Mount Falcon Park - July 2014

View from Top

True to our commitment, this is the third week in a row trying out local hikes.  This one was at Mount Falcon Park in Morrison.  We hiked up the Castle Trail - up 2000 feet and a total of 7 miles round trip.  The hike was somewhat strenuous - a lot of up hill.  There is not much shade either so better to do in early morning.  The scenery was beautiful and it is certainly a good work out.  At the top, we saw the remains of an old house that was once owned by John Brisben Walker in the early 1900s.  We really enjoyed this hike and would definitely recommend it.  Only downside is that there are quite a few bikers on the trail.

We made it!

Helena Visit - July 2014

Keith and Helena worked together in Kandersteg in 1990.  Helena was visiting her daughter in California so made a quick weekend trip to Colorado.

Keith and Helena

Keith picked her up at the airport on Thursday night - just had a quick catch up - we last saw each other at the Scout reunion six months earlier.  On Friday, Helena borrowed the Audi and headed down to Colorado Springs to see Garden of the Gods, The Incline, pizza at Hells Kitchen and then the obligatory outlet shopping in Castle Rock on the way home.  Unfortunately, Helena somehow lost her phone while shopping.  We went for dinner at Root Down where we had Kale Salad (the best we have ever had), Diver Scallops, Lemon Gnocchi, Colorado Meatballs, and the Venison special.

Keith, Helena, and Shawna

On Saturday we left the house at 8:15am and drove to the Lenawee Trail hike - which is about 6 miles past Keystone Village.  The 7 mile round trip hike starts through a forest and ascends to open fields until it terminates at a ridge overlooking Arapahoe Basin, a total elevation gain of 2100 feet.  It is a beautiful hike - now one of our favorites in the area.  The hike up was about 2.5 hours, 20 minutes at the top, and then back down - with a total round trip of 4.5 hours.  We dropped by Keystone on the way home for a beer at 9280 Tap House - there was a Wine and Jazz festival so the village was hopping.  After a shower and a bit of a rest we went to dinner at Izakaya Den where we had Edamame, Crispy Brussel Sprouts, Wagyu Beef Sliders, Crispy Tuna, Miso Black Cod, and a couple of Sushi Rolls.

Helena admiring the view at 12,500 feet

After our normal routine in the morning we headed out to Red Rocks to see the park, followed by a 1.5 loop on the Matthew-Winter Park trail.  It was pretty hot but very comfortable in the shade.  We dropped by Whole Foods in Cherry Creek so Shawna could get the ingredients for a salmon salad lunch.  Shawna then took Helena to the airport at 2:30 since she was also flying out to Hartford the same night. 

Windy Saddle Park - July 2014

View from atop Windy Saddle

We decided that we wanted to try more hikes in the area to give us a break from walking in circles at Wash Park.  We hiked up the Chimney Gulch Trail in Windy Saddle Park and connected to the Lookout Mountain Trail to hike to the top of Lookout Mountain.  The hike was 7 miles round trip and took us 3 hours.  It was moderately strenuous with a few steep parts.  The first mile of this hike is not exciting as you can hear highway 6 behind you and can see houses to your left.  However, once you cross Lookout Mountain road the first time, it becomes pretty as you hike up into the valley.  At the top of Windy Saddle, there is a great view of the mountains west of Golden.  We continued on for another mile up to the top of Lookout Mountain; however, with all the trees, you can't see too much from up there.