Bear Peak

I started about 7:40 am this morning. It was a beautiful morning that was perfect for hiking. I started the trail the same way I ended it last weekend, and, as expected, it was a totally different experience. Steps and steps and unstoppable uphill were enough to wake me up to the task at hand.

I had my sights set pretty high-- literally.  Bear Peak is where I was headed. Was it on this mountain? I would find out, but in the beginning, it was just a beautiful sight.

Finally I got to the point I turned around last weekend. I was impressed that I was still feeling good. My heel wasn't bothering me at all. Other than the constant sticking/unsticking of band-aid adhesive material,  my feet felt completely normal. To think that other people could hike like this all the time made me very jealous. I took out my poles for the first time, and I was very excited for the uphill trek I before me. It was really only one little hill and then more level trekking. I said a quick hello to the city of Boulder and kept heading toward the mountain.

One more leg toward the mountain before I entered the forest and began the real uphill.

Then the real hiking began. Some places were all about rocks and others had plenty of dirt for easy trekking.

I came across a group of ladies at on point. They were loud and moving so slowly it was like coming across the breakfast club. Luckily they were speaking a different language so it was easy to tune them out. Even luckier, they were turned off by the trail ahead-- or they stopped to continue their breakfast club-- and I didn't have to listen to them anymore. I like my silence, what can I say?

So I continued uphill, up rocks, rocks, and more rocks.

I came across a makeshift ladder-like thing. It confused me a little. This wasn't nearly the worst, rockiest, or steepest part of the trail, but it was there and I thought it was pretty awesome to walk on for those few steps.

Then of course...more rocks.

Looking up, there was still a long way to go. There was a neat rock formation up there, Devil's Thumb I think.

During one of my water breaks I met a little chipmunk.  I tried to get a better picture of him, but he was quick.

More rocks uphill, and then the trees started to thin out a little. I could see the sky. I was getting higher. I was getting closer to the summit. This was the mountain next to mine, and I wasn't climbing these big rocks, just smaller rocks.

Then I reached the top, not the summit, but I was close. I found the sign directing me, and I knew I had less than half a mile ahead of me.

Bear Peak is where I was headed. I felt completely rejuvenated. Being on the brink of treeline, it was easy to see my new west view. I didn't let myself look too much. It's what I was climbing for, and I knew it was going to be worth it.

Part of the trail was pretty level, though still intercalated with rocks.

The last leg. I could hear voices, I knew I was minutes from the summit.

I reached the top at the same time as a big group of Physics first-years. Rounding the corner I saw that this mountain didn't have the leisure summit of Mount Sanitas, but a rocky peak that really wasn't meant for so many people...if any at all.

I climbed part of the way up those huge rocks, but stopped once I found a nice place to sit. A few feet above me, the true summit, was too full of people who had taken over the mountain. My moments of reflection were nonexistent so I sat, took a few pictures, and ate my Cliff bar.

It was a little before 11am. A little over 3 hours it had taken me to reach the top. I was slow going, I know, but hey, I made it. And at 8, 461 ft, I could see farther than I had seen at any other point in Boulder. The beauty was astounding. I couldn't get enough of the views around me.

Then to the right, Boulder and surrounding cities. Still majestic, still beautiful, and still perfect.

And hey, check it out: the Flatirons!

I held polite conversation for a few minutes before heading back down. It was a good decision, the clouds were rolling in already.

The way down was tough. The downhill was steep and painful on the knees, but the poles certainly managed to keep me from looking like an overweight ballerina with an inner ear problem. Even getting past the steep rocky downhill, my feet were aching with every step. Still no pain with the past blisters, but I was still struggling to make it back to the trailhead. My body was already hurting, as it had been most of the trail.

Despite signs warning of mountain lions, the only wildlife I saw was a happy dear running and eating, keeping far away from the people on the trail.

Then, a bit farther, I saw a very unhappy deer...

I said goodbye to the mountains and the rainclouds coming in.

I headed back to the trailhead, happy to sit down in the comfortable seat of my car. Sadly, I forgot to bring my flip-flops so my hiking shoes had to (painfully) stay on until I made it up to my apartment.

Another successful summit. Bear Peak= conquered. Take that.