The school year is over, and I've got a road trip scheduled next week to hike, camp, and shoot a dozen waterfalls in southwest Colorado. I wanted to get a "practice hike" under my belt first to shake off some rust. I've loved my two previous visits to North Cheyenne Cañon, and found Mount Muscoco on AllTrails which seemed like an easily doable distance (less than four miles) and elevation gain (roughly 1,300 feet). In a rainy, overcast week Wednesday offered a nice block of mostly sunny skies, so there I was at the trailhead just after 9 a.m.
First thing I learned: I was WAY overdressed. With temps forecast in the 60s and expecting possible windy conditions at the summit, I wore long pants and my windbreaker. Less than a quarter mile into the hike, the windbreaker was in my camera bag -- too warm and humid for it.
It's a good thing I did a "practice hike," because I
struggled with the climb. Hopefully just out of practice, because I can't point to anything in particular that was especially challenging about the trail. But I eventually made it to the top, and was rewarded with the expected gorgeous views and none of the wind I had feared.
The splash of blue on the tree in the foreground bugged me at first. When I zoomed in I discovered it was a bracelet (or possibly a small collar) that read "Fly High KyRy." I can make an exception for a tribute to a lost loved one and not be such a curmudgeon.
A close-up of that tribute. I give the person who went out and attached it credit for their gumption.
Wildflowers like these
Sidebells Penstemon were just starting to bloom.
Rocky Mountains Ponderosa Pine cones were still young and green.
I like the star patterns in which the new cones grow.
As usual, the decent proved much quicker than the ascent. I stopped just once to shoot the view towards Colorado Springs with rain clouds beginning to gather in the sky.
The hike ended up being 4.34 miles (I'm starting to grow accustomed to AllTrails' distance underestimates) and took me just under two and a half hours, which in hindsight I suppose isn't significantly slower than the 2 MPH pace I normally strive for when shooting. But it sure
felt slower than that for whatever reason, which I'll keep in mind on next week's excursion. That said, I couldn't have asked for better conditions for my first hike of summer!
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