It's been a week since my last update, and it has been a week full of hills - in the literal sense.
On Tuesday, I set out late in the day for a sunset run at Palmer Park. It was an amazing evening. The sun's rays split through the clouds as I ascended the northern mesa on the Templeton trail.
I ran the Yucca Flats loop and then crossed the road, running along the Grandview trail on the southern mesa until the overlook. This double-loop of Palmer Park is one of my favorites for a mid-length trail run that begins right from my doorstep. It's great to live here in central Colorado Springs, with such a great urban trail network and a beautiful in-town park like Palmer Park.
I returned home just after dark, and immediately hit the weights for some overhead barbell presses and side lateral dumbbell raises. Our home gym isn't huge, but we have the basic staples we need: dumbbells, a barbell with adjustable weights, and a captain's chair with pullup bar in the yard.
On Thursday, I had planned to go to the Incline club speedwork, but I wimped out due to the weather. It looked terrible over the mountains about half an hour before the run was due to start. Of course, it looked clear by the time the run started, but I'd already opted out.
Instead, I delayed my run until Friday and went back to Palmer Park instead.
This time I did a backwards loop of the northern mesa, and left it at that. Speedwork it wasn't, but hills, yes. I went a bit earlier and I didn't catch the sunset this time, but I did get a photo of some wildflowers blooming in the park.
And, finally, the run you've all been waiting to hear about: my Sunday long run to St. Peter's Dome.
This is a run I did last year with Mary, Steve, and Jim, although I didn't blog about it. I also did this run with Lindsay the summer before last, although we didn't do the rope climb.
Since I'm now off Facebook, I am blogging more about my runs instead of just posting photos to social media. In a way, posting photos to Facebook doesn't tell the whole story, anyway, and I wish I'd blogged more about other runs I've done in the past.
Blogging certainly allows me to share more detailed route descriptions!
I set off on today's run from the dirt parking lot at the top of North Cheyenne Cañon. This is such a good launch point for adventures. Initially today, I wasn't sure if I'd do the Dome run, or push a Mt. Rosa attempt. But it was a bit windy at the start of the day, and I reasoned that there was still probably snowfields on Mt. Rosa - so I decided on the Dome.
This route begins with a long haul along the closed section of Gold Camp road.
If you're attempting this route, it is most important to go to the left at the St. Mary's Falls trail split, and cross the creek.
If you fail to go left and across the creek here, you'll be going in the wrong direction for St. Peter's Dome!
After crossing the creek and coming around the next cut, you'll get your first glimpse of the Dome. It looks so far away!
In this photo, the Dome is the leftmost rock outcropping along the ridge.
As you continue running along the road (no vehicle traffic - only the occasional cyclist and hiker), you'll come around the side of Stove (Cookstove) Mountain.
The Dome gets nearer!
You'll go through two tunnels before turning off of Gold Camp Road. On the map, these tunnels are labelled as Tunnel #4 and Tunnel #5, but for you they are one and two. The reason Google labels them as such is because tunnels #1 and #2 are on the portion of Gold Camp that is still open to vehicle traffic, and tunnel #3 is collapsed (which is the reason this whole section is now non-motorized).
Here's a view through the first tunnel you go through (Tunnel #4).
After the second tunnel, you'll be approximately 6 miles into your run, and you'll see a big sand wash ahead of you. This is your turn off. It's steep, but it doesn't take very long. I have yet to find a better way to approach this trail.
If you turn around, you'll see St. Peter's Dome immediately behind you. This is how you know you're in the right spot.
Stay to the right side of the sand wash, near the trees. The dirt bike tracks will curve to the left, and at the top of the wash, you'll abruptly encounter a solid trail. You're set now - this trail will take you all the way to Old Stage road.
At Old Stage road, you'll come to the official trailhead for St. Peter's Dome. You could drive all the way up Old Stage to the trailhead (many people do), so you'll likely encounter some other hikers here. But the point of this run is to tackle the summit from North Cheyenne Cañon (a much shorter drive).
The official trail is only seven tenths of a mile, and it'll bring you to the rock outcropping with the fixed rope. Oh - did I mention? There's a rope climb (class 3+), and it's a little bit risky, so don't do this unless you're prepared to be a little adventurous!
The rope looks like this:
Because it's an overhang, you have to trust the rope. It's a little anxiety-inducing for those of us who aren't experienced rock climbers.
Beyond the fixed rope, there's another section that's a little iffy. It's another steep segment on a slick rock with gravel on top. This segment used to have a second fixed rope, last time when I did this summit with Steve, Mary and Jim. That second fixed rope is now gone, which makes it a little tougher.
Yeah, the dropoff there is the trail. Not for the faint of heart. But after this segment, you're almost done. Just a little scramble more and you're atop the massive rock outcropping. Astounding views surround you! Mount Rosa dominates the view to the west.
You can see the whole city of Colorado Springs to the east. I can just about see my house from here (or at least spot the general area).
To the south, you can see a part of Old Stage Road, although another prominent outcropping stands in the way of most of the view.
And here's proof that I made it up there!
Although it was very sunny on top of the Dome, it was SUPER windy. So I did not stay very long. I had a snack and made my way down, safely propelling myself back off the rock and trusting the fixed rope on the way down.
I'm glad that I left quickly, because not 5 minutes after I descended from the top of the Dome, the weather changed.
Soon it was spitting little styrofoam looking snowballs at me, in true Colorado style.
But, again in Colorado style, the snow didn't last long, and it got really hot again as I jogged back. I netted almost 16 miles for the day and a great summit view.
I hope my route description can be of some benefit to someone looking to bag this summit without the long drive up Old Stage road, or just wanting to get a unique summit in combination with a nice long run.
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