The last 2 days were spent off the bike, hiking for 4 to 4.5 hours around 8 to 9000 ft. The weather was warm, and with warm winter temps in Colorado comes 50mph wind.
New Year’s Eve Night Hike
Last year, I spent New Year’s Eve getting blitzed at a super fun party in Albuquerque complete with bagpipes, champagne, fireworks, and really awesome friends. This year, things were a bit different, but also awesome. Snowkone-ve and I went for a late afternoon/night hike in the Boulder Flatirons. We left around 3:30 PM, finishing at 8 PM.
The sun started to go down as we reached the top of South Boulder Peak. I am a wuss in the mountains in the dark. I have this irrational fear of mountain lions and would start freaking out if I looked into the dark woods with my headlamp. I was half expecting to see a mountain lion’s eyes glowing back at me.
The trail was pretty sketchy and really steep. I have hiked this trail during the warm months, but yesterday, it was treacherous, slick, icy, and you had to watch every step you took. I slipped and fell on the ice three different times. Coming down, I was crab walking and hunched over making my back pretty sore.
Happy to reach the top so I could at least something before it was pitch black. Jeff and I were using Princeton Tech lights to navigate our way through the dark forest. I have the Fuel and Jeff has the Eos.
The trail was very rocky, and very technical.
Jeff and I were ravenous by the end of the hike, and brought in the New Year with pizza, wine, champagne, and Batman.
New Year’s Day Hike – Woodland Lake
The hike started on packed snow, so it wasn’t necessary to strap on the snowshoes. Jeff and I hooked them onto our Ergon packs and headed out.
About 1.5 hours in, I needed to refuel with cold pizza. Ohhhh yesssss.
There wasn’t too much ice on this hike, just one small section. Careful Kerkove….
Followed by more refueling…this time with Twizzlers. Makes mouth happy, right? eh?
Mustache ride??
We got off the beaten path and had to wear snowshoes and get as far was we could before we started losing the daylight battle. We didn’t quite make it to the lake, but we still have a lot of fun.
Snowshoes are super fun!!! I only fell once today. I am actually pretty clumsy on two feet.
I have a video to post too, but Flickr is being mean, so check back later for that right here.
I will be spending 15 hours on the bike over the next 3 days. Saddle up!
Nice place for snowshoeing. I used to go from the hessie town site alot. Did you go to lost lake? Lots of options up there. thanks for the photos, brings back memories….
Grrrrr, love your figure in that second pic. Giggity giggity.
Prrrrrrr. 😉