Indian Peaks Wilderness - Hessie Trailhead

Want to hike a remote alpine landscape close to Denver?  Well, this one's for you.

It is one of my favorite places in Colorado to hike/backpack.  The Indian Peaks Wilderness (IPW) located in central Colorado, about 35 miles northwest of Denver offers more than 76,400 acres of rugged backcountry to explore.  All of it within a two-hour drive from my house. 

View from Devils Thumb Trail...this is Colorado at its BEST!

Staunton - The Newest State Park

When one thinks about the many venues of natural beauty Colorado offers, there is a new spot you might consider adding to your list of places to visit.  That place is Staunton State Park.


View from trail of one of a number of rock outcroppings at Staunton State Park.

Need Your Support

An important day is fast approaching for those in the Denver Metro area who live with and care for people diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease (PD).  More than 17,000 Coloradans now live with PD.  This is your opportunity to support a local charity organization that provides many needed programs, i,e, support groups, yoga classes, seminars, workshops, and services for those living with PD.

On Sunday, June 1st, the Parkinson Association of the Rockies will host the 12th annual Vitality Walk, to raise awareness of this disease.  The event will be held at two locations.  Washington Park, downtown Denver and Sandstone Ranch, Longmont.

Registration begins at 8 a.m., the walk starts at 9 a.m.  The registration fee at either location is $30 for adults, $10 for children (5 - 14 yrs.).   Bring your dogs.  It's a great place for them to exercise as well.

You are invited to donate on line at www.parkinsonrockies.org/vitalitywalk or in person the day of the event.  People have also approached me directly with a check payable to PAR or cash. 

My team name, "Exercise Fights PD," is listed on the team page of the web site mentioned above.  By clicking on it, you will be able to donate directly to the team financial goal.  Plus you can enjoy a wonderful morning stroll in "Wash Park" with the team.

So slip into your comfortable walking attire, ask the family to join you, put the dog in back, and head for Washington Park.  The best place to park is at the south end of the park  From there, it's a short walk to the event area.  You will see the vendor tents and hear announcements being made from the stage as you approach.  Stay after the walk for great food and snacks.

JoAnn and I look forward to seeing you there.  Look for us near the stage.

Enjoy the journey.
Gary

 

Eldorado Canyon State Park

As severe weather blasted the Denver Metro area, the foothills surrounding Eldorado Springs remained quiet and free from driving rain, pelting hail, and gusty winds.  It would be late in the day before we saw grey clouds overhead.  Mother nature held on to her fury, only to release it later in the week.



Eldorado Canyon Trailhead.

The day began with 11 members of the High Country Hikers group boarding the van outside the Aurora Center for Active Adults (ACAA).  An accident on I-270 (Commerce City) was reported earlier in the morning, causing that road to be impassible. 

Traffic backup on all major routes north of Aurora were affected.  After a few miles of slow-moving traffic, we were making good time on an alternate route, by way of  Golden, then north to Eldorado Springs.


Outside the Visitor Center, Dorothy, Joanne, Penny, Susan and Sandra prepare for a day on trail.

A Long and Winding Road

When I think back to January 24, 1995 (19 years ago), the day I had my first look at the black pickup I had waited for.  Two days earlier, there was the phone call from Bill Miller, a salesman at Bobby Rahal Toyota, telling me my truck would be  ready for pick up.  Base purchase price, $15,088.00. 

The car I was driving, a 1987 Nissan Stanza, would be traded in.  They offered me $3,700.00 for it.  That plus a down payment of $5,166.00 left a balance of $6,222.00 to be financed.

I wanted the least painful terms as possible.  Other than the mortgage and living expenses, there was nothing else financed.  So I went to the ECU (Employee Credit Union) at AMP Incorporated, where I worked.   The result was a monthly payment of $74.91 over four years.  It would be paid by payroll deduction.  I would never miss it.

A Few Extra Miles

The question of the day...'What are we gonna do.'  "Let's go to that trail you did recently down Parker Road," she said.  In minutes, two bottles of water and two PB&J sandwiches were thrown in the packs and we were off.

Entrance to the parking lot at LMOS.