Boulder Valley Ranch

I was invited to do this hike as a member of Outdoor Mindset (OM).  Last year, I was referred to the Boulder based organization by the Parkinson's Association of the Rockies.

OM exists to unite and inspire people affected by neurological challenges through a common passion for the outdoors.  Focus is on building lasting relationships and the outdoors.  Staff members at OM encourage people to change their perceptions of diagnosis from limitation to opportunity.

That is exactly what I have found with OM members.  Regardless of ones individual issues, we all have one thing  in common...we love the outdoors.

I arrived at the TH before the established meeting time of 7 a.m.  If you don't know how passionate people in Boulder are about outdoor activities, go to any street corner, back lot, college (CU) campus, highway, country road, footpath, or stream, leading into town, and you will find a steady stream of ultra-fit men and women working...playing...at their passion.

OM Director of Programs & Membership, Patti Abendroth, organized the day hike.  While lacing my boots, Patti drove into the parking lot.  Minutes later find Linda and Dan Reynolds arrived.  My wife and me had met the couple weeks earlier at a picnic sponsored by OM.  We hit it off immediately and spent a few hours talking about anything and everything.

Unlike facebook, where a person gets pumped up with the number of "Virtual friends" he/she has, these friendships are real.  In the end, it's not the number of friends, rather it is the solid friendships one has that defines a person.




The Hike:

Beginning at the parking lot, the Sage Trail leads around a pond at Boulder Valley Ranch.  Trail is gravel and dirt, making it popular to cyclists, runners, hikers, and dog walkers.

The pond at Boulder Valley Ranch

At the far end and past the base of a small mesa is a wetland area separating the pond and boulder reservoir.

A spiders prickly web.

Sage becomes Eagle Trail, leading up a short hill then turns left along a fence row.  Here trail returns to the name Sage, as it continues around the north end of the pond.

Haystack Mountain

In the distance, in plain view is Haystack Mountain, the dominant feature on the otherwise mundane horizon.

Pond at Boulder Valley Ranch. 

Patti, Linda and Dan make their way up a slight grade.

Not yet 9:00 a.m., and the sun has been felt.  We stop in the shade of a cottonwood tree to rehydrate.  Soon, we approach a gate leading us .3 miles back to the parking lot. 


Glad we finished before the sun got higher.  Thanks to Patti, Linda and Dan, for making it an enjoyable morning. 

Total Miles = 1.1

Total elevation gain =  363