Category: Colorado

Rain, Rain, Rain . . .

Posted on by Joy

Colorado Springs, high desert with average elevation about 6,000 feet and average annual rainfall of about 7.5 inches. We have had showers nearly every day since early May, some days raining much of the day. We set a daily rainfall record on June 12 and from January 1 to June 13 our rainfall total is 14.71 inches setting an all-time record. Along with the rain we experience hail, lightening, tornado warnings, and flash flooding. Thank goodness I live on a hill–except for the lightening and tornado warnings 😉 . Pikes Peak experienced an unprecedented blizzard on Tuesday with snow drifts as high as three feet and ice layers up to half an inch thick on the roads. Yes, there were people up there but all survived the ordeal. It has been a very long and cooler than usual spring.

Now for the good news.

Green, my favorite color

SNAP*Shots–Garden of the Gods On A 5-Degree Day

Posted on by Joy

The last few days we’ve experienced arctic weather. Snow, below freezing temperatures overnight into the morning, single digits all day long. Brrrrr . . . OK, OK, I lived in Montana for seven years so should be fine with frigid. No, OVER IT, and enjoy the shorter winter season at this latitude too. One thing though? You can’t beat the beauty of ice- and snow-covered landscapes! Come on along as we drive the roads and visit the pull outs in Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs gorgeous city park.

Bundle up and let’s go . . .

Ride~About: Silver Thread Scenic Byway (CO-149)

Posted on by Joy

Part 3: Last Leg of the Byway

When we drove into Lake City yesterday, we crossed a bridge over Henson Creek. A short distance from the bridge, the creek feeds into the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River. The Lake Fork begins high in the mountains southwest of Lake San Cristobal, flows through the lake, and ends its 64.7 mile-long journey north to its confluence with the Gunninson River in Blue Mesa Reservoir.

Yes, this river runs south to north. Am I the only one who thought all rivers run north to south–south is downhill after all, right? Actually it is all about gravity. A river will always take the path of least resistance and flow downhill as quickly as possible. That downhill path can be in any direction including north, south, east, west, and every direction in between. The most famous and longest river in the world runs north through 11 countries–The Nile.

This last section of CO-149 is about rock formations, ranches, and Lake Fork’s canyons. Over the road’s remaining 45 miles we will travel down about 1,140 feet. Let’s go!

MORE BEAUTY AHEAD . . .

New Hike in Red Rock Canyon Open Space

Posted on by Joy

We’ve hiked in Red Rock Canyon before, but today we will explore a trail I’ve never done, Quarry Pass Trail, a west to east walk across the park. First, though, we have to get to the trail so let’s go!

This will be fun!