Читать книгу Base Camp Denver: 101 Hikes in Colorado's Front Range - Pete KJ - Страница 6

Before You Hit the Trail

Denver is an awesome base camp for day hikers. You can catch the sunrise from a mountaintop and still make it to work in the morning. You can wander remote wilderness by day, and then hit a great restaurant and sleep in a bed at night.

With so much great hiking so close to the city, it can be hard to know where to begin. It’s easy to get lost in hiking websites and their pop-up windows before leaving the house, and just as easy to fall into the habit of walking the same handful of beloved trails over and over again. This book bridges the gap, offering 101 carefully chosen hikes near Denver. Whether you are just beginning to explore the Front Range, or are a seasoned hiker looking to expand your route repertoire, this book is a ticket to adventure.

You may think, “Denver, hmm. I think I’ll ski in winter and hike in summer.” Perish the thought! Abundant hiking beckons all year round. It’s true that it takes until June for high peaks and emerald meadows to start losing their snowpack. But you can clamber on foothills amidst startling rock formations in January, tromp butterscotch-scented ponderosa forests in March, and revel in fiery aspen colors in the first week of October. Regardless of time of year, the views are incredible and sunny skies are the norm.

Anyone who can walk can enjoy these trails. No training or experience is necessary, but plenty is gained through hiking. Safety is not a worry as long as you are mindful of the few items discussed below. You also don’t need any fancy gear; all you really need are two legs and some decent shoes. And curiosity, because every hike is different, and every hike has stories of history, geology, etymology, or wildlife to tell. It is in the spirit of storytelling that this book was created. Within minutes you can read about some great hikes, choose one, and then go out and write your own story by walking the trail.

Exploring the Front Range on foot is a low-cost and addictive habit, and has the side effect of being incredibly good for you. A few gallons of gas is usually the only cost for the priceless experience of spending time with Mother Nature. The more you go, the more you want to go, and the more your body loves it. Visitors to Denver will do well to pack their hiking boots, and if you live here, you might as well keep them in the car.

Enjoy your time outdoors!

Welcome to the Wall

Colorado’s Front Range of the Rocky Mountains is about 150 miles long by about 50 miles wide, stretching south from the Wyoming border through north and central Colorado. The Continental Divide is its backbone, and cities from Fort Collins to Pueblo line the plains along its eastern base. Denver sits in the center of this base, and from downtown you can travel just 40 miles west and gain over 8,000 feet.

This magnificent wall is the product of an uplift that began about 60 million years ago, when continental plates collided thousands of miles west. Things finally calmed down about a million years ago, and erosion continued to sculpt the land. Ice ages came and went, assisting with the carving. By the time the most recent frozen period waned, about 11,000 years ago, human beings had taken up residence. Much later, some European humans visited, and in 1859 they found gold, which changed everything. Thousands of folks moved here and settled, and by 1876 Colorado had been admitted to the United States.

The eastern plains are an expansive zone of shortgrass prairie, treeless except for giant cottonwoods and other species that grow near creeks. As the land slopes upward, ponderosas, pinyons, and junipers join the plant mix along with cacti, yuccas, and various shrubs. Between about 6,000 and 8,000 feet there’s a transition zone of taller ponderosas and Douglas firs, followed by a cooler and moister zone, up to about 10,000 feet, where aspens thrive, along with evergreens such as Engelmann spruce and lodgepole pines.

As the tree line is approached, at about 11,000 feet (higher in the south), subalpine firs take over along with bristlecone and limber pines. In the cold, windblown upper reaches they form thickets of twisted midget trees collectively known as krummholz, a German word for “crooked wood.” Above tree line is an Arctic-like zone of hardy, short tundra grasses and tiny wildflowers.

Flowers on the plains bloom in spring, while mountain meadows peak late June through early August. Among the hundreds of vibrant species a few really do stand out: lavender-and-white columbine, pink elephant’s head, purple monkshood, and fiery orange Indian paintbrush.

