Snowshoeing The Crags

I have always been a little curious about snowshoes ever since I started snowboarding, I thought they would be good to get to some back country powder but I just never tried until Saturday.  Since I had some time on Saturday with Serena going to a baby shower I made a phone call to Jay and we planned for a bike ride, then Saturday came around and the weather was crappy and cold so I figured I would end up at the gym doing so boring shit indoors.  Until Jay said lets go snowshoeing since he bought himself a sweet pair and I rented some from REI.

Jay getting ready to roll!

It was a perfect day to get out into the mountains and enjoy the fresh air.  It was cloudy and snowing in Colorado Springs, on our drive up the pass toward Woodland Park the conditions just kept getting better and better.  It only took about 45 minutes to get to the trail head and my stoke level was pretty high at this point and rightly so it was around 25 degrees and sunny.  Just a short hike up the road from where we parked we came across 6 people just looking at their car.  

Denverites!!!!!!

Good thing Jay and myself came along otherwise I think that they would still be there. See what happens when city folk venture into the mountains.  After a few minutes we got them out of there rut and we got back to our own "rut".

Ring the Peak sign

I have seen this very Ring the Peak sign, but never buried in 3 feet of snow, pretty dang cool.  I will have to go back in the summer and get a picture.  We stopped for some lunch and I had brought a couple of beers and Jay his trusty flask with some SoCo 100 mmmm!! Delicious.

Once we finished up lunch it was time to get back in the "rut" and up the trail.  One of the coolest parts of snowshoeing is that you can go anywhere you want, if you have the energy that is. 

two dirtballs

We made some hot chocolate thanks Jet Boil and the other beer I brought.  Time to head back to the car, it was cool because on the way up we were on one side of the valley and on the way back we were on the other so we made it a figure 8. 

I think the snow is deep

As with all good hikes going down is always faster than going up, I had a blast going down the mountain because of the fact that we were following a skier track and it was like ripping some singletrack.  Snowshoeing is definitely a work out I was exhausted when I got home, I ate and went to bed.  Thanks Jay for introducing me to a cool sport and what a great day to get out.