Midland Hikers

How I happened upon the Midland Hikers 🙂. And the rest is history!

Wendell and Mary went hiking in Browns Canyon National Monument this weekend. While eating lunch at one of the overlooks, they noticed plumes of smoke rising from the valley floor. They walked to a clearing with a better view and saw the smoke was from a grass fire east of 285 on CR270.  That is near the north entrance to Mesa Antero on the west side of 285 where they live.  They don't know how it started, but luckily it didn't grow into a major fire.

Janet sent along this spectacular picture looking down at the valley from Mt. Princeton:

Judy Hamontre says: "Dance like nobody's watching!"

Early morning hike to top of Midland Hill.  Now I remember why I haven’t done this in awhile.  Hope everyone is enjoying getting out.  Aloha! (Editor's note: The Midland Hill hike is about 4.5 miles RT from the coffee shop, with 1600' vertical gain...enjoy!)

Here's George's latest creative effort: Enjoy!

Wendell and Mary hiked a trail in the Raspberry Gulch area near their home.  That trail intersects the Colorado Trail which they followed west towards Chalk Cliffs.  To their surprise the legend was true. There is an alien's face carved into the side of Chalk Cliffs!

Marge and Dick challenge you to a game of HORSE! However, you have to BYOB (basketball and any other "B" word you can think of that fits here) to play... It's hard to tell, but in the picture below, I think Marge is getting ready to dunk! Contact them directly by email (let me know if you need their email address) if you want a chance to play in the HORSE championship... This could be big!

Enjoy George's latest beauty...! The previous photo, "Seek Higher Ground", was taken during a hike near the East Castle Rock Gulch Rd., off of CR 187, perhaps 3 -4 miles south of Hwy 285.

Kathy Keidel took some photos close to home...here's what she has to say: Here is a bee busy at work in a sweet cactus bloom at the Marquard Nature Area (behind BVHS). Our dogs LOVE playing in the creek there and water is running in the ditch now. 

George's latest creation: Yesterday's photo poem was from Raspberry Gulch. George loves the way Mt. Princeton looms above that trail!

Good morning from George! Yesterday's photo poem was taken coming back down the Salt Creek Trail, with aspen groves blazing the way. Where's today's photo?

George's latest effort, a reminder of simpler times last fall when we could walk without distancing from our friends through leafy gold. Yesterday's photo was taken in Sawmill Gulch. This one is a bit more difficult because there are so many nice aspen groves that we walked through last fall.

Judy Hamontre shared this beautiful photo and prose poem with us: Mountain Beauty.   Breathe Deeply.   Open Eyes. Appreciate Life.   Cherish Memories. Laugh and Cry.   Stay Strong. Love. Be Well.

George once again helps us enjoy....vicariously...our beautiful hikes. Yesterday’s photo location was just west of town. CR 345 heads south of 306, just before the national forest sign. It winds up towards the communication towers and the Colorado Trail.

Message from Wendell and Mary: Winter is always fun, in many different ways here in Chaffee County, but there is nothing like seeing the first signs of spring.  While hiking near Raspberry Gulch, I spotted a blooming Pin Cushion cactus, a Pasqueflower popping out on the forest floor, and the Pronghorn coming back to the higher elevations.  This is a time of natural rebirth.  I hope someday we too can have a rebirth and get back to hiking together.

Let’s watch "John Muir: The Unruly Mystic together”.  Folks can view it any time from today through April 23.  GARNA would be so glad to have you join the viewing. One of our board members knows the producers so the Q&A April 23 is a special opportunity.  April is Earth month and the month of John Muir’s Birthday! Join GARNA and the community to celebrate. Purchase a code below to watch John Muir: The Unruly Mystic on your own and then tune in for a Q&A and discussion with the producers, Michael Conti and Heather Boyle, on April 23rd at 6:30 p.m.  https://garna.org/calendar/john-muir-birthday-celebration-virtual-event-2/?fbclid=IwAR1PsIAfqz0qi3ndzYo5PpRf1tN5hYRzAPCjXNwnYIEoR-WPeoa-zEGEJOw AND….And if you’re not already a GARNA member, please consider joining! The current lockdown is hurting nonprofits big time and we want to keep future educational programming and trail maintenance programs alive! All the best, Jacy Photo:...

Hello All Midland Hikers – I saw an article in the Denver Post today about Goggles for Docs.   I went online https://gogglesfordocs.com/ and found that a couple of hospitals in the Springs came us as needing Goggles, Penrose and Peak Vista Community Health.   If you have some goggles you would like to donate, it is very easy to do.  Search for hospitals in Colorado.  Directions for packing (very easy) and an address and contact are provided. Stay well and as mentally healthy as possible.  It is so good to know we have such a great and caring community here. Dennis and Donna Wittmer Photo: M. Hannigan

Here's George's latest photo poem; it's a stunner! Enjoy! Where's this one? It sure stumped me! Yesterday's photo was from the Forebay on Mt. Elbert...an incredible hike during the fall season.

