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"I do not know where to find in any literature, whether ancient or modern, any adequate account of that Nature with which I am acquainted."
From Henry David Thoreau`s Journal, February 1851
#hiking #backpacking #backpacker #solobackpacker #canyonlands #canyonlandsnationalpark #theneedles #moabutah #utah #utahisrad #utahisbeautiful
Moab, Utah—Day 3
The theme of the day was "arches." I spent the first half of the day exploring Arches National Park and the second half bagging arches outside the park.
I’ve been to the park before, so I avoided some of the more popular attractions. That allowed me to focus on the hiking trails through this desert playground.
I always prefer loops to out-and-back hikes. If I have to go out and back, I always prefer to be walking toward some kind of spectacle. This day did not disappoint. It was truly spectacular. I got perfect weather, it was not too crowded, and I had a lot of the arches all to myself.
#hiking #hikemoreworryless #arches #archesnationalpark #moabutah #utah #utahisrad #optoutside
Moab, Utah—Day 2
The whole point of backpacking into Canyonlands was to wake up in the park. The Needles is two hours from Moab and I didn`t want to waste cool morning air while driving there.
I hiked back to my car and switched to my daypack. Then I enjoyed exploring a loop through different areas of The Needles. I climbed over outcroppings, walked many ledges, and got bogged down in sand and mud. In short, I had an absolute blast.
Living in Colorado, I`ve gotten very used to the cold. I have no problem wearing shorts in sub-freezing weather (while I`m being active). This was the first time I`ve felt 80° since last fall. I was like an ice cream cone left too long in the sun. I’ll readjust eventually, but I was more than ready to get back to my car and crank the air conditioner on the long drive back to Moab.
#hiking #backpacking #backpacker #canyonlands #canyonlandsnationalpark #theneedles #theneedlescanyonlands #moabutah #utahisrad #optoutside
Moab, Utah—Day 1
I broke my visit to Canyonlands into two experiences. I drove through Island In The Sky with occasional hiking and I hiked through The Needles with occasional driving.
I had a permit to backpack into an open zone in The Needles, meaning I was able to choose my own campsite once I got away from the popular areas. I`m pretty sure I was the only human around for miles, which suited me just fine.
I`m used to freezing at night in the wilderness. The low was only around 50° and I kept waking up throughout the night to strip off clothing. Otherwise, I slept great.
#hiking #backpacking #backpacker #canyonlands #canyonlandsnationalpark #islandinthesky #theneedlescanyonlands #moabutah #utah #utahisrad #optoutside
I try to remind myself that for every person like me who is overcome with spring fever, there’s another person thanking the heavens for one more weekend on the slopes. The roles will reverse in November when I`m trying to squeeze a little more autumn warmth, beauty, and adventure out of the places that will become the slopes in due course.
#hiking #adventure #adventures #barrtrailcolorado #manitouincline #topoftheincline #manitousprings #manitouspringsco #manitouspringscolorado #coloradospringsco #colorado #coloradolife #optoutside
"As soon as those spring mornings arrive in which the birds sing, I am sure to be an early riser. I am waked by my genius. I wake to inaudible melodies and am surprised to find myself expecting the dawn in so serene and joyful and expectant a mood. I have an appointment with spring. She comes to the window to wake me, and I go forth an hour or two earlier than usual."
From Henry David Thoreau`s Journal, March 22, 1853
#hiking #manitousprings #manitouspringscolorado #colorado #coloradolife
I welcome the warmer weather, but not the crowds that accompany it. It`s usually just me and maybe another person on the 6:00 am shuttle bus to the Incline. This morning, every seat was taken. It might be time for me to figure out a new workout for leg day.
#hiking #legday #barrtrail #barrtrailhike #manitouincline #manitousprings #manitouspringscolorado #coloradosprings #coloradospringsco #colorado #coloradolife #optoutside
I usually know I’m approaching a waterfall by the roar of the water. The approach to Horsetooth Falls sounded like a dog meekly pissing on a gravel road. It was still worth seeing—still interesting and pretty in its own way—but it was undoubtedly underwhelming.
#hiking #horsetoothreservoir #horsetoothfallstrail #horsetoothfalls #fortcollins #fortcollinscolorado #colorado #coloradolife #optoutside
I had a great time walking through the Flatirons in Boulder today. I wanted to take advantage of this perfect weather to cross a challenging hike off my to-do list.
The Skyline Traverse summits the five most prominent peaks of Boulder—South Boulder Peak (8543 ft), Bear Peak (8456 ft), Green Mountain (8149 ft), Flagstaff Mountain (7030 ft), and Mt. Sanitas (6835 ft). It involves 16+ miles and 12,000 ft of elevation changes, including almost 6000 ft of climbing.
Back in 2017, I hiked the 11-mile Black Mountain Crest Trail, colloquially called the “Death March of North Carolina.” It connects 10 mountains that are near or above 6000 ft—including 5 of the 10 highest peaks in the eastern USA.
These two hikes are very similar, but I found today’s hike more challenging—probably because of the onerous downhill. And tacking Sanitas on the end seemed egregious. Then again, I have undeniably put my body and brain through the ringer over the years between these two adventures. I wonder if I’m starting to feel my age?
#hiking #flatirons #skylinetraverse #skylinetraverseboulder #boulder #boulderco #bouldercolorado #colorado #coloradolife #optoutside