Third Hike - The Crags

Steven and I hiked the Crags, Hike #39 under Central Mountains section on August 30, 2008.  The Crags are in Pike National Forest and have some great rock formations.  Elevation is from 10,100 to 10,800 feet, so I shouldn't have been surprised when we hiked and hit snow.

OK - here is a quick geology lesson - dating back to the PreCambrian times, Pikes Peak granite formed as part of  batholith (a large intrusion of molten rock deep within the earth).  The rock cooled very slowly which after countless centuries of erosion have formed the Crags.  See the rock formation in the distance.

We hit a pretty cool overlook and took some pictures of a reservoir in the distance.

The rock formations are pretty cool and are a pinkish color.

Once we hit the top, we sat down and enjoyed the view before out trek back to the car.

3 Down and 97 To Go

Second Hike - Great Sand Dunes National Park

My second hike from the book is to the top of the Great Sand Dunes - Hike #61 under the Southern Mountain section.  I first climbed the Dunes on February 24, 2006 with Terry Hall when I was in Pueblo to oversee RCRA baseline sampling at Pueblo Chemical Depot.

Terry thought I was trying to kill him with hiking to the top.  About half way up the top, he was going to stop to smoke a cigarette.  He thought that it would make him feel better.

The second time I climbed the Great Sand Dunes, I was with Steven who was visiting from Colorado after I moved here.  We climbed it on September 25, 2008.

It is a nice hike, but it does fill your shoes with sand.  Below are some pictures of the Great Sand Dunes.

As Steven and I were leaving a storm was coming in.

2 Down and 98 To Go

First Hike - Picket Wire Canyonlands

The first hike I did was the Picket Wire Canyonlands.  Hike #5 in the book under Eastern Plains.  I did it on my birthday July 3, 2008.  It is a 17.4 mile hike in the Comanche National Grasslands. 

It was a hot day, but the hike was pretty easy - walking along the Purgatoire River.  Along the way, I took some pictures of the Dolores Mission & Cemetery.

In addition, there is the longest mapped and recorded dinosaur tracks in North America.

Rourke Ranch, dating back to 1871, was once one of the largest cattle ranches in this part of the state.  I wanted to go inside of the building, but there were signs up warning of the Hantavirsus, so I wisely stayed outside. 

Then it was time for the long walk back to the car.  Saw some old ranches.

Some in better shape than others.

Plus, I took some pictures of rock formations.  What do you expect - I am a geologist :)

And a picture of the river.

It was a great hike though my feet were swollen and sore when I made it back to my car. 

1 down - 99 to go

First Post

So I moved to Colorado about two and a half years ago, but before I moved out I decided to buy a couple of books.  One book that I bought was 100 Classic Hikes in Colorado by Scott S. Warren.  I have decided to hike all of them.  I have already started but will write about each one and have pictures.  Wish me luck.

1. Pawnee Buttes
2. Barr Lake
3. Castlewood Canyon
4. Santa Fe Trail - May 30, 2010
5. Picket Wire Canyonlands - July 3, 2008
6. Vogel Canyon - July 13, 2010
7. Picture Canyon
8. Bear Peak
9. Green Mountain Loop
10. Forgotten Valley
11. lake Isabelle
12. Mount Audubon
13. Arapaho Glacier
14. Emerald Lake
15. Flattop Mountain - July 3, 2010
16. Little Yellowstone
17. Mirror Lake
18. Calypso Cascades
19. Mount McConnel
20. Emmaline Lake
21. Rawah Lakes
22. Baker Pass
23. Red Dirt Pass
24. Wyoming Trail
25. Sarvis Creek
26. Lost Lakes - Devils Causeway
27. Upper Cataract Lake
28. Eccles Pass
29. Hanging Lake
30. Roxborough State Park
31. Mount Falcon
32. Devils Head
33. Resthouse Meadows
34. Mount Goliath Research Natural Area
35. Wigwam Park
36. Red Rock Canyon
37. North Cheyenne Canon - August 1, 2010
38. Waldo Canyon - June 29, 2009
39. The Crags - August 30, 2008
40. Boulder Creek - September 4, 2009
41. French Pass
42. Mounts Democrat, Lincoln, and Bross
43. Buffalo Peaks Loop
44. Notch Mountain
45. Fancy Pass
46. Hagerman Tunnel
47. Mount Massive
48. Elkhead Pass
49. Browns Cabin
50. Waterdog Lakes - August 6, 2010
51. Lost Man Lake
52. Snowmass Lake
53. Electric Pass
54. Lamphier Lake
55. Silver Basin
56. Beckwith Pass
57. Tater Heap Loop
58. Crag Crest
59. West Spanish Peak
60. North Crestone Lake
61. Great Sand Dune - August 25, 2008
62. Mosca Pass - August 7, 2009
63. Penitente Canyon
64. Wheeler Geologic Area
65. Powderhorn Lakes
66. No Name Lake
67. Fourmile Falls
68. Quartz Lake
69. Redcloud and Sunshine Peaks
70. Continental Divide
71. Chicago Basin
72. Crater Lake
73. Highland Mary Lakes
74. Ice Lake Basin
75. Spud Lake
76. Colorado Trail
77. Goulding Creek
78. Animas City Mountain
79. Wetterhorn Basin
80. Bear Creek
81. Blue Lakes
82. Sneffels High Line
83. Sharkstooth Pass
84. Geyser Spring
85. Navajo Lake
86. Lizard Head
87. Dillon Pinnacles - September 19, 2009
88. Oak Flat Loop
89. Exclamation Point - September 20, 2009
90. Gunnison Gorge
91. Mount Garfield
92. Main Canyon
93. Mounment Canyon
94. Rattlesnake Arches
95. Rabbits Ear Mesa
96. Dolores River Canyon
97. Petroglyph Point
98. Sand Canyon
99. Harpers Corner
100. Chokeberry Draw