Our Hiking Season Has Officially Begun

On June 10, 2019 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Colorado, Hiking15 Comments

Although some people hike year-round, regardless of the season, we prefer to wait until most of the snow has melted before going hiking in the mountains. It has been a cool and rainy spring in Colorado and the mountains have continued to get snow even as summer starts around most of the country. We decided to hike a trail that we’ve done before, but this time we chose to go a different direction, which completely changed the hike. It was a relatively easy hike and there was almost no one else on the trail, making it very relaxing and peaceful.

We decided to hike the Falcon Trail on the grounds of the United States Air Force Academy here in Colorado Springs. We originally hiked it back in August of 2017, so it was nice seeing it during a different time of year. Thanks to all of the moisture that we’ve had, the wildflowers are in full bloom making the trail even more beautiful. The entire trail is a 12 1/2 mile loop, but we only went 5 miles on this hike as we get back into hiking condition.

Now that the weather is getting better, we expect to go hiking quite regularly between any trips that we have planned. We find that hiking on the weekends is a great way to relax as well as truly enjoy the beautiful scenery that Colorado has to offer. Although we didn’t see any wildlife on the trail itself, we did come across some wild turkeys crossing the road as we approached the parking area at the head of the trail. The Air Force Academy is also a protected area for wildlife, so it is quite common to find elk, deer, and other wild animals on the grounds of academy. It was certainly a wonderful way to kick off our hiking season and we look forward to getting even farther up into the mountains on our next hike.

Beaver Creek, Colorado

On August 23, 2018 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Colorado4 Comments

Beaver Creek is a resort town located in the Colorado high country that is a perfect place to visit regardless of the time of year. During the winter, it has wonderful skiing and snow boarding as well as an ice-skating rink in the center of the village. In summer, you can find golf, biking, and hiking for those who enjoy outdoor activities. We have been to Beaver Creek several times and have never had a bad experience. It can be a little bit more expensive than some other resort towns in Colorado, but for the extra cost you get the benefit of reduced crowds.

The village of Beaver Creek has an old-world charm that is very welcoming and creates a relaxing atmosphere. Our favorite time of year to visit Beaver Creek is actually in autumn when the leaves are changing and the town is quiet. There is a lull in the mountains of Colorado during the fall as people recoup from a busy summer season and prepare for the crucial winter ski season that usually kicks off in late November. The weather in the mountains is also wonderful as it usually cool, but there is also the possibility of an early snow storm.

Gondola to Take You and Your Bicycle to the Top of the Mountain

There are certainly plenty of restaurants in town and if you want something different, you can get out of the resort village and head into Avon, which sits below the resort village. One of our favorite restaurants is the Dusty Boot Roadhouse, which is a steakhouse and saloon that is in the heart of the village. One of the things that we like about it is that visitors can purchase beers for local resort workers and have them added to a tab that is tracked on a blackboard (at least the last time we were there). That way they can come in whenever they want and redeem a few beers from their tab without it costing them any cash.

Looking Down at the Village in Late Spring

We have hiked and biked all around Beaver Creek and it is certainly beautiful. We have also been fortunate to see deer and other wildlife on many occasions while we were there. We have also seen hummingbird feeders in the village with many of the fascinating birds flitting around for your entertainment while stopping for a glass of wine and sitting at one of the outdoor tables. There are also several places with firepits where you can sit outside, even on a cold night, and enjoy a beautiful sunset. And if you are in the mood for shopping, there are plenty of locally owned shops to buy Colorado specialties.

Regardless of the time of year, we love Beaver Creek. There are many choices for lodging in the village area as well as a couple of mainstream hotels, but these aren’t going to be massive buildings as the resort tries to keep a small village feel. We definitely look forward to our next visit to this beautiful town nestled at the base of the mountain.

Mueller State Park in Colorado

On August 17, 2018 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Colorado3 Comments

We certainly love hiking in Colorado and one of our favorite destinations is Mueller State Park, which is in Divide. We always plan a trip for this time of year as the Aspen leaves turn to a vibrant golden-yellow. We are a few weeks away from our annual pilgrimage, but we have gone hiking in the park at least a dozen times over the years. Any time of year when the ground isn’t covered with snow is a great time to visit the park and there are trails to suit any level of hiker. There are also camping sites, but we would highly recommend making reservations in advance as they often book up during the busy seasons.

One of the reasons that we like hiking in Mueller State Park is that it has beautiful views of what we in Colorado Springs consider to be the backside of Pikes Peak. We have seen many different animals during our visits including deer and elk, but seeing wild turkeys was definitely one of our favorite memories. It is always a good idea to stop at the visitor center and talk to the rangers there about what trails to hike and which ones to avoid. Bears usually get active as winter approaches and they start foraging to store fat for their hibernation.

The Elk Rub Their Antlers Against the Trees

We certainly enjoy the beautiful autumn colors from many different places around the world and we will always remember how beautiful it was traveling down the Rhine River in Germany with all of the colorful trees. There is, however, something special about the vibrant colors of the Aspen trees against the backdrop of the pine trees and dark boulders. We would certainly recommend that anyone visiting Colorado Springs, if you have the time to make the 50 minute drive, go to Mueller State Park. Even if you don’t get out and hike, just driving through the park and seeing the incredible scenery is well worth it.