A Blue Sky Day @ Devils Backbone

This hike started out with the usual belly aching but ended up with both kids in a decent enough mood. 

Telling a story:

Exploring:

When you're low to the ground it's easy to spot these caterpillars:

Hike: Devils Backbone

Trails Used: Devils Backbone

Distance: 5.2 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Overall average: 2.1 mph
Overall Time: 2 hr, 26 min
Total Ascent: 675 ft.

Running Devil's Backbone on a HOT day!

Nice day for a trail run.  Saw a couple of deer.  Started after a tennis match so it got pretty hot near the end. Bring water.

Hike: Devils Backbone

Trails Used: Wild Loop to Main Bike Trail to Laughing Horse Loop to Hunter Loop to Main Bike Trail

Distance: 6.67 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Overall average: 5.4 mph

Overall Time: 1 hrs, 13 min
Total Ascent: 752 ft. (doesn't seem like there is that much of an altitude change)

Devil's Backbone to Coyote Ridge

Fast, long hike today.  Had to get home for guests coming over for dinner.  Very bummed that I didn't get any flower pics but I really didn't have the time.  In the last 5 minutes I saw these deer and couldn't resist any longer.  I had to have something to remember this hike by!

Hike: Devil's Backbone to Coyote Ridge

Trails Used: Devil's Backbone to Coyote Ridge
Distance: 9.15 miles
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult (due to speed not elevation gain)
Overall average: 3.7 mph
Overall Time: 2 hrs, 29 min
Total Ascent: 1476 ft.

 

Little Devil's at Devil's Backbone

 

How many more beautiful days can we have?  It doesn't get much better than this! The kids and I took a small hike today since I have only one more day to enjoy the weather.  My PRK eye surgery is tomorrow afternoon so I don't think I will be getting out and enjoying the 70 degree weather again this weekend. 

Poking, prodding, little devils...that is an apt title for this picture.

Ahhhh.....peace (for a moment)!

 You've gotta love the fashionista's outfit:

Devil's Backbone 4-10-10

I did Devil's Backbone again this week. I started at Coyote Ridge this time and went towards Devil's Backbone. I did two different routes but they didn't differ greatly. It was another nice day and wasn't nearly as busy as I thought it might be. I even ran about 4 miles of it so my legs are a bit stiff but I feel good overall. Trail running is kind of fun...I don't want anyone to hold me to that statement though! I still don't appreciate running and I'm not going to set any records!

Hike: Coyote Ridge to Devil's Backbone
Trails Used: See Map Below
Distance: 10.4 Miles
Difficulty: Easy
Moving average: 4.3 mph
Overall average: 4.3 mph
Moving Time: 2 hrs, 24 min
Stopped Time: 2 min, 04 sec
Total Ascent: 1603 ft.
Maximum elevation: 5850 ft.

Devils Backbone 4-3-10

Another beautiful day, albeit very windy but any day that doesn't have snow or weather under 30 degrees is beautiful! I walked as fast as I could on this hike and reached an overall moving average of 3.7 miles per hour. I decided that is as fast as I can hike w/out stupidly flapping my arms or running. The above picture was taken last July.....a small reminder that summer is just around the corner and with it comes the wildflowers! The below map shows the route I took. I started from Devils Backbone in Loveland and went to Coyote Ridge in Ft. Collins. On a nice day there are lots of hikers, runners, and bikers so beware if you want peace and quiet. I would rate this as an easy hike, however, it is long.

Hike: Devil's Backbone to Coyote Ridge
Trails Used: See Map Below
Distance: 10.6 Miles
Difficulty: Easy
Moving average: 3.6 mph
Overall average: 3.5 mph
Moving Time: 2 hrs, 53 min
Stopped Time: 6 min, 33 sec
Total Ascent: 2177 ft.
Maximum elevation: 5845 ft.