Date: 3/17/2012
Who: Michelle, Sammy and myself
Length: 2.5 miles
Time: 1.7 hours
Weather: 65 degrees, partly cloudy

Pulpit Rock is a Colorado Springs city park near North Nevada Avenue and I-25. The hum from the interstate is a constant companion while hiking in this park. We did not consider the sound particularly overwhelming or bothersome. The main feature is a rock formation which resembles four pulpits facing the cardinal directions. The park is really more of an open space, with no amenities, few trees, and no water feature such as a pond or stream.



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Date: 3/11/2012
Who: Sammy and myself
Length: 9.4 miles (4.7 out + 4.7 back)
Time: 5.3 hours
Weather: 30 degrees, snowy, overcast

Today did not turn out as planned or expected. I had in mind a warm day, hiking a loop, including the summit of Mount Rosa. Instead I got a cold day, hiking out and back, with no summit.
The weather forecast for Colorado Springs was for the 60s, but in Cheyenne Canyon we had 30 degrees and snow all morning. The snow was deeper than I expected as we reached elevations above 9,000′, which made for slow-going. Finally, as we were just about to reach Frostys Park I heard gunshots ahead of us. (Target shooting in the National Forest is legal, but I was surprised to hear it so early in the morning.) At that point, I decided to turn around. Walking towards gunshots just did not seem wise.
Interesting Spring hiking features included the increased flow in the streams, widely varying trail conditions, noticeable increased numbers of birds, and strong whiffs of pine sap.
Although we did not make it today, the loop I had planned does seem like a do-able day hike for a Summer day. Next time, I will start even earlier.


This hike followed the RED trail to Nelson Camp, plus the BLUE addition:

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Date: 3/10/2012
Who: Michelle, Sammy and myself
Length: 6.1 miles
Time: 3.5 hours
Weather: 60 degrees, sunny

Today’s hike around the Palmer Red Rock loop was a little different because Michelle joined us and we took a side trip to explore an unnamed 7,750′ peak. The unnamed peak has a windsock mounted on it and overlooks a steep, treeless dropoff. I suspect paragliders launch from there at times. It was a nice sunny day and a very pleasant hike.


Survey marker on unnamed peak (actual diameter about 1″):

This hike followed the BLUE loop and the RED side-trail:

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