Casual Fall Colors Run for 2022 - Kineo Mountain

Monday, 10/3

I hadn't been to the mountains since two weeks ago, which was my long run.

So I set out today with the goal of just catching some fall colors before they're gone, and just generally having a fun time.

I set out in the afternoon from lower High Drive (the usual launching point for me).

The clouds were amazing and the weather was very comfortable.

I brought my lightweight jacket just in case.

In addition to the clouds being amazing, so were the low-ground foliage fall colors!

Top left: Clouds streak over Sentinel and Specimen Rocks in Bear Creek Canyon. Bottom right: Distant yellow aspens dot the slopes of the back side of Cheyenne Mountain.

It was a very quiet day in the mountains, and I saw no one once I turned off High Drive and onto Bear Creek Canyon Trail #666.

Then I connected to Buckhorn Trail #776, and finally Captain Jack's #667.

The colors were popping on the backside of Cheyenne Mountain, and all across North Cheyenne Cañon up to St. Peter's Dome!

Bottom right: Lovely yellow colors below St. Peter's Dome. You can make out the road cut of Gold Camp Road.

As it goes west, Captain Jack's crosses over to the north face of the hillside, before the saddle to Kineo Mountain.

The air is cool on the northern hillside, and the flora reflect that. Deep green mosses, juniper, conifers, and aspens dot the trailside.

Bottom left: One particularly colorful specimen that was simultaneously bright green, yellow, and red.

At the junction with #622A, I made almost a u-turn and continued upward onto the Kineo Mountain trail, which is unmarked and not numbered, but very clear and easy to follow.

I came to a small stand of aspens on the saddle below the last climb. The clouds were forming over to the west, but not approaching nor threatening.

There was a unique teepee on the slope that someone had set up. It looked like a cool place to spend an afternoon gazing at the mountains, with Pikes Peak in the far background. Or even an evening gazing at the stars 🌟,  with the open sky above.

I ascended the sandy, open hillside and came to the base of the rock outcropping that was the summit of Kineo Mountain.

As I climbed out onto the rock, the exposure to the valley below was immense. I could see North Cheyenne Creek far down below. I got a thrill of excitement feeling the wind whipping up from the valley, over a thousand feet below. 

Kineo Mountain summit panorama, and digital art created from the photo.

I eventually chose a safe spot in the middle of the rock outcropping to sit down and relax for a minute, using my mini binoculars to look around. This summit really does have some expansive views!!

View down to the east, with Colorado Springs spreading along the plains way below.

The view to the west, with Almagre Mountain's broad eastern face in the distance. 

The view to the south, with Mt. Rosa barely visible, mostly hidden behind her saddle. Between those jagged rocks is a cliff that drops into the North Cheyenne Creek valley a thousand feet below.

Pikes Peak rises in the northwest. Today, thick clouds have settled on the summit, but clear skies to her southwest illuminate the south slopes.

I spent some time taking in the amazing views, resting, and eating some energy snacks. Today was a casual day, so I rested up for the downhill.

I was glad I'd brought my jacket, because the summit was very windy. The rest of the day had been warm, and I wouldn't need my jacket for long on the descent, either. But it was worth it to carry it, and be warm on the summit. 

When the afternoon was becoming later, and the light was already getting long, I reluctantly left the mountaintop.

The bright sunshine greeted me lower down, and the light illuminated the aspens in new ways.

From the summit, it had been apparent that the mini cold front we'd had a few days back had cost the aspens in the area about 50% of their leaves. Those leaves that remained were bright yellow.

Descending from Kineo Mountain through an aspen forest. 

The long, hardy meadow grasses were a fiery yellow color, too.

I descended the undesignated Kineo Mountain trail back to #622A. A few patches of aspens along this trail (Seven Bridges North Spur) were already bare.

Deciding to do this route as a loop had given me the maximum aspen viewing pleasure! The colors along Seven Bridges Trail #622 were especially fantastic. 

Top left: Undine Falls, just above the 7th bridge.

Undine Falls was flowing very well for this time of the season! Doing the eternal work of continuing to carve out N. Cheyenne Cañon.

The red ground foliage along the creekside created a lovely contrast with the yellow leaves.

I jogged down the remainder of the trail until its junction with the non-motorized part of Gold Camp Road. Then I continued past the upper parking lot and kept running down the dirt (motorized) road.

The sun began to set behind me, casting shades of pink and purple into the sky.

I looked back into the canyon with a content feeling after a fulfilling half-day in the mountains. 

I ended up with 14 miles, and 3300 feet of elevation gain. All in all, a lovely casual fall colors run to wrap up the season!

The next time I go to the mountains, I don't expect many of the leaves will remain. The fall passes so quickly in the mountains, and soon I'll be finding myself in the quiet winter woods.

***

Tuesday, 10/4

Rest.

***

Wednesday, 10/5

9.2 miles jog, 1200 feet elevation. 

The fall colors are beginning in the mesas around town, like Palmer Park. These colors usually peak a week or two after the mountains do.

***

Thursday, 10/6

Barbell curls and barbell overhead presses. A good strength-building day.

***

Friday, 10/7

Rest.

***

Saturday, 10/8

Lightweight (15 lb) deadlifts in the morning. Felt really good to go light but maximize range. A good leg strengthening day. 

In the evening, I had a chance to step out for a short jog. I only did 4 miles on sidewalks, which I think is the shortest distance I've done all year.

I need to get used to fitting in shorter runs as winter comes around. I might not always be able to get out for a long one. But, on top of the deadlifts earlier, even the short 4 miles required some effort.

***

Sunday, 10/9

A nice evening walk in Red Rocks Canyon, up along the ridgeline to the south towards Section 16.

It was awesome to watch the full Harvest Moon rise over Colorado Springs just as we were finishing our hike!

***

Monday, 10/10

In the morning, I did some solid sets of inclined push-ups and then lying leg raises. Engage the core!

In the evening, we had a nice walk at Strawberry Fields (by N. Cheyenne Cañon).

Then we again got to see the moon coming up over the hillside.

The Gamble's Oak bushes that are so prevalent are really beginning to pop with color.

***

A nice autumn week, I definitely can't complain! My running has been a little less and strength work a little more. Overall, that's fine for a more down-tempo week.

Next week I'd like to ramp up a little more running while the weather is still warm enough. There will be plenty of time for indoor strength work in the gym as the temperatures drop, if we are in store for the cold winter they've been predicting!