by neil kearney | Apr 26, 2009 | Colorado Lifestyle |
This morning was a beautiful morning and to celebrate, I took a camera walk at Sawhill Ponds. The ponds are an open space area owned by Boulder County which used to be a gravel quarry. It’s a popular spot to walk, birdwatch or fish and I’m lucky to live just a few minutes away. Here are a few shots from my walk, too bad I didn’t have a microphone as the birds voices were quite animated.
To view a shot of a goose egg after a run-in with a fox go to my Image-of-the-Week.
Sawhill Ponds and the adjacent Walden Ponds are located off of 75th Street, between Jay Rd. and Valmont Rd, about 5 miles east of Boulder.
by neil kearney | Sep 11, 2008 | Colorado Lifestyle |
Last Saturday, my son Ben and I hiked in the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area to the Arapahoe Glacier overlook. We originally were aiming to hike to the top of S. Arapahoe Peak, but the wind was incredibly strong and getting to the overlook was the perfect adventure for us on that day. We were hiking for five hours and enjoyed great views, good company, some well deserved snacks and some “blow me over” winds.
Arapahoe Glacier is at the far west end of the watershed owned by the City of Boulder. Access to this area of pristine wilderness is prohibited so to preserve the quality of the water. I believe that Boulder is the only city to own a glacier but I haven’t yet checked with Sarah Palin. I would guess that some towns in Alaska might have a chance to share this distinction.
What a great place to be able to be hiking in an entirely different ecosystem within 1 hour of town. Below are some photos from the hike.
by neil kearney | Mar 5, 2008 | Colorado Lifestyle |
Boulder Area Hikes
Royal Arch
http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf
The hike to Royal Arch is a Boulder classic. The trailhead for the hike is Chautauqua Park, located at 9th and Baseline. The hike is scenic, convenient and moderately challenging (although ice in the winter makes it more so). Royal Arch is hidden from view and is located in a notch to the South of the Third Flatiron.
From the Chautauqua parking area continue up the old paved road toward the Bluebell Shelter. Just past the shelter is the sign marking the trail toward Royal Arch. The trail is approximately 1.5 miles each way. The first part of the hike is through an attractive side canyon shaded from the sun. After awhile, you will come to a large rock formation and a sign pointing your way down into a new valley. At this point you have a birds-eye-view of NCAR and the plains toward Denver. After a bit of downhill you will begin to wind uphill to the arch. The view from the arch is unique and the hidden nature of the arch makes me feel like I found a secret spot. Give it a try, I’d recommend it!
by neil kearney | Feb 18, 2008 | Colorado Lifestyle |
Boulder Area Hikes
Ceran St. Vrain
http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf
The Ceran St. Vrain Trail is located Northwest of Boulder above the small village of Jamestown. This trail follows the South St. Vrain Creek and provides a scenic, easy walk through beautiful forest. The trail is easy by most standards and is a great place to bring your dog or guests who are not into hard core, lung-busting hikes. The trail winds through the small canyon and alternates between narrow sections above the creek and wider sections creek side. Dogs are allowed and it seems like at least half of the hikers when I have been there have had have dogs.
The trail is a 4 mile out and back hike. At the end of the trail you can hook up with jeep road 252 to extend your hike to Miller’s Rock or the many four wheel drive roads that connect in the area.
I especially like the tall, dense lodgepole pine forests through which the trail winds. I find it a relaxing place to spend an hour or two. In the summer there are some great tent sites with easy access to the fishing holes.
| Directions from Boulder: 5.5 miles north on Highway 36, turn west onto Lefthand Canyon. About five miles up Lefthand Canyon, follow the right fork to Jamestown. Go through Jamestown, continuing over the top of the hill and past the end of the pavement. After you get on to the dirt road, look for the sign for the Ceran St. Vrain Trailhead. Turn right at the sign, go for about 1/4 mile and park. |
View Ceran St. Vrain Trail in a larger map
by neil kearney | Feb 11, 2008 | Colorado Lifestyle |
Boulder Area Hikes
Switzerland Trail
Sugarloaf Trailhead
http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf
The Switzerland Trail is one of my favorite winter hiking/snowshoe trails. The trail is really a single lane dirt road that used to host a narrow gauge railway back in late 1800,’s and early 1900’s, when small mining operations dotted the mountians of Boulder County. The terrain is easy but with the added element of snow and solitude it becomes a great place to brave the elements and bring your dog.
The Switzerland Trail connects Eldora (near Nederland)and Ward and run’s a full 25 miles. But thankfully, you can hook-up at many trailheads and sections along the way. I like the section that runs from Sugarloaf Mountain to the Sunset Townsite. This section is about 4 miles each way and has many small trails that reach the valley floors and let’s you discover and explore the remnants of the area’s mining heritage. The side trails don’t get much use in the winter and they are a great place to get the snowshoe’s out and test the snowpack. During the summer, these side trails provide a challenging (steep and rocky) hike or ride.
As I mentioned, the walking (or biking in the summer) is fairly easy so you can soak up the view and enjoy the wooded forest. During the fall there is quite a bit of color visable in the turning trees.
The trail is usually fairly empty in the winter but I have been passed by four-wheelers. During the summer slow moving four-wheel drive vehicles make the trek.
| Directions: Take Canyon Blvd. out of town into Boulder Canyon toward Nederland. Just over 5 miles and after Magnolia Road take a right on Sugarloaf Road. Continue 5 miles up and then take a right on Sugarloaf Mountain Road, continue .9 miles up to the trailhead. |
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&om=0&msid=100893337875923978529.000445ad99fb1b8e86ba6&s=AARTsJqnnIyfxLq85tgAMgNHEJyw10KLhQ&ll=40.031689,-105.453129&spn=0.046004,0.072956&z=13&output=embed
View Larger Map
by neil kearney | Jan 25, 2008 | Colorado Lifestyle |
Biking in Boulder
Even in winter, Boulder is a mecca for biking. Every day, no matter what the weather conditions, there are dedicated bikers on the roads and paths. Winter bikers can be grouped into two camps; dedicated commuters and serious bikers looking to get a
break from their indoor training routine.
First lets talk about the dedicated bike commuters. I think Boulder might be the world leader in winter bike commuters. As long as it is possible to ride a bike these people will be out their. You can recognize them by their high tech worn gear, their industrial light show (front and rear) and usually some kind of pack or pannier. During the summer these people blend into the rest of the biking population, but in winter they stand out and should be commended for their commitment and determination.
Boulder is filled with serious bikers. Just when you think you are in pretty good shape you get passed easily by someone with iron legs and lungs to match. Many of these athletes are
professional and do nothing but bike, get massages, meet at coffee houses in their spandex and generally look great (making the rest of us look pale and weak by comparison). Anyway, on any day that the street shoulders are clear you will see colorful packs of fast moving bikers going for a training ride. During warm weather months you will again see so many bikers that it will be hard to pick out these workhorses, unless you try to keep up.
With all of the dedicated lanes and paths Boulder is a great place to ride your bike. We have a great lifestyle and the energy from those dedicated bikers goes a long way in making Boulder so attractive to those who really want to live life to its fullest even if riding a bike is not your thing.
