South Mesa Trailhead

It was a beautiful morning and a perfectly kept trail. The trailhead had a number of trails to choose from, some going along the foothills, and others heading up the mountain to Bear Peak. 

I headed west, the only way to go, and the view only got more beautiful as I walked through the trees.

The trail weaved between the foothills, so turning around, I couldn’t see the town, but it was beautiful and isolated. It felt much farther than a few minutes outside of town. The trail was only out in the open in the beginning.  I walked into the trees and was even more isolated from the city.

I got closer to the mountain, but clouds were rolling in too.

I was only an hour in, but I felt the tickle in my shoe that was my persistent blister. I had gone on a leisurely stroll, and attempting a trek up to Bear Peak, the most prominent peak of the Boulder skyline, was a bit too ambitious. Another day, absolutely, but not today. I snuck a peak at the area south of Boulder.

I turned around and headed back downhill. I retraced part of the way, heading back on the same trail I had walked up. I took extra time to stop and enjoy the flowers. There are some neat flowers growing up in the mountain areas.

And Mom, look away!

When I came to a fork, I took a different trail the rest of the way to give myself some new things to look at. From this trail I could see the wind farm.

And Table Mesa, for which this area of town is named.

This side of the mountains gave a view of different mountains south of where I was. Beautiful.

Bye, bye mountains! Look to the right of those mountains. It wasn’t even 10am, but the rain clouds were already rolling in, quite a bit earlier than predicted. Did my early turn around end up working in my favor? Yes. Yes it did.

I paused for a moment at the bridge over a small creek wishing I could dip my feet in the cold mountain water. Instead I had to settle for changing into flip-flops for the drive home. Good news, the blister doesn’t seem to be any worse so hopefully Bear Peak will be conquered sooner rather than later.