Anyone who hikes the Front Range will see mule deer at some point, and possibly a coyote. Elk and bighorn sheep are common sights as well, at different elevations depending on the season. It is unlikely you will ever see a mountain lion or a bobcat, but you will probably be observed by these elusive creatures at some point. Encounters with black bears are also rare. Moose have made the higher creek bottoms and forests their home in recent decades; several of these hikes almost guarantee a viewing. Frequent fliers include red-tailed hawks, bald and golden eagles, and peregrine falcons. In nearer view, mountain bluebirds flit between the branches and gray jays—also known as “camp robbers”—boldly land to greet you.

You won’t be alone above timberline. Marmots are plentiful here; many have lost their fear of humans and will try to rummage through your pack. You might almost step on a ptarmigan as it ambles through the tundra, muttering, looking nonplussed by your presence. Shaggy white mountain goats pose trailside for photographs. On top of high peaks you may hear a squeak and see a furry gray pika scurry across the rocks. These tiny, big-eared cutie-pies stay awake all winter in their burrows, even on top of Colorado’s highest peaks.

When to Hike Where

It’s simple: when it’s cold, stay lower; when it’s hot, go high. All elevations are within a few score miles of Denver, so there’s no need to fuss over drive times.

The cliché about Colorado weather—“If you don’t like it, wait 10 minutes!”—is misleading. Weather can come from any direction and change quickly, but it is usually predictable. Spring, from March to mid-June, is a cool, sunny period free of thunderstorms; mornings start out cold and days warm up quickly. Summer, from mid-June through September, is a time of afternoon thunderstorms and great weather otherwise. You’ll almost always have a clear hiking window before or after storms (which don’t hit everywhere every day). Later afternoons and evenings on long summer days are great for hiking because the lighting effects are beautiful, and solitude abounds. Autumn arrives by late September; it is a brief season of cooler weather, beautiful foliage, and few if any thunderstorms. Snow is possible in autumn, and can be heavy and then melt away. Winter, from late October to March, is a time of permanent snowpack in most places above 10,000 feet. This is a good time to bundle up and stick to foothills and prairie. But don’t be surprised if you find yourself unbundling on a 70-degree day in January!

From November to March, heavy winds can sometimes blow over the lower lands, and they can happen any time up higher. These winds come over the Continental Divide and descend like a waterfall over the foothills, reaching speeds of 120 mph. You can hike on such windy days, but it might not be much fun. Better to wait a day or two for things to calm down.

A “Best Season” recommendation is given for each of the hikes, and is assigned as follows:

Spring and fall: Medium-altitude hikes (approximately 8,000 to 10,000 feet), which are doable in summer but are more likely to be hot, dry, and crowded then. You’ll probably have a better time on these trails during the shoulder months of March to May and/or in foliage season.

Early summer: Higher-altitude hikes (approximately 10,000 to 11,000 feet, and some higher ones with southwestern exposure), which may be largely free of snow by late May or early June. Choose these when you’re aching for the higher country that is still caked in white.

Summer: All trails in this book can be hiked in summer, but these months are like precious jewels and their time should be spent wisely. The summer recommendation is therefore reserved for high-altitude hikes (approximately 10,000 to 14,000 feet), where significant snow cover is usually encountered except mid-June through September.

Fall, winter, spring: Hikes below 9,000 feet that can be walked all year, weather permitting. They aren’t the best choices for summer because of heat, dryness, and crowds, but mostly because so many options exist for hiking at higher and fresher altitudes at that time.

All year: Hikes below 9,000 feet that are fine all year, thanks to shade-giving foliage, remarkable scenery, and other qualities.

Hikes by Season

The hikes in this book are numbered north to south, but all regions are varied and interesting. If you have a special interest, for example in waterfalls or hiking with kids, consult the section called “Choose Your Perfect Hike,” beginning on page 371.

The 101

I considered nearly 300 trails as candidates for this book, and walked more than 200 of them to whittle the list down to the 101. Coincidentally, 101 turned out to be a perfect number to recommend near Denver. Fewer would not have done the region justice. More could be overwhelming, but more importantly, could point you to trails that might not be worth your time—until you’ve walked the 101, that is.

What is a day hike in the Front Range? In this book, it’s 7 miles long on average, with 1,500 feet of elevation gain. This means it doesn’t take all day. You can usually extend the hike, and you can always shorten it. The first mile or two are often great in themselves. The shortest hike in this book is just over 2 miles, and the longest is nearly 16; elevation gains range from negligible to 4,000 feet.

