A hike in the garden

Thanksgiving is finished.  I'm all ready for the craft fair this weekend.  Christmas is right around the corner and the weather is about to get colder.

This morning it was a perfect 48 degrees and sunny, Irv had worked the night before and was sleeping so I decided to load up and drive across town to the Garden of the Gods.


This is one of my favorite hikes.  I left Yellowstone on September 26th and I haven't been on a trail since so a hike was long overdue.  Yes, it was a little snowy in spots that the sun doesn't hit, but I have good traction with my hiking boots.


I'm trying to learn the names of all the rock formations.  Above is the Tower of Babel.


Once again, I'm thankful to the trail crew for maintaining the trails and preventing erosion.


I don't know the name of this formation yet.


People probably thought I was crazy, but I was prepared with bear spray.  Our weather hasn't been that cold yet so I can't assume that the bears have gone into hibernation.  Better safe than sorry.  Afterall, my only encounter with a bear happened in this park.


I was pretty much on my own on this trail.  I only passed two other ladies who were going in the opposite direction.  I don't know why, but I like to take shots of the trail itself.  I also like to be alone--it's a good time for self-reflection and it centers my soul.


Okay, I don't know the names of these rocks either.


This photo was taken from my favorite spot in the park.  You have to go a little off trail to get to this overlook, but it's definitely worth it.  This is Cathedral Rock.


You also get a peak of Pikes Peak from here.


This one is North Gateway Rock, I think.  I really need a book with all the formations in it so I can learn them.


Sentinel Spires maybe?


Signature Rock:  "Given to the City of Colorado Springs in 1909 by the children of Charles Elliott Perkins in fulfillment of his wish that it be kept forever free to the public."

I hope it does always stay free to the public.  It was a gift to the city that I really appreciate and it will be here for generations to come.

Now to start planning my next hike!

Comments

Yogi♪♪♪ said…
I love taking pictures of trails. I have hundreds of pictures of just trails, going straight ahead, and curving left and right.

Glad to see you are hiking again. I'm hiking a little and running a little bit. We don't need bear spray here but snake spray would be handy come spring.
December 13, 2018 at 8:13 PM
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