I log this trip 7 years after, married to the guy who introduced me to serious hiking. I always loved to travel, explore the wild, never a city person looking for hidden gems or places least “inhabited” but hiking was new to me.
Colorado Springs was our sort of first away from home-base trip, as we started to date still trying to figure each other out. A time of butterflies in the stomach (at least for me), boo was a serious guys at the time. Needless to say beautiful scenery all around as we reached Colorado Springs, flying into Denver and then onto the road to our “cheap hotel find via hotwire” in Colorado Springs.
Our itinerary was simple, explore a couple of rocky mountain trails, an adventure sport and pikes peak.
Day 1 – Rocky Mountain National Park (Chasm Lake)
Did not know what I was signing up for, turned out to be a good challenge, being the first hiking adventure remember? This trail is marked as Hard on All trails, 8.0 miles out and back with an elevation gain of nearly 2,552 ft. Of course the amateurs we were, we were not prepared with hiking gear, clothing etc. Since the weather was turning a little gloomy, hunted for a shop for proper winter clothing.. got $5 worth of sweater and a rain jacket if you may call it :). All sported in the pictures to follow. Did not know anything like hiking poles existed, so used a wooden log instead. So proud of saving all the money!
Also, here is where we started our ritual of sporting this exact same pose at the trailhead.
Soaking all the views amid all the fun frolic and breathlessness….
Made it to the top…. came back down and then ate like a monkey…
On the way back to the hotel stopped by a church in the middle of nowhere, pretty peaceful… Can’t recall where it was and what it was called..
Day 2 – While people hike to Pike’s peak.. we drove. Made a few friends along the way. Tried a CBD store way back to the hotel and then it was all memory…
Day 3 – Ended the trip with Terror Dactyl, at cave of the winds. I would agree with the description as posted on the website – “This ride sits on the edge of a 200-foot cliff in Williams Canyon in Manitou Springs. Those brave enough to ride will be launched over 150 feet into the canyon at nearly 100 miles per hour! The G-forces on this ride might make you feel a little silly and the free-fall drop will have you laughing and screaming at the same time!”
Not posting any pictures from the adventure, as I am not proud of how I behaved or looked during the ride. Pretty awful (Me, not the ride). But here are some pictures from a serene lake we stumbled upon while searching for a restroom “post a hotdog and terror dactyl” emergency. You know what I mean….
It’s hard to remember the details 7 years after however, I remember how I felt and it’s called “Happy” all the while wondering if this would last….
Travel Diaries 