This book doesn’t sweat the minutiae. Distances are usually rounded to the nearest half mile, elevations to 100 feet. I feel that greater precision can create a false sense of accuracy, and more importantly, isn’t that helpful. The point is to get out there and hike, not to focus on hundredths of miles as read from GPS devices. What is most helpful, to me, is to pay attention to the physical world: to walk, look, and let the mountains speak.

Almost all the hikes are within a two-hour drive from downtown Denver; many are under an hour’s drive. A few push the three-hour mark, to reach amazing places west of Fort Collins. One chapter describes hikes in the stunning Gore and Tenmile Ranges of Summit County, which technically are not in the Front Range, but at less than two hours’ drive from Denver, how can they be refused?

I arrived at all the trailheads in an ordinary, front-wheel-drive passenger car named Ruby. However, a handful of drives were pretty rough on Ruby, and it would have been better to have a high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle. Those cases are noted. The main car-beaters are Grays Peak (Hike 64) and High Lonesome (Hike 61), two hikes too incredible not to include in this book.

A word on parking. In the driving directions included with each hike, a “small” parking area means space for fewer than a dozen cars. “Large” means room for more than 50. Anything in between is listed simply as “parking.” Regardless of lot size, it is important to arrive early in the morning or later in the afternoon to ensure a space, especially in summer. At the end of the driving directions, I have indicated how long it takes to drive to each trailhead from downtown Denver under optimal driving conditions.

About three quarters of the trailheads have no entrance or parking fees. Several are in Colorado state parks, which charged $7 per vehicle in 2018. Several more are on municipal open spaces that levy about the same fee; all cases are noted. It is a good idea to carry some $5 and $1 bills and/or a checkbook to facilitate payment, as cards are not always accepted, and many trailheads have self-pay envelope stations. The highest entrance fee is for Rocky Mountain National Park, which was $25 per day per vehicle in 2018, and was likely to go up.

Hike Ratings

Each hike description contains an “At a Glance” table, in which ratings of 1 to 5 are assigned in the following categories:

Difficulty mostly reflects distance and elevation gain, with higher ratings meaning “more difficult.” As an average hike is 7 miles with 1,500 feet of gain, a rating of 3 corresponds roughly to that, taking into account Trail Condition.

Trail Condition evaluates a trail with respect to width, continuity, smoothness, and grade. A 3-rated trail has no washouts or vanished portions, requires no tricky stream crossings, and is not overly steep, narrow, rocky, or full of tree roots. The 4- and 5-rated trails are good choices for people with mobility challenges.

Children is a harder rating to assign. Difficulty largely drives it. When the two ratings don’t inversely correlate, it is because there are rewarding features early in the hike, after which folks can turn back, and/or wonderful features later on that appeal to children and make it worth the effort. Low-rated hikes tend to be long, with lots of elevation gain and not much in the way of “fun” unless your child is a fitness enthusiast.

Scenery is not all about breathtaking high-mountain vistas or spectacular rock formations. A 3-rated trail might have lovely forests, streams, vales, and meadows but few expansive views. Ratings of 1 and 2 are uncommon; the Front Range is a gorgeous place!

Photography is usually rated the same as Scenery but is sometimes dialed up or down a level. Some great scenery just doesn’t photograph all that well, and some modestly scenic hikes have features like curious rock formations, an iconic vista, or waterfalls that make for dynamite photos.

Solitude ratings are fairly evenly distributed between 1 and 4, with only two hikes garnering a 5. One was completely empty on a gorgeous Friday in mid-August (Ute Peak, Hike 69); the other, aptly named High Lonesome (Hike 61), was nearly so, and although it was an epic drive to reach, too amazing not to include. Ratings of 1 and 2 indicate the trail will almost certainly be crowded in summer and on weekends, and may also present parking challenges.

Time to Hike!

