Fort Collins Mountain Biking.

(by Mark)
A little update for my mountain biking friends (and anyone else who cares to read). One of the great things about Fort Collins is that miles upon miles of trail sit just outside of town. It's about 2 miles from my front door to the closest trailhead. Last week I went out for night ride with one other guy at Horsetooth Mountain Park. I drove to this trailhead because it's a little sketchy to ride the necessary roads at night. The trailhead is about 11 miles away and gives access to about 30 miles of singletrack with 1500 foot climbs. We did an 11 mile ride with lots of climbing. It was cold and dark, so no pictures, but here's the track displayed in Google Earth.


Yesterday I went out for a long ride with a few folks I've met through a local mountain biking forum. This ride involved a lot of pavement, but it got me to some trails I hadn't seen yet. The trails extend south from Horsetooth reservoir and include city and county "open spaces" (i.e., parks). Here's the track from this ride.



The trails here are very different from the trails back east. First there are far more vistas to enjoy. For example:





Also, there's more climbing (duh!). The climbing was really hard when we first got here, but I think my lungs are adjusting to the altitude. But it's still a challenge...here is the profile from the ride (courtesy of my beloved GPS)


Finally, the trails are sandy with a lot of loose rocks. I wouldn't say they are more technical than east coast trails, but the loose soils and sand emphasize different skills.



This climbing and terrain make for a good time--new challenges and new sites. But overall it's really cool to be able to access this stuff with a short ride on pavement or a short drive. The city and county are committed to encouraging outdoor recreation and they do a lot for the mountain biking community. Very few trails are off limits to bikes and you can access some beautiful areas on two wheels. At the same time, they actively manage the trails by closing or rerouting trails that are damaged by erosion (which is good for the trail and good for local streams and water supply).

This is definitely a biking heaven.

We need some stinkin' showshoes

In our previous outing to the high country, we decided that we didn't need snowshoes. We were able to hike just fine because of the packed snow, but we had to turn back once we encountered soft snow. Yesterday, we went to the Never Summer Mountains, near Cameron Pass, for some hiking, and this time, we rented snowshoes.

From Lake Agnes & Nokhu Crags

It was a good thing we did rent snowshoes. Cameron Pass is on the Continental Divide in Northern Colorado. There was probably 3-5 feet of snow, mostly packed down from previous snowshoers and skiers, but not always. The snowpack was really incredible. It snows a lot up there.

From Lake Agnes & Nokhu Crags

Our hike took us from a trailhead on Route 14 to Lake Agnes, surrounded by the amazing Nokhu Crags. The weather was spectacular--warm, no clouds (or snow), bright and sunny. As we made our way toward the lake, we were treated to continuous views of the Crags and other peaks.

From Lake Agnes & Nokhu Crags

This is a popular place, and there are two backcountry huts for overnight stays in the area, so we encountered a lot of people. No solitude here, but the scenery is worth it nonetheless. Just as you get close to the lake, there's a small ridge you have to get over. Climbing up steep hills in deep snow seems like it would be quite difficult, but with snowshoes, it's now problem at all. Sometimes we stayed on the beaten path, sometimes we branched off and broke our own trail through the snow.

From Lake Agnes & Nokhu Crags

Finally, we emerged from the last bit of forest and arrived at the alpine lake. The sun was bright and warm so we stayed a while to enjoy the scene. A sampling of the MANY pictures we took:

From Lake Agnes & Nokhu Crags

From Lake Agnes & Nokhu Crags

From Lake Agnes & Nokhu Crags

From Lake Agnes & Nokhu Crags

Those strange rock formations called the Nokhu Crags played spectacular games with the sunlight. Unfortunately, we are mediocre photographers so we didn't really capture it very well. The peak itself is a sedimentary rock formation created when this area was under an ocean millions and millions of years ago. Erosive processes created the many shapes and continues to change the mountain to this day.

The more we visit sites like this, the more I understand why mountains inspire thoughts of the transcendent and sublime. Mountains are inviting with their spectacular displays, but at the same time, they can be very inhospitable and often dangerous. I'm currently reading a biography of Gifford Pinchot--the nation's first professional forester (sort of), first chief of the U.S. Forest Service, and early pivotal figure in the conservation movement that would eventually become modern environmentalism. Pinchot was inspired by scenes in the Adirondacks, the Sierra Mountains, and other places. He had legendary disputes with John Muir, founder of the Sierra Club. I can't say my visits change my views of their disputes and the modern environmental controversies we face, but I understand better why the emotions inspired by these places can be potent forces for good or bad. Pinchot and Muir developed a great friendship that was destroyed by their disputes over conservation issues, especially Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park. A valley that was eventually dammed to provide water for San Francisco.

Cassie said it best as she took in the scene: "Wow! God is da bomb!" And he/she/it works on a grand canvas, but there are wonderful small works too.

