New Years Day on the Santa Fe

Posted on January 1, 2017 by Roger

A week or so ago, I attempted to hike the New Santa Fe Trail from Palmer Lake to Monument. I got sidetracked (literally) and ended up climbing a mountain.

I tried again on the afternoon of New Years Day, and this time I made it — although I can’t say I stayed strictly on the trail the entire time. I also started at the opposite end, in Monument, and walked to Palmer Lake and back. And I brought my camera this time. Here’s what I saw in the approximate order I saw it.

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Elephant Rock

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Ben Lomand Mountain. A sign along the trail confirmed what I suspected — it was named for a somewhat similar-looking mountain in Scotland.

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The outline of the Palmer Lake Star can be seen on the mountainside on the right. Three or four almost identical coal trains passed me, all heading north.

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Another shot of Elephant Rock later in the afternoon after the sun came out.

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A flock of Black-billed Magpies.

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Red-tailed Hawk

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Palmer Lake Star

Posted on January 1, 2017 by Roger

From late November through New Years, when driving north on I-25 through Monument, Colorado, or when out walking in the area anytime after dark, you can’t help noticing the giant lit-up star on the mountainside above Palmer Lake.

On December 17, I went out at night and took a couple photos. It was not easy getting a shot with the chair.

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Since that night, I found out a little more about it. Turns out there was a dog that carried the light bulbs up to the workers. And there’s a statue of the dog. I’m not making this up.

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You can just make out the star on the hillside to the right of the town hall.

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Here’s a better shot of the hillside in the daytime.

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Just one final word and then I’m done with the star. The plaque by Dizzy’s statue salutes volunteers. I can almost picture the day back in 1935 when somebody mentioned that they had to find a way to get the bulbs up the hill. Dizzy, tail wagging for joy, jumped up and barked, “I’ll do it!”

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AdAmAn Fireworks

Posted on January 1, 2017 by Roger

My coworker told me about the AdAmAn (add a man) fireworks on Pikes Peak every midnight. In 1922, five local men (the Frozen Five) climbed the peak to set off fireworks as a lark. They decided to add one man to their club each year. This year, about 30 members made the climb. (Obviously, with 85 years of existence, some members are no longer capable of making the climb.) We watched from Monument, about 20 miles away. The noise in the background is from a family that came out to set off its own fireworks and were surprised to see the ones on the Pikes Peak.

My camera was on maximum zoom for most of the show. With the naked eye, the fireworks looked like this: (I added the arrow so you could see the fireworks. The other lights are in Monument.)

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It was about 20° with a stiff breeze coming off the mountains. My hands were numb by the time the show was over. And it really wasn’t very spectacular — except for the fact that they were on the top of Pikes Peak. I think next year we’ll try to get closer, and indoors.

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Helen Hunt Falls

Posted on December 31, 2016 by Roger

As part of our New Years Eve exploration, we drove up Cheyenne Canyon to Helen Hunt Falls, named for a local author.

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Magic Town

Posted on December 31, 2016 by Roger

The front of Magic Town is a store filled with sculptures by Michael Garman. For $3 each, we were given a bag of popcorn and were allowed in the back where Magic Town is located. It’s a miniature city filled with people. The detail was amazing. Inside some of the windows, the scenes changed with the use of mirrors and videos.

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We had the option of participating in a scavenger hunt. We both found all the things we were looking for. I won a postcard and my wife won a refrigerator magnet.

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