Estimated hiking times are just that: hiking times, not “not-hiking” times. Rest breaks aren’t included since those are entirely up to you. As you use this book, a correlation should emerge between your pace and the 101 Hikes pace, which is roughly:

 1 to 2 miles per hour uphill, closer to 1 when the trail is very steep, high-altitude, and/or rocky

 2 to 2.5 miles per hour for moderate ups and downs on decent-quality trail

 3 miles per hour on flats and downhill on smooth trail

It feels funny to write about how to walk, but I feel compelled to do it because I see so many people doing it “wrong.” Throughout my hiking career I’ve found great truth in the adage, “To climb a big mountain quickly, you must do it slowly.” The most important words here are “do it,” meaning you should try to keep moving and minimize rest breaks.

The main problem with rest breaks is that they don’t really help you. If you are tired and you stop for a bit, chances are you will feel just as tired within a few minutes of restarting, and want to stop again. A much better strategy is to slow down but not stop, even if it means a tortoise pace. Hiking is not a race. Go as slow as you want, but keep going! Find a steady, comfortable slog, one that you can maintain for an hour, two hours, a day.

Another thing about rest breaks, which should be obvious but isn’t, is that they bring your progress to a grinding halt. Even if you are going at only a half mile an hour, your projected completion time is within hours. Once you stop, your projected completion time is never.

Other than pace, the most important thing about timing, especially in summer, is to get up early. It’s a good idea to arrive at the trailhead at dawn. This gets you out of the city before traffic builds and, more importantly, ensures you a parking space. Arriving late morning on a summer Saturday almost guarantees parking trouble. An early start in summer also gives the treat of clear blue skies almost every day until afternoon, when the clouds build and often burst. If solitude is important to you, arriving early also means you’ll have the trail and backcountry mostly to yourself. If you get lonely, don’t worry, you can greet plenty of folks hiking in as you’re on your way out.

If you don’t like to get up early, the next best thing to do is get up late, especially during the long days of June through August. The threat of thunderstorms often clears out the trails and parking lots by mid-afternoon, but by 3 or 4 p.m. the storms have usually passed, if they have come at all, giving way to gorgeous sunny late afternoons and evenings when the effects of the slanting light on the mountains can be mesmerizing. Even the three fourteeners in this book (peaks over 14,000 feet) can be hiked after 3 p.m. on long summer days, and though each is wildly popular, you might find yourself alone on the summit as I did on both Grays (Hike 64) and Quandary (Hike 75).

Clothing and Equipment

You don’t need any special clothes or equipment to do these hikes. Just walk. Good shoes and good legs are a plus, but you can start with whatever shoes and develop the legs. If you hike more than a little, you’ll do well to invest in a pair of good-quality, lightweight hiking boots, ones made from water-resistant synthetic materials. Or you can buy a cheap pair and see how long the soles last. Trail runners—beefed up running shoes—are fine on dry trails, but not so good in mud, snow, and loose rock.

Other than shoes, the most important items to bring are water and extra clothes—and a pack to carry them in. A good rule for tap water is two liters per person, plus treatment tablets in case you run out and are forced to drink creek or lake water. Of course, you will want to add your favorite trail food to the pack. As for clothes, know that temperatures can swing several dozen degrees during a day. Don’t ever go up very high without a hat, gloves, an extra sweater or two, long pants, and a wind/water shell.

Other things to have in the pack are sunscreen, insect repellent, and a first aid kit. A topographic map and compass are highly advised. Bring your cell phone too (you will often have reception) and a camera if you prefer to use one instead of your phone. Be sure to carry a flashlight; you may be having so much fun that you want to stay out late and need it for the final stretch to the car. I also like to pack a collapsible umbrella. I can’t tell you how pleasant it makes hiking in a non-thunderstorm drizzle.

Trekking poles are a personal preference. Some people enjoy the upper body workout, and many swear they need them to protect their knees. Keep in mind that using poles means making four points of contact per walking cycle instead of two, which can complicate the process, especially on rocky and rooty trails.

Maps and Navigation

Each hike description includes a diagram of the route. The intention is to provide a snapshot: something to help you choose the hike, imprint on your brain, and keep in mind while walking. A bold dashed line represents the route described in the text; lighter-weight dashed lines are branching trails and alternative paths. These diagrams are not meant to substitute for actual navigation maps, which you will probably want to buy if you do more than a little hiking. A good topographic map not only helps you avoid getting lost, it adds great pleasure to the hiking experience. You can compare what you see with what’s on the map, learn the names of things near and far, get to be on a first-name basis with many mountains, and come to greet them as old friends. You can be more confident in making route deviations, and—best of all—get lots of ideas for your next hike.

