Wednesday, July 20, 2016
It has been another busy week, so I decided to take some time to get outside and go hiking. This time I stopped off in Boulder to check out the trails from the South Mesa Trailhead outside of town. I opted to take the more inclined route and forked off at Homestead Trail. I climbed a good bit of elevation before meeting up with Shadow Canyon Trail. Shadow Canyon got me even closer to The Maiden and Devil’s Thumb, two jutting rock outcrops between South Peak and Bear Peak. There were butterflies and dandelions, snakes and even a toad along the trail as I made my way up Shadow Canyon past some of the old cabins and homesteads that are overgrown and entangled in brush.
Unfortunately I got too late of a start on my hike and made it about 50 yards into the boulder field that starts the last mile or so up to the ridge between the peaks. I had to race a thunderstorm off of the mountain so there will definitely be another trip to this part of Boulder in the near future!
A view of the front range of the Rocky mountains outside of Boulder Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
The bridge starting at South Mesa Trailhead outside of Boulder Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
Homestead Trail leading up to Bear Peak outside of Boulder Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
Homestead Trail leading up to South Peak and Bear Peak outside of Boulder Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
Long grass along Homestead Trail outside of Boulder, Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
Homestead Trail outside of Boulder Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
Homestead Trail outside of Boulder Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
Homestead Trail outside of Boulder Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
Homestead Trail outside of Boulder Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
Flowers bloom along Homestead Trail outside of Boulder, Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016
Devil’s Thumb can be seen with Bear Peak in the background along Homestead Trail outside of Boulder, Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
Devil’s Thumb can be seen with Bear Peak in the background along Homestead Trail outside of Boulder, Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
Homestead Trail outside of Boulder Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
Homestead Trail outside of Boulder Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
Devil’s Thumb can be seen with Bear Peak in the background along Homestead Trail outside of Boulder, Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
A dandelion the size of a tennis ball along Homestead Trail outside of Boulder, Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
An old cabin and homestead sits along Shadow Canyon Trail outside of Boulder, Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
An old cabin and homestead sits along Shadow Canyon Trail outside of Boulder, Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
Devil’s Thumb can be seen with Bear Peak in the background along Homestead Trail outside of Boulder, Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
Devil’s Thumb can be seen with Bear Peak in the background along Homestead Trail outside of Boulder, Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
A boulder sits on top of a larger boulder along Shadow Canyon Trail outside of Boulder, Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
A toad sits on Shadow Canyon Trail outside of Boulder, Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
Devil’s Thumb juts into the air along Shadow Canyon Trail outside of Boulder, Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
Shadow Canyon Trail nearing the boulder field leading up to Bear Peak outside of Boulder, Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
An old cabin and homestead sits along Shadow Canyon Trail outside of Boulder, Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
A butterfly sits on a flower along Shadow Canyon Trail outside of Boulder, Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
Shadow Canyon Trail nearing the boulder field leading up to Bear Peak outside of Boulder, Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
Shadow Canyon Trail nearing the boulder field leading up to Bear Peak outside of Boulder, Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
The beginning of the boulder field leading up to Bear Peak along Shadow Canyon Trail outside of Boulder, Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
The beginning of the boulder field leading up to Bear Peak along Shadow Canyon Trail outside of Boulder, Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
The beginning of the boulder field leading up to Bear Peak along Shadow Canyon Trail outside of Boulder, Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
The beginning of the boulder field leading up to Bear Peak along Shadow Canyon Trail outside of Boulder, Colorado on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.