I've hiked the Mesa trail more than a dozen times this year, but the experience is always a little different. For today's hike
- By arriving early I scored a coveted parking space in the hikers lot at Chautauqua.
- The foothills were wrapped in low clouds, with the top of the Flatirons peeking out.
- Squirrels were busy gathering pine cones, and chattered noisily when I passed.
- A trail runner with a running blade artificial leg powered his way uphill.
- BTW female trail runners seem to outnumber male runners two to one.
- Near S Mesa trailhead a guy was flying a large drone quadcopter. His dog barked at it.
- For the first time I took the Upper Big Bluestem trail, which has great views of the foothills including S Boulder Peak and striking rock spires.
- Mesa is never a difficult trip, but man -- after hiking Pikes peak it's super easy.
- Elapsed time for 13-mile round trip hike: 4 hours, 10 minutes
Did you know that trail runners post the "fastest known time" for popular trails? FKT for the Mesa trail round trip is 1 hour, 34 minutes.
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