Hiking

This Thursday we will hike in McInnis Canyons to an old settler's cabin that has been partially restored to preserve its rustic appearance, known as Skinner's Cabin. According to one hiker, " It's a super easy trail with beautiful rock formations and fun and informative placards" This hike is so short that we will combine it with the nearby Fruita Paleo Trail. On this trail you can read the informative geological and paleontological signs, close your eyes and imagine that you are walking amid the dinosaurs. 🦕🦕 🦕 Total for the 2 hikes is less than 3.5 miles and 200 feet elevation gain. Hike time, about 2 hours. It should be sunny 🌞 and cold, around 30 degrees. Jim is to be thanked for suggesting these 2 hikes and will be leading, as I need to be out of town Thursday.

Note: As with last week, There is a slight chance that the atmospheric river, now hitting California , may cause a weather problem here again. Watch this space for more information. As usual if it rains at hiking time, the hike will be cancelled. Otherwise we should have a good hike.

We will meet in Fruita at Dinosaur Journey Thursday, at 10:00 (Still late). We will then carpool to the trailheads. Afterwards, we may find ourselves at Munchies. Who knows?

This week we will hike along the Riverfront Trail. The hike will follow the hard surface walkway along the scenic Colorado river,  with sightings of ravens, geese and ducks likely.   You will see the sunlight glinting off bales of recycled cans and colored bottles.  Y'all recycle, right?  We will go under a large bridge (guess which one?) where you will see interesting artwork, including a man who has very large teeth but cannot bite. You will visit a community that you may not even know exists, that includes a fine park area that could potentially accommodate an undercover seated party of 60.  The hike will be about 2 hours, and 4 miles out and back.  There are 4 benches along the way for those who tire during their walk.  If you wish, you could just sit and enjoy the river and wait for the others to return to pick you up.  

 Now that it is warmer, we will go back to the old time of 0845 to meet for the carpool.  It will be bright and sunny with temps in the 40's.   To reach the Redlands Boat Launch carpool meetup location,  from 24 Road, cross 6&50 South on to Redlands Parkway.  Turn at the Redlands Boat Launch and park in the large parking lot.  Lunch or coffee afterward, if you wish. 

Once in a while, it is good to hike Serpent's Trail on the Monument.  This is a more difficult hike since there is elevation gain, but it is a favorite.  If you think it is too hard, you can rest on a rock with me until the others come back down.  The weather will be good, temps in the 50's, and sunny. Great views of the CNM.  We will meet at the Devil's Kitchen parking area at 0900.  (First right as you go into the monument from Junction) Why don't we meet at the easy-place?  Cause the location is popular and there will not be enough spaces for us all.  The CNM is a fee area.  Most Seniors have park passes.  If you do not, contact me to get a ride in.  

Hikes are easy-going, reasonably paced and typically 3-5 miles. They are either a loop or out-and-back, usually with less than 200 feet of elevation increase. Typically, we meet at a location and carpool to the trailheads. We meet every Thursday at 8:45 a.m. weather permitting to finalize plans and decide on carpools and depart at 9 am.

It is time for an easy hike again, one that has little elevation change. We have done most of the riverside trail between Clifton and Fruita; but one section we have not completed until now: the middle section. We will start near the river confluence that made Grand Junction come to importance, founded near the junction of the Colorado (formerly called the Grand) and the Gunnison River. We will learn about the 1882 bank robbery by Robert Parker, later known as Butch Cassidy. We will cross under the 5-span railroad trestle (A train was going through when I checked it out.) and the 5th street Bridge with the support piers covered with art. We will pass close to the Colorado river and view waterfowl. We will find out where you can play frisbee golf. You will learn where Grand Junction has it's Renaissance Festival. We will walk near the Botanical Garden and view the DAR (Daughter of the American Revolution) Memorial Garden and the Pollinator Garden. The out-and-back walk will be about 4 miles and 2 hours. There are many benches alongside the path that you may rest until the group returns, or they may be a rest and reflection on a future walk with someone special.

We will meet at 0900, at a place that we have not met before: From Riverside Parkway, near the big oil tanks, in the Confluence area meet behind the new Starbucks Coffee ( 2601 Dos Rios Dr setting on Google Maps) in the parking lot closer to the Kids Bike area. (The kids should be in school so they will not bother us.)

Afterwards we can have coffee nearby or go to a local restaurant, if you wish.

--Domiguez Canyon.  This beautiful canyon in the National Conservation Area, supported by the group, Colorado Canyons Association, is one of Newcomers best hikes.  It is located near Whitewater off of Bridgeport Road.   (Bridgeport is a former bustling waterport on the Gunnison River.)  We will hike along the Gunnison River to access the canyon. We frequently see big-horned sheep racing up the canyon.  We will not hike the whole canyon but it will be a longer out-and-back hike, about 2.5 hours with about 200 feet elevation increase.  We will hike the canyon to the petroglyphs and then return.  Bring extra water and a snack. Weather will be sunny, with temperatures in the 60's to mid 70's.  Don't forget walking sticks, unless you never use them. 

