What's happening in my world…
Katie Beth had a blast with her American Heritage Girl camping trip. It was the end of the year family camping trip with many families attending.
Everyone had a blast. We went to the Von Braun Planetarium on Friday night. Saturday, we went on a hike and had a lot of fun. Everyone had a great time playing on Monte Sano State Park
The days started out with a trip to Unclaimed Baggage in Scottsboro, Alabama. We scored some books, Easter decorations, and a memory card. It is always a fun visit as you never know what you will find.
After a great lunch on the square at Payne’s Sandwich Shop and Soda Fountain, we headed to DeSoto State Park for some hiking.
We stopped in the Country Store & Information Center to get some hiking ideas and determine camping details for a future trip.
We enjoyed a short 3 mile hike alone the Blue and Orange trails to the Laurel Falls, Indian Falls, and Lost Falls.
You can see more photos of the hike here.
We kicked off Spring Break with a hike in Monte Sano State Park to the Stone Cuts Trail. The bicycle ride up Bankhead Parkway put the burn in our leg muscles for sure.
Katie Beth had great time climbing the rocks at Stone Cuts.
After hiking, we headed to Monte Sano playground for Katie Beth to have to time with other children.
The ladies had fun zooming down Bankhead Parkway to end our trek.
You can see more photos here.
Here is our route:
This morning, we visited Ruby Falls. Other than the water fall, Cathedral Cavern has far better stalactites and stalagmites than Ruby Falls.
Katie Beth enjoyed touching the stalagmites, which you are not allowed to do in Cathedral Cavern.
You can see all of the photos here.
We took a trip to Chattanooga, Tennessee this weekend. We started our visit at Rock City. Katie Beth thought is was so cool to see all of the rock formations.
The photo shows Karen going through Fat Man Squeeze.
You can see more photos here.
I had a very enjoyable hike today coving about 8.5 miles.
I hiked to The Crags, which provides wonderful view of the North Catamount Reservoir, Crystal Reservoir, and Divide Colorado. It was very windy at the top.
After hiking back down, I switched to the Devil’s Playground Trail, which is the back trail to summit Pike’s Peak. I only wanted to hike to the tree line due to my limited time. The panorama photo below is from above the tree line on the way to the Devil’s Playground.
The hike was 10 miles overall and about 2,800 feet total ascent.
It was a great day for walking part of the Pikes Peak Greenway. I walked just short of 10 miles. I finished just before the rain arrived in downtown Colorado Springs.
I got in two hikes today. I started with Mt. Cutler trail has I have always seen this trail from the Columbine Trail on the other side of North Cheyenne Canyon. The trail is only 2 miles round trip, but it includes a view of Seven Falls, south Colorado Springs, and North Cheyenne Canyon. It rained a small bit, but it was well worth the hike.
You can see more Mt. Cutler Trail photos here.
Next, I started the longest hike I have so far done on this trip. I had no idea what St. Mary’s Falls would look like given some falls out here are just a trickle of water. In the end, it was very beautiful. The video doesn’t do the falls justice. The hike was a bit over 10 miles with views of the creek along the way. Bicyclist share the trail, you need to listen out for them coming down the trail. Early section of this trail and nearby trails allow all-terrain vehicles.
You can see more St. Mary’s Falls Trail photos here.
Today, I hiked the Palmer Loop Trail. I should have gone the opposite direction as I went the direction with the steepest slope. The trail was nice and included many spots with great views and two waters falls.
The hike was about 6.3 miles with great weather and no thunderstorm, thankfully.
You can see more photos here. The username and password are “friends” and “photos”.