Getting Back on the Saddle
Mini-Trip Report of Matt's hike up Bear Peak. March 5, 2005
I haven't been out hiking since last August when Colleen and I climbed Castle Pk. Needless to say I was a little out of shape for this one. While Bear Pk is only 8,461ft high, the hike itself from Eldorado Springs Mesa Trailhead is 6.75 miles roundtrip and gains 2,829 vertical feet. An astounding 2,000 vertical feet is gained over one mile up the steep Shadow Canyon. Which is just shy of a 21 degree slope! (Try that on a treadmill!)
Of course, being in Boulder, there are people, well I don't know how human they are, but they use this for trail running training and according to the record books have ascended Bear Peak in an unbelievable 45 minutes. (It took me that long to the first trail junction. Hehe)
However, the purpose of my hike though wasn't to break any records. It was to get back out there. It was to remember what it's like walking down trails of shaded forests, what it's like to feel the crunch of pine needles under my boots and what it's like to hear the sounds of nature. At one point as I sucked water from my Camelbak I stood and watched a baby woodpecker peck away a new home in a tree. Later, I saw what must have been a raptor (as most of Shadow Canyon is closed off for raptor mating season), I didn't even have time to take out my camera, nor would I have wanted to ruin the moment. It was the first time I have seen a bird of prey in the wild.
As with most all my trips, they are planned last minute. I woke up Saturday morning at 10:30am and I had a choice to make. I could take it easy, and enjoy the day off getting things done around the house, catch up on some computer programs I'm writing for work, pay some bills, plan some more on my house, watch basketball, or I could do none of those things and go hiking. It was getting late for a hike of this magnitude so I had to decide quickly. Obviously I chose to do the latter, otherwise I wouldn't have this report to write, so I quickly threw on some clothes and drove to Eldorado Canyon.
I arrived at the trailhead at 12:15p, and found no place to park! I had to park at the trailhead across the street. Of course what else would I expect on a day when it's 57 degrees out and sunny with little to no wind? Five minutes later I was off hiking for the first time in nearly 7 months. At first you follow this trail called the Homestead trail and there are these old homes along it, from way back when the homesteaders of Colorado lived in them, and the trail is nice and wide. A lot of people, and I do mean a lot, take their dogs on this trail as it's a very laid back trail and only gains 500ft or so over 1.1 miles. The giant rock pillar sticking out of the ridge is known as Devil's Thumb.
Soon you come up on a giant rock formation known as Elephant Rock. Obviously it is called this because it looks like an Elephant's head and trunk. Furthremore, this is not to be confused with the century bike ride I rode last summer. The hiking was really hot from the trailhead to Elephant Rock because there was little shade. I can't imagine doing this hike in summer. You would need a lot of water. I only brought 2L with me, and ran out on my return. Elephant Rock:
Soon after one enters the canyon. It took me one hour to get to the beginning of Shadow Canyon. This is where the afternoon hikes end and the serious hike begins. Ladies and Gentlemen, start your Stairmasters....
I didn't take many pictures, mostly because I was too busy concentrating on hiking, but know that the path is fairly rough, up and over rocks, over and around fallen trees, through mud, snow and river crossings -- it's everything you would want in a hike. Here is a couple pictures of Devil's Thumb up close and personal.
Near the top of Shadow Canyon, I could hardly lift my legs for another step, and then, finally, the angle of the trail started to flatten out as I approached the saddle. Here is a picture of the saddle.
From the saddle, it was a short 15 minute hike up and over some boulders to the top of Bear Peak. The views don't open up until you are right there on the summit. Which, by the way, was the most annoying part of Shadow Canyon. The entire time you are sweating and hiking and you can't tell where you are in relation to the top, and have absolutely no view of any far away peaks. Here are some summit shots...Longs Peak and the Indian Peak Wilderness is in the background.
There were a lot of signs on the trail that pointed you in the right direction. Here is one of them near the summit.
Here is a picture of South Boulder Peak and one of Green Mountain. (Two other mountains that form the skyline of Boulder)
The trip down was pretty uneventful as the sun was setting and there aren't many people who hike up Shadow Canyon. I could tell that I would be sore the next day and I was getting hungry as it was now five hours into the hike and I didn't bring any food! What was I thinking?? Sometimes I don't know that I do. :) Here is a shot from the start of the hike, looking back on Bear Peak.
All in all, it was a great hike. I was tired when I got back to the car. My legs were twitching and I could hardly push in the clutch, let alone fully. I highly recommend this hike for anybody, and I will probably go back and do South Boulder Peak sometime. I might try it from NCAR though, just to do something different!
Time:
| Drive |
Ascent |
On Summit |
Descent |
Drive |
Total |
| 15 min |
2.75 h |
15 min |
2.25 h |
15 min |
5.25 h |