   We will meet in a different area, City Market on Orchard Mesa, off HWY 50.  Meet in the SW  corner, on Thursday, at 0845.  We will carpool to the trailhead. 

   Afterwards, those that wish will eat at the Dragon Treasure in Orchard Mesa (They  have a buffet that is open until 3). unless you prefer Burger King--"Home of the Whopper". 

The hike this week will be Interflume trail to the waterfall and back to the trail head on Flume 1.  It should take about 3 hours to complete.the 4 mile hike with 335 feet in elevation gain.  Moderate difficulty. We did this hike last year and everyone enjoyed it.  The scenery through the creek was great. 

    Thursday will  be sunny and  a little cool with temps starting in the 40's and ending in the 50's.  However, it seems that we may be blessed with rain all day Wednesday.  The trail is mostly rock and sand.  It should not be muddy Thursday; but please check for an email in case we have to cancel it.  

     Please meet in Fruita at Dinosaur Journey at 0845, East side.  We will carpool to the trailhead.  Lunch afterwa\rd at Munchies, if you wish.

We will hike McDonald Creek Canyon in the Rabbit 🐰Valley area, almost into Utah.  Yup, this is the trail head access that goes down a rough, winding  road to the "Jabba the Hut" rock.  You will traverse a well worn canyon, ponder ancient rock art and see some beautiful wild flowers.  We will be out hiking about 2 hours, with about 100 feet elevation gain, for this out-and-back hike.  However, this is somewhat harder than easy due to an area where we have to drop-down and climb-up (on the return) a 5 foot cliff. Fortunately, someone has built a rock pile to give you a boost. 

  Weather will be sunny and in the upper 50's and lower 60's, beautiful.  The hike is partly shady.  4WD cars needed to traverse the sandy, rough road, but you can carpool.

   Meet in Fruita at Dinosaur Journey, East side, at 0845 to form carpools.    Those that wish will go to award-winning Munchies afterwards.

We will hike Audubon trail and along the Colorado River and around the Connected Lakes.  We will watch for eagles, waterfowl and signs of spring.  Wildflowers should be showing.  Don't forget to check for nesting great horned owls as we walk under their tree.  The hike is level and on hard surface or light gravel.  Mostly shady.  It will last about 2 hours.  Temperatures upper 50's and lower 60's,  and mostly sunny.  Perfect weather.

   Meeting place will be the Redlands Marketplace (Think Safeway) on the Redlands, SW corner outside Chow Down. ( From downtown Grand Junction, take Grand Ave West just across the river when it turns into Broadway.)  Time is 0900.     Lunch at Handlebars?

This is on top of the Redlands, where you can spin around and get outstanding views of the Grand Mesa, the Colorado National Monument, the Book Cliffs, and the top of Riggs Hil and the Ridges. It is not far away and easy to get to, once you realize where it is. I try to pick seasonal hikes; and this one is for sure it. Even though it was dry this year, I saw amazing wildflowers. There are places where there are as many as 5 patches of 12 or more flowers in each square yard. You will see Townsends daisy, Golden Aster, and phacelia in great abundance. Only once have seen more desert wildflowers in the city area.

Expect about 200 foot of elevation increase along the paths that may be a little rough, but still an excellent place to hike. It may be that the Redlands 4000 Development is will be encroaching in the future, but it has not yet taken over; and there will still be plenty of places to hike over a wide area. Get there while you can. The weather will be mostly sunny and cool lower 40's to upper 50's. Hats and sunscreen recommended.

The large trail head parking lot is not easy to find, located at the corner of Holy Cross Drive and Easter Hill Drive, particularly since there is a road closure at 23 and a one-way street to confuse. Go to the trail head if you know where it is. For those Newcomers who would like a carpool, or a car to follow, we will meet on the Redlands at the shopping center SW of Safeway, outside Chow Down on the at 0845.

The Holey Bucket trail is located in the Tabeguache Lunch Loop Trail System. The trail runs along the east side of a small valley below Little Park Road connecting the Holy Cross and Clunker trails. You will see interesting earth formations, not to mention the promised bucket with hole. However, since this is primarily a bicycle area, please be on watch for bicycles. Expect a 200 foot elevation increase and about 1.5 mile.

Temp should be, around 50F, this Thursday and mostly sunny. Meet outside Safeway , Redlands, near the SW corner, outside Chow Down at 0845. We will carpool to the trailhead.

Hikes are easy-going, reasonably paced and typically 3-5 miles. They are either a loop or out-and-back, usually with less than 200 feet of elevation increase. Typically, we meet at a location and carpool to the trailheads. We meet every Thursday at 8:45 a.m. weather permitting to finalize plans and decide on carpools and depart at 9 am.