My favorite set of topographic maps are in the National Geographic Trails Illustrated series. They are accurate and durable, and their size and scale usually give an appropriate level of detail: not too little, not too “zoomed-in.” For me it is just as important to track features several dozen miles away as it is to see things that are close.

No matter how careful you are, or how good your map is, you are going to lose your way at some point. Accept it; it’s part of the deal. Try to have fun with it, and don’t freak out. Stay calm, relaxed, look at the map, look at the features around you, and plan your next move with confidence. Usually the best bet is to retrace your steps until you feel more certain of where you are, even if it means lengthening your trip. Prevention is best, of course. Don’t let your confusion build too much before you check the map.

Personal Safety

Hydration

Two liters of tap water per person will carry you through most of these hikes. You should assume that all surface water (lakes and streams) contains the giardia parasite, which can create nasty intestinal trouble.

Drink plenty of fluids before starting out, and spread out your water intake over the hike. Humans can’t process more than about a liter per hour; the excess just gets filtered out.

Thunderstorms

Practice helps in reading the weather and judging the likelihood of thunder­storms. Cumulus clouds that are spaced apart and fluffy white at the bottoms pose no danger; watch for the very dark ones with an anvil shape at the top. Five seconds between a lightning flash and thunder means the event is a mile away; anything less than 20 seconds signals danger, since lightning can travel ahead of storms. Cold rain and hail are also concerns.

Get off summits and ridges if a storm approaches. Also stay away from depressions, gully bottoms, the bases of rock overhangs, large solitary trees, and standing water. The best place to be is among a group of small, uniformly-sized trees, where you should sit on your pack with your elbows outside your knees to help ball yourself up small. Companions should space out about 50 feet apart.

During a lightning storm, try to stay calm and enjoy yourself. Storms are exceedingly common on summer afternoons, and great times to feel connected with nature’s beauty and power. The whole reason for the hazard is that humans are not separate from nature. Rather we are connected, a part of what is going on. Storms usually don’t last long, and the lighting effects are gorgeous when the storm passes and the sun reemerges.

Altitude

Altitude sickness is a biological disturbance brought on by inadequate oxygen intake. Susceptibility depends on the individual and can be unpredictable. The key is to pay attention to your body and know how it tends to react. Common symptoms include headache, nausea, loss of appetite, and lethargy. You might also experience swelling in your face and hands or feet.

If you are visiting the Front Range from sea level, it’s a good idea to spend at least two days at around 8,000 feet before going much higher. Then ascend slowly, stay hydrated, and don’t overexert yourself. Above 13,000 feet it is normal to walk in such a way that you can include a brief pause with each step.

A good attitude helps in dealing with altitude. Be relaxed and positive, and try to keep a sense of humor. If you or anyone in your party feels too crappy, just go back down and try again on a different day. The mountains aren’t going anywhere.

Sun

You can get sunburned, including on your eyeballs, on a cloudy day. This is especially true at higher altitudes and in snow, which intensify the sun’s effects. I speak not proudly from experience, having snow-blinded myself three times during my younger years; two of those times were on cloudy days. You can also get burned in places like the palms of your hands, the roof of your mouth, and beneath your chin. Solution? Bring good sunscreen and good sunglasses on every hike, and use them.

Heat

Heat exhaustion happens when the body absorbs and works up heat faster than it can dissipate it. Dehydration is the first symptom, followed by cool clammy skin, weakness, nausea, and perhaps fainting. In such cases, find shade and fluids, elevate the feet, and focus on cooling the face and head. Prevention is best: on hot days, hike the high country. It’s right there.

Cold

Hypothermia is evidenced by uncontrollable shivering, loss of coordination (especially in the hands), fuzzy thinking, drowsiness, and slurred speech. It doesn’t have to be terribly cold to occur; many cases occur between 30 and 50 degrees, especially in wet and windy weather. It is best to prevent this condition rather than let it develop, and the solution is to get dry and warm.

Someone going into hypothermia might not be aware it is happening, and even deny it. Reluctant to get up after a rest, they might want to stay back on the trail and wait for you. Don’t agree to this. Trust the symptoms and treat them then and there.

