Diary - Eldorado Canyon

Sunday. January 3rd, 2016.
Great day for a hike. Sunny, blue skies, temperature in the 40s.

Eldorado Canyon State Park

(Caution: mega-post!)

My day started uneventfully. I woke up early at a parking garage in downtown Boulder. Parking on the weekends is free, so I helped myself to a 'hotel' in the underground lot the previous night. It was warm, I was tired, and I fell asleep in my car early in the evening.

With my phone battery depleted and nowhere to go until the library opened at noon, I drove around the city looking for a good deed to do. North at the city limits, I spotted a Homeless Shelter and snooped inside to investigate. I got there 7:40 am, twenty minutes to closing time for the night shelter, so I didn't get to use their facilities. The next morning (today) I would return in the morning for a hot shower, breakfast, and some information on getting connected to services.

I headed south from the shelter, through the city, past it, and out onto a highway. I drove in the direction of the Rocky Mountains, figuring I might as well see the big ol' rock before leaving town. Following the first National Parks sign off the highway, the road led to a bumpy dirt path inhabited by a tiny mountain village that guarded the valley called Eldorado Canyon.

The road to Eldrado

In the Valley Below

I got to the valley around 8:00. No park rangers manning the gates to pay the $8 entry fee, and only one car in the parking lot before me. The visitor's center was locked. I thought the park might be closed, but a park services pickup truck pulled in, a man walked up to the lodge, unlocked the door, and drove off. A duo of runners went inside, came out and headed up the mountain. A sure sign there would be more hikers to come!

My water and battery supplies were low. I connected a lifeline to charge my phone from an external battery, then debated whether to carry a half gallon of milk in my backpack. The trail would be 15 miles long, so additional hydration would be necessary. Even after the lodge opened, and I filled my water bottle inside, I thought to bring my milk. But then in the midst of packing, I forgot it. Besides, there was little room for it because I decided to pack my flute. : )

Not far up the trail, I came across a clearing where a bench beheld a beautiful view of the mountain. The sun shone lovingly on this area, like I was welcome to play my music here. I was giddy with excitement. I had sheet music, my flute, the tablet set to record video, the sun at my back, and the mountain view behind me.

Playing flute on the mountain.

I made a dozen and a half short recordings. I could not get over how beautiful my backdrop looked! I wanted to play as beautifully as the scenery suggested. After trying for a while, I thought of another idea. Why don't I play the flute while hiking up the mountain? I set to memorizing two melodies, packed my things, and began to march.

Hiking, and wishing, and marching, and playing...

And pictures. See all 112 pictures here.

Prove myself, and put pictures beneath pictures.

Know the boundaries

My country 'tis of thee...

The Dark Tower

Guidance

old desert waymark