Beautiful Day Hike

57 miles of hiking and snowshoeing over 8 days.  Only 628 miles of driving on this trip, as it is much harder to penetrate the mountains in winter, with the mud and snow.  To avoid the blizzard of March 13 along the Front Range, when I arrived I went south to Canon City, near where the blizzard was supposed to form.  It did as advertised, forming over Pueblo and heading north/northeast.  This allowed me to explore the Arkansas River Valley from low to high country.  By the time I got to Leadville, the snow was incredible!  The picture above is snowshoeing in the Leadville National Fish Hatchery.  It's going to be quite a run-off this year.

Another Jefferson County Park near Morrison, CO. Also a concert venue.

Jefferson County Park near Morrison. Last of the blizzard snow melting. 

Mt Massive from Maid of Erin picnic site. San Isabel NF near Turquoise Lake and Leadville. Turquoise Lake panorama.

Leadville, CO.  Beginning to thaw!

Beautiful ski day on the mountain at Tennessee Pass.

Arkansas River watershed to left, Colorado River watershed to right.  Ski hill hiking after the lifts closed!

Colorado Trail to Tree Line. Thick forest!

San Isabel NF.  Near Leadville, CO.  Mount Massive in the late afternoon.

San Isabel NF.  CR 240, Near Maysville, CO.

Beautiful late afternoon.  Multi-use trails outside Salida, CO.

Along the banks on the Arkansas River.  In Salida, CO.

Multi-use trails outside Salida, CO.

Snowshoe forever. Perfect snow!  Sangre de Cristo Mountains, San Luis Valley North.

Multi-use trail system near Salida, CO. 

Rio Grande NF, near Coaldale, CO. 

Spikebuck Recreation Site. US 50, near Canon City, CO. 

Arkansas River. Overlook Loop. Near Canon City, CO. 

North of Canon City.  No dinosaurs spotted!

San Isabel NF. Near Canon City, CO. Front range blizzard nearby! Tanner Peak in the distance.

On the road again!  Foothills park outside Canon City, CO. Good warm-up hike. Blizzard in Denver and along the Front Range tomorrow!