Red Mountain, Manitou Springs
Walk with me on a 3.2 mile round trip hike to see some winter views.
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Last week’s Palmer Park hike inspired me to get outside more this winter. Adam and I made plans to take the van about an hour outside of Colorado Springs and hike a couple of trails. However, the snow was going to roll in on Saturday, and it would be pretty frigid on Sunday. Sure, we still could have gone on the trip, but there are more weekends for fun in January and February.
Instead, we decided to stay home. As I mentioned last week, there are so many places to get outside in the area. Adam recommended a hike that he did with a friend a few years ago in Manitou Springs. Manitou, as we refer to it, is a home rule municipality to the west of Colorado Springs, about 25 minutes from the house. Because Colorado Avenue runs straight from the Springs to Manitou, it feels like it’s a suburb (though it is VERY much not). Manitou Springs has an interesting history, and it is a fun little place to visit though it’s also super touristy, parking sucks, and it’s gotten quite busy over the last few years. Thus we don’t go as often as we probably could. But when Adam referred to the Red Mountain hike that I hadn’t done before, I quickly said let’s go.
I will preface this story with the fact that I got new gloves for winter hiking. I wasn’t used to them, so some of these shots are slightly out of focus. Uff da.
Manitou Springs is tricky with parking, with only permitted parking allowed along most side streets. Because we were early, we found visitor parking at the elementary school, which added an extra mile round-trip to our hike. We walked up the side street to Intemann Trailhead, where I put on my spikes and grabbed my camera from the bag.
I knew we were in for a good hike when I realized we could see Garden of the Gods from the trail. Because I’d never hiked this trail, all of the views were new to me.
Adam pointed out these birds sitting on wires. We stood and looked at them for a while because there were so damned many. As we walked by them, I took a few different shots as the angle changed.
When we hiked back down, they were mostly on one wire, very close together. They knew that snow was a-comin’!
Part of the way through the hike, Red Mountain Trail cuts off to the south from Intemann Trail.
After the trail change, it got pretty steep. I realized I was staring at the ground, panting, and still holding my camera. I put my camera back in my bag and tied my jacket around my waist (because I was overdressed). I knew I should have worn a puffy vest instead of my winter jacket!
At the summit, I took my camera back out (duh). This was a new view of Pikes Peak, and I was quite excited. The low sun led to some great shadows that created leading lines to the summit.
While on the summit, we watched the clouds blow in from the south. By the time we left the summit 15 minutes later, the top of Pikes Peak was covered. Once we returned to the car, there was zero sun in the sky. As we were on I-25 and headed home, we couldn’t see Cheyenne Mountain to the south. About 30 minutes after we got home, it was snowing like crazy outside.
It was a perfect Colorado winter day.
Cheers.
Thanks for another fun essay and photos. Reminds me of my days in Ft.. Collins...if you don't like the weather, wait 15 minutes. Gotta love those 30 degree, 30 minute temperature swings!
I am old enough to remember when Manitou, was populated (mostly) by dirty hippies; my, how things change. I loved the picture of the incline - props on climbing it twice - I have never been brave enough to try. I understand that the incline is a training method for Olympians, training in the Springs.