Mt. Sanitas

When I asked locals here in Boulder where to hike nearby, everyone mentioned Mt. Sanitas.  So, I chose that trail to hike with my colleague's cousin who lives in Boulder whom I was going to meet for the first time.  She's an art teacher, an athlete and is familiar with this trail.

There are two main ways to get to the top of Mt. Sanitas- the Sanitas Trail up which is vertical over rocks and dirt,  or the Ridge Trail which is a packed dirt path for most of the way.  We decided to make a loop, up the Sanitas Trail and down on the Ridge Trail.  

For a novice such as myself, the trail was challenging and invigorating!  I had to watch my footing most of the way, stopping periodically to admire the view, catch my breath, and take in some water. It took us about 45 minutes to reach the top, a climb of 1255 feet.  The view is spectacular and it certainly felt like an accomplishment for me.  The hike down starts over more rocks until the trail becomes an easy walk on packed dirt.  While I don't mind the uphill to reach a view, all of the scrambling over rocks is tough on the knees!

dayhikesneardenver.com/mt-sanitas-hike-near-boulder/ 

The Flatirons

The small "village" of the Colorado Chautauqua sits at the base of the Flatirons, five mountains that resemble old-fashioned irons. The rocks are made of sandstone, approximately 290 million years old.

I wasn't going to hike at all today because my calves are sore from the hills of the last two days.  But, outside my door are miles of trails and these incredible mountains.  So, after a short run on the Boulder Creek Path, I ate breakfast, laced up old running shoes, and headed into the hills again.  I'm beginning to understand the lure of long days on the Appalachian Trail, or any other trail.  

I finished reading A Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes.  To coincide with my stay here in the mountains, tomorrow I plan to start Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flatirons