Autumn in Colorado

I've been away from my blog for a while due to assorted reasons (family and generally being busy), but here's a quick Skywatch Friday post from a hike last weekend to Lilypad Lake in Summit County. First is one of my look-up-with-the-fisheye shots.

The aspen were at their colorful peak.

Here's Lilypad Lake - the reward for hiking up to 9,900 feet (3 km) elevation.

Comments are welcome but I don't promise to respond promptly at this time. Hopefully I can become a regular blogger again at some point.

Hoosier Pass

When in Breckenridge last weekend I hiked from the top of Hoosier Pass. This mountain road tops out at 11,542 ft (3,518 m) above sea level and is open year-round; in fact it's the road I take when I go skiing, just driving a regular car.

Since it's a mountain pass, that means that it goes over a low point (in this case over the Continental Divide) and is surrounded by higher mountains. In fact, you can see four 14,000-foot (4,267 m) mountains from here, a couple of which I've climbed many years ago.

In North America, the Continental Divide separates the Atlantic and Pacific watersheds; any rain or snow that falls to the east of this pass eventually makes its way to the Atlantic ocean, and any that falls to the west eventually ends up in the Pacific. I hiked my way up a little above treeline, to around 12,000 feet (3,657 m) above sea level, and enjoyed the views very much.

With snow on the way (even at my house), high-elevation hiking season is probably over for this year.

Our World Tuesday

Reflective Lake

Here's a shot from last weekend's hike to Lilypad Lake, elevation 9,940 feet (3,030 meters) above sea level. It's taken with a very wide fisheye lens, the lake is bigger than it looks here.

Weekend Reflections

Summit County Fall Colors

We spent the weekend in Breckenridge, and I did a couple of local hikes. The first one was to Lilypad Lake. The local color was near its peak, maybe a little past.

The trail had some lovely views over the valley and reservoir.

I love the carpet of fallen leaves.

Lilypad Lake is at an elevation of 9,940 feet (3,030 meters) above sea level. The trail goes further but I turned back here.

I enjoyed more autumn colors on the way down.

Our World Tuesday

Minot Hike!

Late last summer we drove to Minot, North Dakota to visit family (they're all over the country and overseas). Of course while I was there I had to find a little hike, and I found the Woodland Trail. As you'd expect from the name, it wandered through a wooded area.

It also meandered next to a stream.

It was very different from my usual Colorado hikes, but pretty in its own way.

Especially when the stream fed into a bigger river.

Our World Tuesday

Section 16 Trail

One of our local trails is a square one mile on each side, and it's a good winter hike as it's relatively low elevation and doesn't get much snow.

There's nothing spectacular, but it makes for an enjoyable couple of hours.

Outdoor Wednesday

Weekend Green

Palmer Reservoirs

Palmer Reservoirs is one of my most frequent hikes because it's nearby...

...but still has some nice views.

These photos are actually from last summer, but I'm sure I'll have more in the next few weeks.

Our World Tuesday

Early Summer at Sesame Canyon

To get my mind away from the snow we're finally getting (hooray!), I'm going back to this past June for a hike up Sesame Canyon. It starts by going up a dirt road for half a mile, next to and over this stream.

A trail to the side quickly starts to climb up a canyon.

Soon there's a beautiful meadow.

But the trees quickly close in again as the canyon narrows.

Near the top are some lovely rock formations.

And of course, one of my favorite things about hiking in Colorado, the views, this time towards the city of Colorado Springs!

As it's relatively low altitude, it makes a good early summer hike as the snow will be melted off. For more scenic beauty, visit the Scenic Weekends meme.

Dark Trees, Bright Sky

On a recent hike in Sesame Canyon, I thought this photo of a bright sky with nearby tall, dark pine trees might make an interesting capture for Skywatch Friday.

USFS Trail 715

On Monday I posted about the United States Forest Service memorial grove. I found it near this trail, simply called USFS Trail 715. It was overcast most of the hike, as shown by this very ordinary photo.

 I tried to find things that might be interesting in the very flat light, such as this long-dead tree.

 I imagine a bike rider was very unhappy when he lost his chain!

 And finally, some sunshine brightened everything up.

It's not the most beautiful hike in the area, but it's nearby and sometimes that's a good thing. And it's my Scenic Sunday entry for the week.

Sesame Canyon

Off High Drive on the Western edge of Colorado Springs is a trail that goes up Sesame Canyon, and I hiked it last summer. It's not a common trail and not an easy one to find without detailed directions, but it's a nice, isolated hike.

You start by parking near at the High Drive exit and walking up High Drive for about half a mile. The first couple of shots are taken from High Drive.

Then you veer off to the left and find a good trail.

 There's one steep section of rocks.

 There were some flowers but nothing too impressive.

 As you climb higher some nice views appear.

And finally, at the top the trail meets up with the heavily used Captain Jack's multi-use trail.

It's a trail I'll be using again when I want to get away from the crowds.

Seven Bridges Trail

I went with several people (including my wife) up the Seven Bridges Trail on Saturday. The aspens weren't yet at their peak but it was a short, pleasant hike.

The trail runs next to a stream.

Here's one of the seven (or six, depending on where you start) bridges the trail crosses.

After the hike we all stopped for a barbecue.