Just wondering if there's anyone out there living in or near the Boulder, Co area who would be interested in hiking the Rockies on the week end of Oct. 29th & 30?
Just wondering if there's anyone out there living in or near the Boulder, Co area who would be interested in hiking the Rockies on the week end of Oct. 29th & 30?
aesop
"Good night, Mary Ellen."
What did you have in mind?
Mags lives in the Republic of Boulder.
How many more of our soldiers must die in Iraq?
I would be down for knocking off a few 14ers. Keep in touch.
GA-ME 04
GA-VA 05
I'm pretty open. I'm attending a conference from the 25th to the 28th and I'm leaving on the 31st, so I'd have Friday and Saturday for day hikes or an overnight. Not used to cold weather overnight hiking and I guess it could be snowy the end of October. But, this is a once in a lifetime chance for me to hike the Rockies (yes, I know that sounds pitiful). Anyway, I can keep my motel room, or if someone was willing to put up with me for two days (I'd pay my way) we could leave out from your house each morning.
aesop
"Good night, Mary Ellen."
Boulder has some nice trails on the front range. Up by the NCAR (National Center for Atmospheric Research, I think) building there are some hiking trails. But I'm guessing this will be in late season so you'll probably be on light snow? If you'll have a car, Hanging Lake is a short hike to a nice 'lake' near Glenwood Springs, about a three hour drive. Glenwood Springs has a natural hot springs which feeds an Olympic sized pool as well as two other heating pools with increasing temperatures and they stay open till 9pm or so... very nice, especially when it's cold out. About 40 miles from Glenwood is Aspen and there's a nice area called Maroon Bells you could check out. Plus on the drive out to Glenwood, you'll drive over two mountain passes and see a good chunk of the Rockies as well as Glenwood Canyon. It'd be nice if Independence Pass was still open, but I think it'll be too late in the season. If you do head out there, I think it's the exit just after the Vail Ski Resort exit that is the the town(?) of Beaver. Get your picture in front of their liquor store, Beaver Liquors. There's the Fulford Caves near Eagle (along the way to Glenwood) which are fun to climb around, just bring a backup light other than a chemical light stick...
You could also head to Buena Vista. It's a small town set in the middle of the Collegiate Peaks at around 8,000 ft elevation. It is in a 'banana belt' and as such, has milder weather than areas around it. The drive to Buena would take you over Kenosha Pass if you took 285 or through the heart of the Rockies on I-70, getting off at the Copper Mountain Exit and taking the back way. Kenosha Pass is really beautiful in the fall when all the leaves are changing colors, but again, it'll probably be too late in the season. Near Buena is the Princeton Hot Springs which has a hot springs pool as well, but not as nice as Glenwoood's. About 50 miles from Buena is the Royal Gorge, sort of a touristy area. Basically a bridge a thousand or so feet up from the river below. Two months before or after your trip would've been a neat way to go to Gunnison from Buena, over Cottonwood Pass. I forget the name of it, but there's a ski area you get to through Gunnison that has always offered free skiing for the first month of it's operation each season. The reason it's free is because it's a five or so hour drive from Denver and most sane people will spend the night there or in Gunnison. Except for the cheap college students who have also discovered the 'short' tour of Coors Brewery in Golden (which is about 20 miles south of Boulder). Free tour and free beers...
Tons to do, good luck.
How many more of our soldiers must die in Iraq?
by the way, what's a 14er?Originally Posted by hustler
aesop
"Good night, Mary Ellen."
Mountain peaks over 14,000 feet up. Sue/HHOriginally Posted by Aesop
Hammock Hanger -- Life is my journey and I'm surely not rushing to the "summit"...:D
http://www.gcast.com/u/hammockhanger/main