Thirsty Thursday: Colorado Memories

Rambler: Beth
Drink at Hand: Yogi Ginger Tea

A little more subdued for this edition of Thirsty Thursday. Our friends in Colorado Springs are heavy on our minds this week. Since either of us left our childhood homes to go the Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs is the place we lived the longest. I don't often get horrified to the point of tears watching the news, but Tuesday night I nearly did.

After we graduated in 2002, we got a little apartment right outside the North Gate, as we were both going to work at the Air Force Academy for the next year. The Hayman Fire happened during the summer of 2002. Before this year's fire season, it was one of the worst fires in Colorado history (made worse by the fact that it was arson). One night the fire was supposed to come over the front slope and head in our direction. Thankfully it did not. This photo was from a hot June night in 2002 from that parking lot of our apartment complex. At that time I couldn't imagine a worse fire scene in Colorado Springs. That opinion changed Tuesday night as I watched photo after photo come across the intrawebs of fires on the front slope...and homes on fire. Horrible. Horrible. Horrible. Terry and I used to go hike at Garden of the Gods. I can't even really call it hiking. It was more like strolling and talking and figuring out who we were. Garden of the Gods always makes me think of "early us". Long, sometimes complicated talks before we were even engaged. I think Garden of the Gods is charred now. Fortunately fire can't do much to rock, so the beauty of that place should still remain. Not so sure about everything around it though. The most horrifying thoughts on Tuesday night (once I figured out that a couple of close friends were safe) were about the Air Force Academy. I expected to wake up Wednesday morning to hear it had burned. That place can't really burn to the ground, per say, as its made of metal and rock, but I guess it was principle. There's something about that place that we just love. Maybe its sentimental because we met there, but the thought of it not being there was crazy. Fortunately, its fine. The fact that I was upset about my silly school burning when people were losing their homes is ridiculous and a little embarrassingly self-centered. So to our friends in Colorado Springs, we're thinking of you. Stay safe.

Thirsty Thursday: Stanley Canyon

Rambler: Beth Drink at Hand: Green Barn Chardonnay (Impulse buy near the register at Trader Joe's...average at best)

Good evening faithful reader. Welcome to another addition of Thirsty Thursday. Time to pour something yummy (hopefully) and make those weekend plans. Since its October and most parts of the country are feeling that chill in the air and seeing some color in the trees, I figured a nice bit of fall color was in order for this evening. Throw in watching a rare Thursday night football game from the United States Air Force Academy (as abysmal as it was for a Falcon fan), and I thought a little photo essay from a fall hike up Stanley Canyon was in order for tonight.

I was at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs last October for a women's soccer alumni event. My flight out after a weekend of catching up with old friends, watching soccer games, and football tailgating wasn't until late Monday afternoon, so I decided a trail run in the wonderfully crisp air of a fall morning in Colorado was in order. I thought about doing the infamous Incline at Pikes Peak, but a little part of me said "been there, done that about 20 times" and I didn't want to deal with getting to south Colorado Springs from Monument during the morning rush. Something else was in order. The Stanley Canyon Trail is legendary amongst cadets, especially those cadets on intercollegiate teams, as there is normally some sort of pre-season "team building" run slated for this trail. Yet, somehow, the women's soccer team never did this run. Terry did it with the men's soccer team, but I'd never done it (read: Beth has no idea what she's in for).

It was such a beautiful morning that I had to take a camera along, but I wanted to run rather than hike, so I grabbed my little Canon G10 in place of the DSLR and off I went. The G10 does surprisingly well given its portability. Holy cow, the first mile or so was tough! Gaining over 1200' in the first mile, the trail is steep and rocky and fraught with the loose decomposed granite "marbles" typical of Front Range trails.

Eventually the trail leveled off a bit to a straight forward (though still very much uphill) singletrack through aspen groves and wide-open meadows. Beautiful despite the fact that many of the aspen leafs were already gone at this altitude. After 4.4 miles (according to a trail map), I arrived at Stanley Reservoir. A beautiful fall morning at a beautiful lake. I strolled around for a bit, taking in the loveliness of a great spot on a beautiful fall morning. Have I mentioned how much I love fall in Colorado?

Across the lake I noticed a still-golden aspen grove and what looked like a fire road that might lead to said still-golden aspen grove. So off I went.

At this point I had to start heading back down the trail toward my car so I didn't miss my flight. I didn't even realize I'd left the confines of the Air Force Academy and crossed into Pike National Forest until I came across this sign on the way down.

Overall, a fantastic run on a beautiful fall morning in Colorado. I was so glad I finally experienced Stanley Canyon!

If you're in Colorado Springs and would like to hit the Stanley Canyon Trail, head to the Air Force Academy. Visitors without a Department of Defense (DoD) ID card can get on base with a valid drivers license between 0800 and 1800 (that's between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm for you non-military folks). Enter the Air Force Academy though the South Gate, then turn left on Pine Drive. About 3.9 miles later turn left into a dirt road right in front of the hospital. Drive another 0.7 miles to the parking lot. The trail climbs 4.4 miles to Stanley Reservoir. The ambitious hiker/runner can continue another 5.5 miles on Pike National Forest trail #707 on to Farish Recreation Area at the top of the Front Range along Rampart Range Road. Terry tells me this portion of the trail is quite pretty, too.

Thanks for stopping by our blog...now get out there and enjoy fall this weekend!