General Safety

If hiking alone, be sure to tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll be back. It’s also best to maintain a conservative hiking practice when alone and not go for risky rock scrambles, never push time or weather limits, and so on.

No trail in this book requires crossing waist-deep streams, but there are hundreds of small crossings, many on ad hoc bridges of fallen logs or sequences of rocks. The biggest hazard is usually dunked feet; however, it is important to be mindful of how deep and fast-flowing water can be at different times of year. Don’t attempt a crossing if you feel it is “over your head.” Better to turn back and try a different route, or return later in the year.

Break in your boots, try to keep your feet dry, and cover trouble spots as soon as they develop with moleskin or tape. If a blister forms, don’t pop it as this can invite infection. Instead, cut a circle in the moleskin. If a blister becomes too uncomfortable to continue walking, you can drain it by making a small puncture with a clean needle.

There is no excuse for not having a first aid kit in your backpack. Drugstores sell great ones at very reasonable prices. If you never open it, that’s great, but make sure it has bandages (including butterflies), gauze, adhesive tape, antibiotic ointment, blister protection, tweezers, a clean needle, and disinfectant pads.

Wildlife Safety

Most animals don’t want to be near you. To be respectful, it is important to keep your distance. Mountain lions, bears, and bobcats almost always avoid people when they can. Bighorn sheep and mountain goats are more gregarious, but they also need their space. The most troublesome creatures you will likely encounter are mosquitoes, flies, and ticks.

During any potentially contentious wildlife encounter, it is important to stay calm, assume a dominant posture, and maintain a confident demeanor. In the unlikely case that you are attacked, report it to the trail-managing agency and to Colorado Parks & Wildlife.

The main mammals to pay attention to, safety-wise, are moose, which were reintroduced to Colorado in the late 20th century and now number in the thousands. A moose may tolerate your presence nearby, but it is dangerous to get near one. In fact, moose are up there with hippos and rhinos as the most hazardous mammals to humans, worldwide. Most of the time moose seem either oblivious to you or mildly curious. You might even see one grazing by the highway. Other times they can be surly and aggressive, especially in spring, when cows are protective of newborns, and during the fall mating season. At all times, it is critical to control your dog; moose consider dogs to be wolves, their natural predators, and go into fight-or-flight mode around them. At 800 to 1,100 pounds per charging adult moose, you don’t want the fight. If a moose approaches, back away slowly and don’t throw anything. Speak in a calm, solid voice, and try to hide behind something. Be particularly concerned if it lays its ears back, raises the hairs on its rump, and licks its snout. Leave the moose an escape route, and stay out of its way as it passes.

It’s also important to know what to do around a coyote. Coyotes can be fun to watch, and are usually elusive, but closer to urban areas they can lose their fear of people. If you see one, keep your distance and keep your pet under control. If a coyote does approach, maintain a dominant posture and speak in a loud, confident voice. It’s okay to throw rocks or sticks to frighten it away.

Mountain lions avoid humans. Seeing a mountain lion is a rare experience, and attacks are far rarer. It is important, however, to not let small children wander off and to keep pets leashed. If you encounter a mountain lion, stand tall and make yourself look as big as possible, maybe raise your jacket over your head, and back away slowly. Maintain indirect eye contact, speak in a loud voice, and don’t run, as this can trigger a predatory response. If you are attacked, fight back. Mountain lions aren’t used to anything fighting back, and usually make only one or two brief charges. Don’t play dead, as this would give the lion a chance to make a deadly bite.

Black bears, which can vary in color from black to light brown, are shy and nearly always run away from people in the wild. They are omnivores, and can become bold if they think they can get at food scraps or garbage. Rare attacks on humans are defensive in nature and usually regard cubs. If you see a bear, give it space; if it doesn’t go away, leave the area. A bear is warning you if it is growling, slapping the ground, and working its jaws; back away slowly and maintain indirect eye contact. If one walks calmly toward you, however, this is an attack and you must fend it off. Don’t run! Look large, yell, throw things, and fight back if necessary. Do not play dead.

