Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is about 35 miles west of home in Colorado Springs. With unique fossils that do NOT include dinosaurs, 6,000 acres, 3.5 miles of self-guided loops, 15 miles of trails, and a Labor Day 2020 Monday that needs a trip, let’s explore together!
The wonderful thing about getting out for a hike at 6:40am is the golden morning light. It may make some red rocks appear gold, but that only adds to the beauty. Come along for a 3.5 mile hike in Red Rock Canyon Open Space where we will walk through canyons, along fins, and into the scrub oak and pine forest seeing the sights along the way.
Living in the mountain west the deer we see most often are Mule Deer ((Odocoileus hemionus). Indigenous across the western US, they can be identified by their oversized ears resembling those of a mule, their black-tipped tail, and distinctive dark forehead. Lovingly called Muleys, outside of the mating season (rut), they tend to be calm and not particularly bothered by our presence. However, kept my distance from this big boy. I’ve seen Mule Deer all over Montana and Wyoming the last seven years, but this Muley is massive, the biggest I’ve ever seen. The largest males (bucks) can weight 460 pounds, and I think this boy is there!
It has been quite a while since we hiked together, so it’s time to head out for a three-mile hike in Garden of the Gods. Arriving at 6:15am, we have golden light, trails you have never seen, and huge rocks, particularly red rocks, everywhere. Now I know what so many country songs mean when they talk of “red-dirt”! We’ll be brushing it off our shoes and if our shoes “breath”, we’ll be washing it out of our socks. Ready to head out? The Bretag Trail awaits!
