Date: 11/27/2011
Who: Michelle, Sammy and myself
Length: 3.6 miles (1.8 out + 1.8 back)
Time: 2 hours
Weather: warm for November, sunny

This trail is mostly flat, consisting of an old rail bed. It gets great exposure to the sun, so there was little snow on the trail. I bet it would be an easy hike year-round. We stopped here on our way back to Colorado Springs, after having spent the week in Salida for Thanksgiving. Mount Princeton is in the background of this photo.
The trail is part of the Midland Bike Trail Route System.


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Date: 11/23/2011
Who: Michelle, Sammy and myself
Length: 4 miles (2 out + 2 back)
Time: 3 hours
Weather: cold, near freezing, sunny

This is a section of the Colorado Trail, about 15 miles from Salida, starting at Angel of Shavano campground heading a couple of miles south. Where it did not get direct sun, the trail was snowy. We also had to navigate a good number of fallen trees. Sammy did not mind, but Michelle and I ended up with wet hiking shoes and wet feet.

Along the way we observed a “LIPE MEADOW” sign. I wonder what that is?
Update 7/4/2013: I learned that the U.S. Forest Service named the area in recognition of Mr. John Lipe, a respected board member and volunteer with the Colorado Trail Foundation (reference, Treadlines newsletter, Summer 2012).


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Date: 11/25/2011 & 11/26/2011
Who: Michelle, Brian, Patty, Michaela, Erin, Sammy and myself
Length: 1 mile (.5 out + .5 back)
Time: 1 hour
Weather: cold, near freezing, sunny

This is a pretty, short hike near Buena Vista. The waterfall looks completely frozen from the angle in the photos, but the stream was flowing. The only difficulty was that the trail was icy towards the top. Nevertheless, it was navigable in tennis shoes being careful. We hiked it twice, on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving.

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