Our Longest Training Hike...

The Salkantay Trail is long (75km) and high (just over 15,000'). We've attempted to get in better hiking shape with strength and cardio workouts, hit some altitude and put some miles on the ol' hiking legs. BUT to this point, those "long" hikes have been 12.5 miles tops. Salkantay promises 2 days of 16 miles each, interspersed with 8-10 mile days - we call those recovery days!

Today, we pushed further. The goal was 15 miles. And luckily for us, the plan involved starting at a trailhead just 10 mins from here, walking 7.5 miles, breaking for brunch on the porch of the Chautauqua Dining Hall, then hiking back.

In the beginning, just before sunrise; It looked like the most perfect day for hiking, we shared the Lower Big Bluestem trail with mammas and their hefty babies.

Soon after, we took the Upper Big Bluestem trail to join the Mesa Trail, then passed Shanahan Ridge, NCAR and Woods Quarry turnoffs on our way to Chautauqua. 

With new insoles for both of us, this was a solid test of gear as well as legs and mental commitment, but 7.5 miles later, as we got seated on the dining porch, both of us were feeling remarkably great.

So how was the trek back? Actually pretty darn good. 

Feet. ✓
Mental game. ✓
Gear. ✓

And... we found a rattlesnake... who was as calm about the whole situation as I was, considering he almost got stepped on and that's his signal to react!!!

I thought he was seriously beautiful. That's a first for me. Am I becoming a snake person?!

Then there was a wee water break and the obligatory selfie of the toe-socks before a gentle downhill back to the car. 15 miles done and dusted. I was proud of us - after we woke up from our post-hike nap!

Heil Ranch Training Hike

Just 25 minutes from home and I've never been here before! What is wrong with me?!

More Machu Picchu training. This one fitted the bill because it was less intense from an elevation gain standpoint at just 1250' to climb, but more than 10 miles long - to test our "time on feet" capacity. We'd be following it with a couple of miles dog walk by mid afternoon and welcomed the chance to try ourselves with more than 12 miles in one day.

Heil Ranch is open to the public with no parking fee from sunrise to sunset. You betcha we were there at sunrise. It's the most wonderful time of the day! Usually the coolest and today, the least chance of thunderstorm activity. Bonus!

The burn scars have their own unique beauty, and the wildlife has moved back in to claim its rightful place. 

A bit about the fire that has left it's mark here: The Cal-wood Fire, which started October 17, 2020 consumed much of Heil Ranch when it burned 10,000 acres - 5,000 burned in the first 5 hours! After the fire, wind toppled the charred trees easily and erosion took its toll. There has been a lot of work performed by Boulder County to help it recover faster and to make it accessible and safer for the hikers and bikers that frequent this beautiful spot.

Who knew turkeys could read?! 

Chasm Lake again... because it's worth the hike!

 Aiming to get in as many longer hikes as possible before Peru in a month, we set out for Chasm Lake at 6:15am. It was still dark. When does Daylight Savings time end again? Will it ever end? (Maybe not, if a new law passes... but that's a detour we are not going to take with this post.)

What I love about this hike is the changing environment. 3 miles up and up and up through the woods, over little bridges, past little waterfalls... 

Breaking treeline reveals the view; back east over the plains and west to Long's Peak et al. The trail has been steadily improved by Conservation Corp volunteers/staff and Rocky Mountain National Park Rangers. They literally arrive with a caravan of horses and gear to stay a while and then spend their days moving large rock by hand to produce something akin to what the Romans did. Fascinating! Admirable! Freakin' exhausting to watch!!!

At the top of the saddle, where the trail splits and we leave those destined for the boulder-field or beyond, to the peak of Long's, we took a snack break.

Just a mile or so to go and not all of it is uphill. (Although that which is, is a tough 15 minute scramble.)

This little pika was as hungry as me! Winter will be here before he knows it and the last of the grass and flowers is all he has to fatten up on so there was little room for shyness and he gracefully allowed filming too.

Getting to Chasm Lake is a welcome relief and finding a place to remove boots, loll about lazily and inhale some calories is all that is needed to recover for the downhill. (Well, that and some photography of course!)

The downhill had its own surprises and a touch of magic too. Check out this young coyote that stopped for a little drink at the waterfall before hopping into the trail in front of us and powering up the hill.

The trail maintenance crew was being replenished!