Hall Ranch

One of my very favorite rides, the Hall Ranch trail winds through buttes and prairie dog towns, climbs a challenging series of rock steps, and tops out in a grassy meadow with breathtaking views of nearby Long's Peak. After all that climbing, the reward is definitely worth it...a screaming roller-coaster downhill nearly all the way back to the car.

On this trip, Alli, Kurt, Steve, and I enjoyed picture-perfect conditions. Beautiful warm spring sunshine, hard-packed trails, many wildlife sightings, and the fun of being in a group of friends, new and old, made this a memorable after work excursion.

        (l-r) Kurt, a friend of Alli's from her Thursday night trail running group, Steve,
a new friend who's getting in shape for adventure racing, and Alli.

        Alli cranks up the trail, thankful to be past the hardest climbing.

        Steve is even more thankful to finish the hard climbing, having recently moved to Boulder from lower elevations...(note the deer grazing in the background).

        Topping out on the loop in the setting sun.

        Kurt floats through some technical downhill terrain.

        Steve picks his way through the rocks.

        This wild turkey decided to stop for a rest right next to the trail. At first we thought it was hurt, but then it stood up and trotted away. We could have easily reached out and touched it if we wanted.