Day 197 of Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways
Since the trails weren’t stellar at Eleven Mile State Park, we left early in the morning for Mueller State Park. While the northern half of the park was closed for two weeks for Elk calving season, the southern part of the park offered a variety of trails. Dogs weren’t allowed on the trails because the area is known for its spectacular wildlife viewings.
I walked two trails before 10:30 in the morning and I saw a red-winged blackbird and two butterflies. The first trail, School Pond was just over a mile and a half and looped around School Pond. The width of a narrow, one lane road, the trail wound beneath tall evergreens and through a valley to the pond. It provided lovely views of the distant fourteen foot peaks.
The Outlook Ridge Trail was just over two and a half miles and turned out to be quite similar to School Pond Trail. It wound through aspen groves, afforded a few lovely views, and looped around a pond. Despite the views, I think the fact that I felt like I was walking on a dirt road, and I wasn’t near water caused me to just consider the hiking as fair.
Pikes Peak
After a morning at the park, I decided to spend the afternoon climbing a fourteener. It only took an hour! Ok, well VANilla climbed the fourteener at about 20 mph. Petey and I went along for the ride to the summit of Pikes Peak. I think I passed this road at least ten times on my drives up to Estabrook, and yet I had never stopped. The drive began at 7,750 and ascended to 14,110 feet over 19 miles. We took the mostly paved and partly dirt road from the Montane Zone, through the Subalpine Zone, and finally into the Alpine Zone.
Between VANilla and me, I wasn’t sure we were going to make it. VANilla worked hard climbing a 6.7% average grade for an hour while my hands began tightening on the wheel as we zig-zagged up switch-backs without guardrails. My middle name on the way up should have been double yellow line hugger. On the way down, it should have been cliff hugger!
According to the white board, the summit was a cool 36 degrees with a wind chill of 23 degrees. That must have been the morning temperature as it didn’t feel that cold to me, but the wind was whipping! I had trouble keeping my lens still while focusing on the white capped peaks, and I nearly got blown over trying to snap a picture of my mutt. Despite the wind, it was fun to be above the treeline. We piddled around a little to give VANilla a rest so she could make it another hour back down.
Colorado Springs
I’m currently taking advantage of free wi-fi at the Starbucks in Colorado Springs. I’m looking forward to getting to Denver to get my aircard problems worked out so
that I no longer have to rely on restaurants and libraries. Perhaps I’ll catch part of the NBA Finals tonight…GO MAVS! ETB
Map of My Road Trip Across the USA
Learn more about my road trip across the USA, or click the link below for the interactive map.
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