Paint Mines

Feeling pretty good, I passed the 50/Mile mark today, for this month.  Yesterday I did 5.5/Miles on the treadmill and today we headed out to the Paint Mines and hiked around the rocks.   I have said it before and will say it again, this is one of my favorite places to go.   Not a long hike, today we did 2.6/Miles and hiked up through the canyon.   Took several pictures today and have included below.

I have an 8:30 AM call tomorrow and have to be in Denver by 11:00 AM for a lunch.   Going to try to get up early and do a quick hike up through BCP.

Yesterday I spent the majority of the day cleaning the house and doing laundry.   I managed to get all the laundry done and the bathrooms cleaned.   I had to replace the innards on the toilet up stairs.  Candy got home around 6:30 PM and we headed out for dinner.

Paint Mines Interpretive Park

Today I headed out to do one of my favorite hikes, the Paint Mines.   I drove out highway 24 to Calhan, CO.  It’s about 35/Miles from Colorado Springs.   This isn’t a long hike, today I managed to get 3/miles in.   What makes this hike so much fun is that the scenery is so different that what you find in the mountain areas.

You will find it hard to believe that such great rock formations exist just outside in the Colorado plains.   The mines have evidence of human life as far back as 9,000 years ago. The colorful clays were used by American Indians. The park features fantastic geological formations including spires and hoodoos that were formed through erosive action that created incised gullies and exposed layers of seienite clay and jasper.

All of today’s pictures can be found here:

https://picasaweb.google.com/115678648713324071004/20111228?authkey=Gv1sRgCMvwlJuEzNOYBg

I had to trek through some deep snow in the canyon areas.   It was pretty slick climbing on some of the rocks.  I actually fell a couple times today and need to clean up my camera.  It was cold in the shade and the wind was blowing.  In the sun wasn’t to bad.

If you like hiking and are looking for something different I would recommend this hike.   You better get to it soon as I am sure that at some point they will begin limiting the trails and you may not have access any longer. 

Happy Hiking

Paint Mines

Today’s journey took us to the Paint Mines located southeast of Calhan, Co. This is not a long hike but the gullies and clay and stone formations are very cool, like being on another planet. The mines have evidence of human life as far back as 9,000 years ago. The colorful clays were used by American Indians for making pottery and ceremonial paints.

I have done this hike in the summer several times and this is the first time that I have done in it winter with snow on the ground. This is a great hike for beginners, with great views and 45 minutes travel time from Colorado Springs.

All pics can be found at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/drobincorvette/20091229#slideshow/5420845102186634370