurries on Saturday so I decided I'd go for it. 

Well, I had a good plan.  It was a doable plan, and it was a plan that took into account the weather we had this week.  I was going to do the Boulder creek path.  It was in my book of hikes, even though it was more of a walk through town than an actual mountain hike.  The distance was about 7 Miles if I took it from one end to the other, but it was downhill most of the way, so I knew it was within my capabilities.  I got the girls up bright and early and we hit the road.  We took two cars so we could leave one at one end of the hike and then shuttle back up afterwards.  We were good to go.  

Hike #4: Settler's Park, Winds of Change

Date: February 1st,  2020
Hike Distance: ~3.4 Miles
Location: Boulder, Colorado. Settler's Park/Anemone Hill
Start Time:7:10AM
Weather: Clear and windy
Total Miles: 15.2

The Chinook Wind

by James W. Whilt

 

There's a soft warm breeze upon the air,
'Tis moaning soft and low,
'Tis cold and chill upon the hill,
Yet it's melting all the snow.

What a great morning.  This might be my favorite hike so far.  It might be the combination of the location, the scenery, or the great lighting, but this is a great park super close to the city that feels like miles from everything.  

I got up early in the morning.  The sun is rising earlier and earlier, and I've really come to love seeing the world wake up and the light changing as I explore and journey.  With the days getting longer and the sunrise coming earlier in the morning, it puts me in a predicament I never thought I'd be in: