Lory State Park, Twin Eagles Trailhead, Elevenmile Reservoir, & Almagre North from the Northern Ridgeline

I got to go to the real mountains, on a real mountain adventure! It even included the kind of rock-hopping, scree-climbing, grabbing-the-dirt, route-finding fun that I have been longing for.

But more on that in a minute! First, I wanted to review the last few days which have been fairly adventure-full as well.

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Saturday, August 21st, 2021:

This day was mine and Alex's anniversary, and we went to Lory State Park for the first time. We hiked up a trail that went along one of the hogback uplifts that are characteristic of the area, and got an amazing overview of Horsetooth Reservoir. 

A view from the first part of the trail, looking west towards the western part of Lory State Park.

The lovely trail we ascended, looking back through late-summer meadows.

At the top of the trail we took, there was a magnificent overlook of Horsetooth Reservoir, complete with small boats way down there!

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Sunday, August 22nd, 2021:

Today we took the kids out for a short walk and a splash in Tarryall Creek, up at the Twin Eagles Trailhead in the Lost Creek Wilderness. 

A short hike from the trailhead brought us to the stream and a cold-water swim for the kids.

Near the Twin Eagles Trailhead.

Swimming in Tarryall Creek.

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Tuesday, August 24th, 2021:

Today we headed out later in the afternoon and drove up to Elevenmile Reservoir. It was a lovely day. We took a stop at Wilkerson Pass and peered at the distant fourteeners. Then, we went for a walk down around the lake. Alex tried to catch a fish 🐟 and the kids got in the water by the shore for a bit.

Lovely clear water and a golden sunset at Elevenmile Reservoir. 

Before going back home, we found a dark spot and watched the twilight fading and the milky way appearing. It was so beautiful to see the full starlit sky, far enough away from the city lights.

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Wednesday, August 25th, 2021:

Finally, after what felt like a month of wildfire smoke blanketing the state, I was able to go back to the mountains for a true adventure.

My decision for the day was to summit Almagre North. Partly, I decided to do this because, while I've stood atop the summit of Almagre South, I actually barely skipped the true summit of Almagre North during my last time up here in summer 2019.

I would approach it from the north, near the South Slopes Rec Area, and then descend to the south, making a big loop.

I started from the top of North Cheyenne Cañon, going up Seven Bridges (trail 622) until the junction with 667.

Moonset on trail 622, and aspens near the junction with trail 667.

The sun was brightly shining as the moon set. The aspens are lovely and green.

I continued up trail 667 for a ways, until I reached the bridge over the South Ruxton Creek drainage, directly to the north of Almagre, and fairly near to the long northern ridgeline of the mountain.

Here I began following the drainage to the south and steeply uphill. Soon, I encountered what I believe was some cabin ruins near the green, flowing creek. 

What I presume are the ruins of an old cabin chimney, next to the flowing South Ruxton Creek. 

A friendly little picturesque mushroom 🍄. 

I continued following the drainage until I soon broke out into a huge, steep scree field.

I saw the ridgeline to the west, but decided to just outright climb up the scree field before joining the ridge. I actually like the feeling of scree climbing, clambering up a slope on all fours in the dirt. It's a great feeling to be on such a steep slope with an open view in all directions.

I kept climbing up, grabbing at rocks and scree to keep from sliding too far back with each step. At one point, I accidentally grabbed a small high-alpine shrub, and suddenly a perfume-like scent wafted up at me. I investigated more carefully, and grabbed the shrub again, intentionally this time. A fresh, strong scent of orange peels mixed with anise filled the air. Amazing! The terpenes in this plant were overpowering. I couldn't get enough. Additionally, this plant looked so interesting that the photo just doesn't do it justice. It looked so waxy on the outer leaves that it almost looked like a fake plastic terrarium plant. 

Top left: a small high-altitude shrub that smelled like orange peels and anise. Top right: the view up the scree field that I climbed. Bottom left: the view back down into the basin. Bottom right: small alpine flower.

I'm always amazed by the alpine tundra and the flora that survive there in such a harsh environment. I think I see something new, some new plant or flower, each time I go.

I kept scrambling up the scree slope and eventually trended to the west a little, coming to the join the ridgeline. This part was an easy class 3-ish scramble up jagged boulders. Route-finding was fairly simple, and the rock outcroppings were awesome to behold.

A really neat rock along the northern ridgeline of Almagre, with Pikes Peak in the background. 

Upper right: part of the ridgeline scramble. Bottom: view down to Lake Moraine. 

Some of the views along the ridgeline. 

Some more of the amazing flora that inhabit the alpine tundra.

I was having a great time scrambling up and over rocks, route-finding and taking in all the views, when soon the ridgeline broke out into a huge alpine meadow of golden yellow grasses.

Panorama from the alpine meadow just below Almagre North's summit.

At this point I could see the Almagre North summit and knew I was within a few meters of the top. I quickly ascended the last few steps and sat atop to soak in the views for a short time.

Almagre North summit views. I especially enjoy the bottom photo, which is the view down into the Pikes Peak South Slopes Rec Area.

I began making my way down the service road from the top, continuing in a southern direction. From here on, the remainder of my day would be straightforward, going downhill on the service road 379A to 379, then connecting to trail 701 at Frosty's Park, which leads to trail 668 (Pipeline trail), and finally rejoining trail 622 to close the loop.

But before I could get to all that, I wanted to play around in the alpine tundra for a while.

One of the reasons I love Almagre mountain so much is because of the huge variety of rock outcroppings that cover its wide upper slopes. I could probably stay up here for hours and climb various rocks, getting new and unique views from atop each one.

But I decided to settle on one particular rock that I had skipped on climbing last time I was up here due to lack of time.

More alpine flowers and views, including the (bottom-left) view down into the sunny Almagre Reservoir basin.

Top: the outcropping I decided to scramble up. Bottom: the view down from it.

I sat atop the rock, feeling like the king of the mountain. But within a few short minutes, a bitterly cold wind began to blow, reminding me that I was but a visitor to this unique landscape, and my time was almost up.

Top right: stream and boggy land in the Almagre Reservoir area. Bottom left: Almagre dam.

I continued my descent down the road, admiring the views to the east of Colorado Springs and Mount Rosa with her wide, sandy northern saddle.

Colorado Springs down below Mount Rosa's massive slopes.

The mountain thistles along the road 379A were gigantic. They had huge hairy heads with multiple "eyes" that attracted all kinds of bugs, including cool-looking iridescent blue bees.

Top: wooly mountain thistles, standing between 3 and 4 feet tall. Bottom: the pretty little marsh near the junction of FS 379A and FS 379.

I summoned the energy to begin jogging downhill. The evidence of the wet spring and early summer is still abundant, with green streambeds and bright wildflowers still coloring the hillsides.

I finally crossed all Seven Bridges, finishing my adventure the way it had started.

Wow! What a day! I had experienced so much nature packed into one day. A challenging uphill climb along the northern ridge of Almagre, unique aromatic plants, rock-hopping in the alpine tundra...

And I'd ended up with almost 22 miles total with nearly 6000 feet elevation gain. I'd call that a good one!

Thanks for following along! As autumn quickly approaches, I hope to experience more of my favorite season in the mountains. 

Bluff-hopping through central Colorado Springs

If you look at a 3D map of Colorado Springs, you will notice a huge area of uplift that runs like a big diagonal through the heart of town, southeast to northwest. Starting from the southeastern corner of Palmer Park, these bluffs form an essentially continuous rise through Palmer Park, Austin Bluffs Open Space, Pulpit Rock Park, and Ute Valley Park, all the way until they run into the foothills.

They rise up and down many times, creating peaks and valleys. Like a giant put his hand down from heaven, we mere mortals are left on the ground to scale each finger individually.

That's how I ran 13 miles this morning, with almost 2000 feet elevation gain, right in the heart of town.

I started out by ascending Edna Mae Nature Trail Palmer Park, coming up to the top of the first mesa I'd cross. I descended the Yucca trail into Lazyland and then encircled the northern side of the park, westbound. I went through the pedestrian underpass at Austin Bluffs & Union, beginning my ascent of the UCCS bluffs after a short uphill jog through the eastern part of the campus. 

Soon, twilight began to illuminate my climb near the top of the UCCS bluffs.

I topped out the UCCS bluffs, crossed the street,, and immediately entered into Austin Bluffs Open Space on a new trail that I'd never been on before. The trail climbed gently along a prominent ridgeline until an open view of Pikes Peak popped out right in front of me!

I was amazed that I've been living so close to this gorgeous trail for so many years and didn't even know it existed. How awesome!!

After a short yet steep descent from this bluff, I entered one of the pretty meadows with the sunrise beginning to illuminate the fields.

The grasses in the meadows were beginning to get a little bit golden, and there was a distinct chill in the morning air that indicated it was already mid-August, well beyond the peak of summer.

The sun took a long time to actually peek above the horizon, and the morning twilight seemed to last forever. More indications of the rapid approach of autumn!

Around every new bend in the trail was more unique rock formations. Many of these formations are ones I've seen in photos, without knowing the exact location of them in the real world. That is, until now!

The sunrise and the photogenic clouds just got better and better as I continued on this fascinating trail loop.

Austin Bluffs Open Space truly is a hidden gem. I was a little hesitant about even posting this blog (it's too good of a find to give away!) But then I realized that very few people read my blog, anyway. :)

After I completed my journey through Austin Bluffs Open Space, I descended through University Heights and crossed over Union, coming to the north side of Union Meadows Open Space. This small open space is still blossoming with late-summer colors.

As I continued my southbound trek, I returned to Palmer Park's northwest corner, and decided to complete my adventure for the day by returning along the Palmer Point trail, which hugs the western border of the park.

By this time, the sun was brightly lighting the hillsides in the foreground and the mountains behind. Wispy patterns high in the sky made for a very picturesque view to the west on this clear day. (So glad the smoke from the fires isn't here at least for today.)

As I finally returned home and got a chance to soak in all I'd just seen, I realized how much beauty there is to appreciate so close to me.

I'm thankful I found this particular trail loop, which is close, convenient, and will make a good winter training loop that won't require a trip to the mountains.

Of course, I'm still looking forward to some mountain adventures this late-summer and autumn as well. I am just biding my time and waiting for completely smoke-free days to return to the Front Range!

A photographic journey of the last week (Palmer Park and Pueblo Reservoir)

Beginning last Saturday, August 7th, the air quality has been mostly bad in Colorado Springs. I've fit in a few outdoors workouts in the good air quality times, with at-home workouts when the air was the worst.

It makes me sad to think that this is the way summers in the West are now. I used to love the peak of summer, now it's just filled with smoke.

I wanted to share some photos from the last two days, and summarize what I've been doing in my training lately.

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Saturday, August 7th, 2021:

When I heard the smoke would be pouring in to the Front Range, I got out early on August 7th and did 10 miles with 800 ft elevation, prepping myself for more time indoors for the following week.

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Monday, August 9th, 2021:

1 hour on the exercise bike - 30 mins casual pace, followed by a 30 min training video with 8 x 30 second all-out sprint efforts.

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Wednesday, August 11th, 2021:

Comprehensive upper body workout with machine butterflies, pushups, dips, and supplemental support exercises (side lateral raises, etc.)

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Thursday, August 12th, 2021:

1 hour 30 mins exercise bike. I can watch dirt bike GoPro videos and pretend I'm riding on hills in the Rampart Range instead of sitting in my living room. 😆

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Friday, August 13th, 2021:

Finally a cold front pushing through began to clear the air. I got outside to do 9 miles with 800 ft elevation. 

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Saturday, August 14th, 2021:

7 miles, mostly flat. A quick, cool early morning jog.

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Sunday, August 15th, 2021:

9 miles with 900 feet elevation gain in Palmer Park in the early morning. I looped the park clockwise. The sun is rising later already, signaling the gradual coming of autumn.

Top: morning twilight breaking in the east.

Clouds before sunrise near the southeast side of the park. 

Then, on Sunday evening, I did a walk at the Pueblo Reservoir with the family. The weather was cool and fresh, not hot like you'd expect on an August evening in Pueblo. 

Sunset with distant rain clouds.

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Monday, August 17th, 2021:

The air was already noticeably hazy at sunrise, but clear enough for one last run. I could still see Pikes Peak clearly enough in the distance. As the morning would go on, the smoke would continue to pour in.

I made it my mission to get some scrambling in. I would end up with just a little less than 8 miles and a little more than 1000 feet elevation. 

Scrambling up the bluffs in Palmer Park is always a good time. The bluffs are gentle and mostly forgiving for route-finding practice. Today, I started out by scrambling the south-central cliffs of the northern mesa.

A slightly hazy start to the day, with Pikes Peak off in the distance and a red sunrise over the little cave. 

I looped around the northern mesa of the park counter-clockwise today, descending into Lazyland and then climbing back up, this time on the north-central bluffs.

Classic formations towering above Lazyland. 

Finally, I completed my counter-clockwise loop of the park by rounding the bend at Yucca Flats and descending once more, this time down to the Palmer Point trail.

Happy flowers on top of the northern mesa (Yucca Flats.)

Palmer Park is great trail-climbing practice if you know what you're looking for! It's such a fun park, a real gem for locals, especially once you get used to the winding, confusing nature of the trails. The trick to Palmer Park is not worrying about exactly where you are on the trail at any given moment, but rather retaining a generalized sense of direction, since most trails twist and turn quite often.

For now, I'm relegated back to the indoor bike trainer and weights until the air quality improves. I'm hoping that once it does, I'll be able to do some real big climbing in the mountains ⛰.