Colorado has amazing trails and lots of people that help maintain them. Do you want to get involved in trail work? Visit to see some of the amazing opportunities and organizations.
As summer kicks off, a lot of trail organizations are shifting into high gear. Every week there are volunteer opportunities to keep our trails safe and usable. I'm making TrailKind to help spread the word.
This is a call to action to get out there and give back!
Grand Canyon recap! This was our first time below the rim. Quite the experience...
We got lucky with a last-minute cabin at Phantom Ranch. We had plenty of water and snacks. And we had beautiful weather and good company.
But no matter what that vert makes it a doozy! I still can't believe those trails. I tried to capture some of it while avoiding the edges 😅
Have you ever been to the BLACK CANYON OPEN SPACE?
Between Manitou Springs and Garden of the Gods.
The City of Manitou Springs acquired the land in 2016. It is managed through a conservation easement by the Palmer Land Conservancy.
There are sweeping views of Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods And some cool social trails that climb through beautiful pinon-juniper woodland.
THE TRAILS ARE COOL BUT THEY NEED SOME WORK.
There is even a rad old wagon trail that runs through the area! But it is kind of hard to access.
Luckily the city has developed a plan for the open space, which includes trail improvements for usability and access.
YOU CAN HELP BUILD IT!
This year the Manitou Springs Open Space Advisory Committee is working with local organizations to do trail work.
That work kicks off this Saturday April 18 with a work day led by the Pikes Peak Trail CATS.
WANT TO GO? Message me and I'll connect you.
I've been wanting to get out of the house more, so a Birding Expedition seemed like a good idea. Even in the neighborhood, I can find a lot of good ones. Catching all the classics, including a chickadee. Honorable mentions, not pictured: Woodhouse's Scrub-jay and what I think was a Spotted Towhee.
Today's hike was our first of the season in spikes. Also, Jessica's first time all the way up Ruxton to Barr (skipping Hydro). It felt special to be out in the snow after a very dry December. The trail was nicely trampeled [sic], and yet still compacting and not icy---until we got to Barr. Met some people going down in street shoes. A weird choice. Also met a guy at the Barr junction who told us about his dog Jack. He said he never knew the name of the segment between Barr and Ruxton, but that Jack loved it, so he always calls it Jack's trail. We're going to start calling it that too...
Another great day volunteering with @medwheelcos on the Intemann Trail in Manitou Springs, CO.
We:
- improved drainage,
- stabilized a ravine wash with rock, and
- took care of some other washed out areas
so that folks can enjoy the trail without worrying about erosion hazards.
For me, this work is kind of selfish because I am on this trail multiple times per week. So I care about it.
I feel happy knowing that our work will keep this section of the trail in good shape for a long time.
I had a great time yesterday working on the Intemann with @medwheelcos , Trail CATS, and @incline_friends . After running SO many miles on this segment, I was happy to give a few hours back to maintain the trail.
And I'm really proud of the work. We cleaned up a bunch of drainage berms in the first half mile above Iron Spring. Then we took on a big drainage issue as a whole group (the first clip).
I'm looking forward to seeing how it holds up. And getting back out there for future volunteer dates.
Senescence is a biological process of breakdown, where plants reabsorb nutrients from their leaves before shedding them.
I see parallels between this biological process and my running.
I explore this concept through an autumn run in Crested Butte, Colorado.
Equinox. A balance point that can leave you feeling unstable if you're not careful.
I'm working on my stability. The changing of the season is a perfect opportunity to practice it.
![Today's hike was our first of the season in spikes. Also, Jessica's first time all the way up Ruxton to Barr (skipping Hydro). It felt special to be out in the snow after a very dry December. The trail was nicely trampeled [sic], and yet still compacting and not icy---until we got to Barr. Met some people going down in street shoes. A weird choice. Also met a guy at the Barr junction who told us about his dog Jack. He said he never knew the name of the segment between Barr and Ruxton, but that Jack loved it, so he always calls it Jack's trail. We're going to start calling it that too...](https://sp1.picnob.com/p/pt_6735275370243716474817_0_78f047f12c4764b5eab1c1ce0b03677e.jpg?o=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&h=82b5851235ceb22517a57f1cfbdf8c1b)