Rattlesnakes also want to avoid you, but they need time to move away. They are uncommon up high but are at home in the foothills below 7,000 feet or so. Your chances of meeting one increase if you leave the trail in a lower-elevation, rocky area. The rattle is a warning to stay away, not a signal of attack. You aren’t in danger unless you are in striking range, and they strike only in self-defense. Don’t throw anything and back away slowly. If bitten, stay calm and walk at a modest pace to the car. Bites are rarely fatal to healthy adults, but small children have a higher risk, as do dogs.

Hiking with Kids

I am a hiker today because my parents took me hiking when I was little. I hope I’ve done the same favor for my own children. The hikes in this book are for everyone, including small members of the family. Remember, you don’t have to do the whole hike. Rewards often come in the first mile. Do as little or as much as you want, and you may find yourself going hiking more often, and going farther.

I’ve seen nine-year-olds having a blast five steep miles away from the car. Toddlers can often handle one to four miles round-trip. Older kids sometimes like to run ahead, and it is important to establish rules about not going too far, staying on the trail, and waiting at all junctions.

Things can deteriorate fast for kids when they get tired or uncomfortable. Bring extra clothes, yummy food, and a good sense of humor and adventure. Gently push for forward progress, but be ready to accommodate different agendas, which may not be all about “getting there” but rather about stopping to check things out. Try to keep it moving and keep it fun.

Other Trail Users

I think it is important to greet others on the trail with at least a smile. However, I don’t get offended if people who are grunting their way uphill ignore me, and I make sure to yield them the right-of-way. If someone asks for help, I help; I’ve probably overdone it on occasion with my unsolicited advice. The fewer people I see, and the farther into the backcountry I go, the weirder it feels to not at least say, “Hi.”

Hiking with dogs is popular in Colorado, and many of the trails in this book allow them. On trails where dogs are allowed, they almost always must be on a leash. The exceptions are in some National Forest lands outside of established recreation areas, where off-leash hiking is sometimes allowed. A few localities such as the City of Boulder have a verified voice-control licensing option.

As of this writing, violations of leash rules are rampant. Conditions are ripe for a backlash, and dogs could become banned in more places if owners keep breaking the rules. Currently, dogs are not allowed on the trails in Rocky Mountain National Park and in a number of state parks and municipal open spaces. If you want to continue to hike with your dog, please abide by the rules.

When on the trail with your dog, be conscious of how invasive she can be of other people’s space, and of people’s right to hike without being contacted or intimidated by her. Remember, not everyone loves dogs, and some people are afraid of them. Also remember that even if your dog is friendly, she can suddenly behave differently around strangers and unfamiliar dogs on a narrow trail.

Some trails are very popular with mountain bikers, especially in the foothills. Most bikers are considerate and yield to hikers, as they are required to. My experience is that shared use of the trail is generally harmonious, but do watch out for the occasional scary biker.

Hikers must yield to horses, which are less common than bikes although most trails are open to them (it’s a Colorado thing). Horse owners tend to be warm and friendly people, fun to talk to, and will often move out of your way if they can. But horses can be skittish, so it’s always a good idea to give them a wide berth, speak calmly, and avoid making sudden movements.

Leave a Trace—On Yourself

Public land is not owned by the government. We own it. It’s up to us to be its stewards.

Don’t build fires. Leave no marks except footprints. Don’t cut switchbacks. Pack it out. Leave everything where you found it. Step off the trail to pee, and bury human waste at least 200 feet from trails and water, at least six inches deep. Be considerate of others, keep your distance from and respect wildlife, and control your pets. Travel on durable surfaces, save vegetation from damage, and walk through mud if that’s where the trail is. Limit your group size; this has as much to do with being considerate of others as minimizing your impact. And remember, sounds carry.

Sometimes the best part of a hike is getting back to the car, exhausted and exhilarated, and prying those boots off your tired feet. Heaven! Then you get to carry the impact and experience of the delightful day with you back to civilization.

The Denver area is a wonderful place to come back to: a full-service metropolitan area replete with restaurants, breweries, coffeehouses, theaters, museums, an aquarium, a zoo, nightlife, and many trail-loving people to share wilderness stories with. You can soak up the city, enjoy great food and drink, socialize a bit, get some rest—and get ready to hike again.

Enjoy yourself, and enjoy your time outside!

—Pete KJ