From Lake Agnes & Nokhu Crags

Dear MDTOCO Blog Followers

While the humans have been boring you with tales of their move and recent outdoor adventures (that, I might add, they did not take us on) -- I know that you have been wondering how we (George and Betty) have been adjusting to their relocation out West.

Here is an insider interview to give our side of the story …

From The Dogs

George: So, Betty … how are you adjusting to life in Colorado?

Betty: Colorado? When did we move to Colorado?

George: About a month ago -- when the humans drove us around in the car for a week straight.

Betty: Oh. I thought they were just lost. The tall human kept referring to his GPS.

George: It snows here and is cold a lot. How is that affecting you?

Betty: Well, I love the snow. Unlike rain, which is wet and makes me very unhappy – the snow is dry to walk on and is good to eat.

George: So, what you're saying is that what we perceive and experience is heavily mediated through language and concepts that are deeply ingrained in our ways of thinking and feeling, is that right?

Betty: Huh?

George: What about the pink rubber snow booties, Betty? Is that the hot new resort look for 2009?

From The Dogs

From The Dogs

Betty: I think they are some kind of torture device. Call the SPCA and report this, will ya? Supposedly they help me to walk in the snow and protect my paws from freezing in the cold temperatures. I really don't know what the humans were thinking.

George: Any other comments about your treatment by the humans since moving to Colorado?

Betty: Yeah. How come you get to sleep on the bed with the humans at night and I don't?

George: Um, next question. What are your thoughts about the Obama selection of a White House dog?

Betty: Well, no Obama people have contacted me yet for an interview. I may be interested in the position if their treats are chicken flavored. Of course, I would have to consider the past loyalty of our current humans. Also, I have gotten fond of pooping in their yard and am not sure I would want attention of the media and paparazzi that would come with the White house lawn.

George: Thank you, Betty. Is there anything else you'd like to say to followers of the blog?

Betty: Blog? What's a blog?

George: Never mind. Okay. Now you ask me something.

Betty: You gonna eat that treat?

George: Yes. Now ask me something else.

Betty: You gonna eat that treat NOW?

George: Is food ALL you can think about?

Betty: I thought I was supposed to be asking the questions.

George: Let's go. It's dinner time.

Greyrock Mountain

On Saturday we went hiking at Greyrock Mountain, which is about 10 miles up the Poudre River Canyon.

View Larger Map

I read about this on a local outdoors blog and it turned out to be a fantastic hike. We started along the river and climbed about 1400 feet over about 3 miles to the base of Greyrock itself.

From Greyrock Dec 2008

It was cold, about 25 degrees or so, extremely windy, and there was still a good bit of snow around. We were skeptical that the trial up would be doable in these conditions but we were wrong. It wasn't so bad until we got to the very top. The top was beautiful, with a small frozen pond and a few trees growing up out of the rocks.

From Greyrock Dec 2008

I was determined to get up to the very top because I wanted to see the view to the north and west. The wind up top had to be 60 or 70 miles an hour. We had crouch as we scrambled up the rocks. We were rewarded with quite a view

From Greyrock Dec 2008

From Greyrock Dec 2008

From Greyrock Dec 2008

From Greyrock Dec 2008

But we didn't stay long to enjoy it. The wind was too painful. So we made our way back down and took a different trail back to the car. We crossed several high meadows where we decided we would do some camping this summer. Not the best picture, but you get the idea:

From Greyrock Dec 2008

And more:

From Greyrock Dec 2008

We had gotten a late start and spent a little too much time enjoying the views, so we made it back to the car just before darkness. This is a hike we'll be doing again and again. Here's what the GPS track looks like in Google Earth.

From Greyrock Dec 2008

We don't need no stinkin' snowshoes

(by mark)

Yesterday we went up to Rocky Mountain National Park for our first taste of the high country in winter. We did some hiking at RMNP in August and we were eager to see it shrouded in snow. We don't own snowshoes (yet), so our plan was to hike or ski, depending on what the snow conditions would allow. It's been snowing quite a bit in the mountains of Colorado, but it is quite localized, so we weren't sure how much snow to expect. We discovered quite a bit of variation in the snowpack even within the small area of the park that we drove through.

Here's the view from Loveland just a few minutes from home. The big mountain in the middle is Longs Peak in the Park

From RMNP Dec 21

We entered near Estes Park, a cute little touristy town that is teeming with shoppers in the summer. It was pretty calm on this day. We decided to head up the Bear Lake trailhead, where we had been back in August. This is Bierstadt Lake, near Bear Lake, from last August.

From Colorado Visit Aug 2008

So we were expecting great scenery. We found a surprising crowd in the parking lot. It was packed last summer, but even on this 15 degree Sunday, there were 30 cars and a lot of people. Two groups pulled into the lot at the same time as us and they were, well, interesting. They had some serious gear (avalanche shovels, avalanche transponders, mountaineering boots etc.) so we wondered if we were getting in over our heads. It turned out to be fine and we think they were part of an avalanche class. We hiked up from Bear Lake to a series of small lakes, with nice views all along the way. There was a lot of snow--probably 2-3 feet--but the surface was packed and hard from snowshoers so we were able to walk on it without sinking in.

