Category: Outings

  • Big Springs – Squaw Canyon Loop Hike

    During the night a thunderstorm rolls in and shakes the world. In the morning, there’s a layer of snow covering half of it. The red rocks poke through. Dad and Sarah head out, and we start hiking up Horse Canyon road. It turns out to be a river today, not a road. So we hike…

  • Slick Rock Loop Hike

    It’s cold and windy, and we feel a little tired, so we embark on a shorter hike today. This trail is fun though because it keeps you on the canyon rims, without descending into them. It feels at times like we are ants crawling on top of a giant petrified mushroom patch. Slides: Slick Rock…

  • Lost Canyon – Squaw Canyon Loop Hike

    The rock-filled Vistas of the Needles trigger memories of my hikes with Ann here 8 years ago, but we still take a wrong turn getting to our trailhead. The decision to repeat one of the previous hikes intrigues me – what will I remember, and what will surprise me? One great thing about the Canyonlands…

  • Lake Agnes Snowshoe/ski

    Cousin Doug proposes a low-key outing to Lake Agnes, which sounds just right to me. There’s still a lot of snow up on the peaks! See notes on the pictures for details:

  • Ice Bridge to The Palace

    The forecast has been promising temps up to 70°F for days, and we join a small horde of sun-greedy climbers looking for warm moves at The Palace. The first move is the river crossing, as always. We find it still frozen, although the size of the ice bridge has decreased significantly since my last visit.…

  • A little sun at the Palace

    Clare comes up from Denver hoping for sun, but high clouds just seem to thicken. The temperature still hasn’t reached freezing when she gets here, but she’s game to do a little hiking if it’s too cold for climbing, so we head up Poudre Canyon anyway. The clouds don’t lift, but it is warmer at…

  • Grays Peak Road Ski

    Ann, Dad, and I make our way up the road to the Grays Peak trailhead, and have a nice run back down again. (Ann literally had a run, in her snowshoes.) I’m still playing with flash slideshows – mouse over “Notes” to see captions on this one: Grays Peak Road Ski at EveryTrail:

  • Fall River Road Snowshoe

    I join friends Kate and Mark on a snowy day for a snowshoe stroll up Fall River Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. For more story, click a picture in the slideshow to see the description, and use the arrow keys to change pictures. Fall River Road Snowshoe Map at EveryTrail:

  • Buckhorn Creek Snowshoe

    We attempt to snowshoe the official-looking "Donner Pass Trail", only to find a newly installed gate and NO TRESPASSING signs blocking the way. Checking the map at the trailhead on our way, it’s pretty clear that the trail is supposed to continue past the gate. I’ve been discouraged by private property every time I try…

  • Happy Jack Snowshoe

    It’s a bit cold and windy when we pull into the Happy Jack parking lot, but we don’t have a clue what’s coming. Neither does anyone else – the parking lot and ski hill are bustling with tubers, sledders, boarders, skiers, and snowshoers like us. It gives one some respect for the constitutions of people…