Here's another column from my pre-retirement career...a little piece about how unpredictable the future always is. Read on! Going through some of my parent's stuff recently, I came across a small, heavy box with my name on it, marked in my dad's handwriting. The battered old box was typical of my dad; clearly it had been used, used again, and then packed and taped tightly enough to repel hordes of invaders. Infinitely curious, I dug my way through the wrapping. Inside, I found 28 rolls of uncirculated pennies dating from 1956 to 1964. Under the pennies, I discovered a note from my dad, written in 2002, when he would have been 84 years old. It said: "Back in the early 60's, I bought about 80 rolls of uncirculated pennies, at about $2 per roll, thinking they would inflate at a great rate. So now, 40 years later, they are quoted at 65 cents per roll, a loss of $1.35 on each...wow! So I am giving each of my sons these rolls to do as each pleases. Love, Dad...

Kim and I are, of course, self isolating at home north of town but are hiking on many days.  Wanted to report that we enjoyed two hikes in Four Mile recently. Both can be accessed off Forest Service Road 376 near the tunnels. The loop formed by Trails 6037 and 6038 has some great wide views of the Collegiates to the west and meanders with not much elevation gain. Saw no other hikers when we went, and were passed by only one motorcyclist.   The other is Trail 1415 which climbs at first north off 376 and then mostly levels out before descending on the other end into the grounds of the Sailor Homestead. What a great little spot the former homestead  on Fourmile Creek is for a bite before continuing on to road 375A or returning the same way. Finally, attaching a short video of what I think is called ice boarding or kite boarding which we enjoyed yesterday as spectators on Twin Lakes (Mountain View turnoff). Although I do not know the schedule of these ice boarder...

Mary and I were walking around Big Bend State Park the other day and we noticed this Red Tail Hawk nest hanging on the side of the cliff.  I walked over to the take a photo and the hawk soon after that flew off the nest towards me.  Here are the shots I got.

Here's George's latest: Don't you just love the way he connects the words and the place?

Here's George's latest photo poem! Enjoy the swirls of sunshine in your life...

Janie Carlson reports about her hike: Beautiful hike this morning even if I got off trail.  Different when you are all alone and not just following the herd.  I did manage to self correct but makes me all the more thankful for Ron, TR, Michael and others who scout things out ahead of time.  Aloha to all of you!

Several years ago, I wrote a weekly column for one of the newspapers in Colorado Springs. While the column focused on philanthropy and generosity, the editors gave me considerable leeway in the content I would produce every week. I wanted to share one of those columns with you; it popped into my mind last night out of nowhere, so I dug it out of the computer to include on the blog. It seems appropriate for this time of life. Here it is: Ever feel like your brain is overloaded? Short circuits sparking, systems groaning, interference rising, coherence dropping. My remedy? A virtual vacation, thinking back to good   times. I need one this week, so here it is... Reverie: I dip my oars into the San Juan River, pull once, pull twice, and then feather my blades. Subtle pushes and pulls on each oar whisper to me about the current, but I'm rusty at translating the language of the river. It's the first day of a long trip, and I'm not dialed in to the river just yet. I ...

I just want to say a giant thanks to George for always sending along a beautiful photo combined with an inspiring poem to make our day a bit better and happier... Here's his latest photo poem: This photo and yesterday's version were taken in the same general location...can you guess which trailhead? All the best to everyone!

Here's George's latest beauty: Yesterday's photo was near Clear Creek Reservoir. Can you guess where this one is?

As a fan of Second City (grew up in Chicago) this might be a fun zoom event and we all need a good laugh.                                   Second City: Improv House Parties Many of the greatest comedians of our time have come up through the ranks of Second City — Steve Carell, Chris Farley and Tina Fey — to name a few. Right now, when we are needing laughs more than ever, the current players (and some alumni) from Second City in Chicago are presenting  https://secondcity.zoom.us/webinar/register/8015862085542/WN_LypQ-COBS9G5Xezlo-CSzg ***This link registers you for this week's shows! Check back at the start of each week to see updates to the schedule! NEXT WEEK AT THIS LINK: Tuesday 4/14 - GIRLS NIGHT IN Thursday 4/16 - COUPLES NIGHT Saturday 4/18 - SCRIPTLESS

Enjoy George's latest photo poem: Can you figure out where it is taken? Yesterday's photo is on the trail to the Hagerman Tunnel and Lake!

Wendell and Mary headed out to find some inspiring views. Here's what they found: The campground is closed, but you still can walk around Chalk Lake and take in the great views surrounding the it.  Here is a photo of majestic snow capped Mt. Princeton in the distance peering over the ridge. Joke of the day: You don't need a parachute to go skydiving. You do need a parachute to go skydiving twice.

Here's George's latest beautiful effort: Yesterday's photo poem was taken down towards Hecla Junction near the Arkansas River! Can you guess where today's edition is??? Thought for today: E. O. Wilson famously said: “The worst in our nature coexists with the best, and so it will ever be.” He says we thrash about because we have created a "...Star Wars civilization, with Stone Age emotions.”   I think I'll go throw rocks in the river while reading my Kindle.