From RMNP Dec 21

We eventually got to the edge of Dream Lake where the view was just stunning.

From RMNP Dec 21

We were alone and we stayed a few minutes to enjoy the view. Cassie remarked that if this kind of scene doesn't make you believe in God, then nothing will. So then we debated the existence and nature of God for a bit. It is certainly awe-inspiring. The size and scale are hard to grasp.

Beyond this point, the track on the snow got softer and we began sinking in, so we turned around. It's a good excuse to buy some snowshoes. After a snack, we drove back down to a trailhead with a long dirt road to try some cross-country skiing. There was much less snow in that area, but just enough to ski. After skiing for a while, we photographed two scenes that we had photographed back in August. This picture appears at the top of this blog (cropped).

From RMNP Dec 21

And then we did a winter version of a previous self-portrait:

From RMNP Dec 21

From Colorado Visit Aug 2008

We'll be doing more outings like this, and with snowshoes in the futures so we will be able to go further. Here's a link to the rest of the photos.

Winter wonderland

(by mark)

Mild winters. Right. The Western US is in the grips of an arctic weather pattern right now. Officially, the low for Fort Collins yesterday (Dec 15) was eight below zero (F). But one weather station was reporting 15 below zero at about 9 am yesterday. For some reason, I find weather more and more fascinating, so I looked around the west (you can just click on points on the National Weather Service Map) for the coldest I could find. The lowest I saw was 35 below zero in Glasgow, Montana. That's cold.

The cold weather blew in on Sunday. On Saturday it was balmy (around 50) and sunny. So Cassie and I went out for our first bike ride together. We explored some of the bike paths here in Fort Collins, of which there are many. The city is really committed to bike transportation. After snows, the bike paths get plowed quickly and somebody de-ices the paths everyday (it may be volunteers). In addition, on the cities website there is a link to information on how to continue commuting by bike through the winter. Pretty cool. Anyway, on our ride we made our way up to the Poudre River Trail. The Poudre River is the focus of my work right now, so it's nice to see it. The trail follows the river toward the mountains and ends in Laporte, a little town northeast of Fort Collins. The scenery, as you might imagine, was gorgeous.

From Poudre Ride Dec 2008

From Poudre Ride Dec 2008

From Poudre Ride Dec 2008

From Poudre Ride Dec 2008

(that's an old irrigation viaduct)

We had hoped to do a larger loop, including some roads in the foothills, but the new arctic weather change started blowing in. The winds began to howl and we were practically assaulted by tumble weeds! We could see the storm approaching

From Poudre Ride Dec 2008

So we turned back.

By Sunday morning it was zero degrees, with about 2-3 inches of new snow. I took the opportunity to go hiking at Horsetooth Mountain. I was so bundled up that I was hot on my way up the mountain. Mine were the first tracks up the trail, so it was a pleasure. But it was too hard to take pictures with big gore-tex mittens on, and too cold to take the mittens off, so no pictures.

The bitter cold really isn't so bad. I'd take this weather--dry and zero degrees--over typical Baltimore winter weather (35 and wet) any day. Minus 15 may be a bit much, though. The dogs certainly don't like it, as the cold snow hurts their paws too much for them to walk. They're getting cabin fever so it's probably time for some dog booties.

That's all for now.

Settling in and getting out

(by mark)

We've been here 5 days now and it feels pretty good. We arrived on Monday, Dec 1st and slept on the floor of our new house.

From Move2008

Our stuff arrived the next day, we unloaded it (with the help of some movers), and unpacked most of the boxes. We're pretty well settled in now, with only some books and some framed photos to unpack (for which we need new bookshelves). Overall, the house is great--a nice change from our old house, which was charming but had it's challenges. So far, we love it here. We can walk to some needed places (like a grocery store), we have a nice park nearby, the people are friendly (our new neighbors brought us brownies on Friday) and, of course, the mountains are minutes away.

Monday and Tuesday were warm, sunny days (65 degrees or so). By Tuesday night it had cooled off and by Wednesday morning it was snowing. It snowed a good bit and by Friday morning, we had this:

From Move2008

And it was COLD (in the teens with a good wind). The perfect time to do our first XC ski outing as Colorado residents. So we went skiing Friday morning in the foothills, but we forgot the camera.

Today we went hiking in Lory State Park


View Larger Map

There was still plenty of snow and the scenery was fabulous. Here's a taste.

From Lory SP Dec 6 2008

From Lory SP Dec 6 2008

From Lory SP Dec 6 2008

From Lory SP Dec 6 2008

From Lory SP Dec 6 2008

From Lory SP Dec 6 2008

From Lory SP Dec 6 2008