This is a new trail to me at the Colorado National Monument. This goes from the visitor center to the Liberty Cap trailhead. I only went as far as the CCC trail. This goes down to the rim road near the coke ovens. I went about half way down the CCC trail and came back. This was about 7 miles. From the visitor center the trail goes up another 1000+ feet to an open flatish area. You go from the Monument to Mcinnis BLM land back to the Monument on this hike. Nice quiet area. I ran into one person.
Ski followed by hike today. The skiing was good Spring skiing. Some fast crust skiing off trail in the AM followed by nice groomed trails. Not great for pictures, as compared to a few days ago, as all the snow is out of the trees. A pretty long ski but decided to do some hiking in Palisade on the way back. After all I was driving right by it!
The hike was Palisade Rim trail. I went up and around the inner loop. Some larger lizards today than I usually see. Most of them too fast for pictures. A lot out today! Should go on the outer loop some day. Can also hike the lower part of the Palisade Plunge from here.
Nice walk in the desert today. I looped around D4 and D6. D6 was new to me and seeing a desert Primrose flower was a first also.
Another fine day. Yesterday was The Day but today was very good also and different. Off trail the powder of yesterday had turned into a hard crust with an inch of snow on top. Very fast and fun. I talked to a person who said that happens toward the end of the season. They had also groomed some of the trails last night.
I stopped at Riverfront Park in Palisade on my way home. 60 and sunny there. Definitely had a Spring feeling to it.
