I’ve been remiss posting hike reports this summer. We continued to visit the Templeton Trail at Palmer Park through the winter, as weather and trail conditions permitted, but really only started going frequently in April/May.

Since the beginning of June, we’ve done Section 16 (my favorite standby) and Waldo Canyon, and this weekend, a visit to Seven Bridges up in Cheyenne Canyon. Seven Bridges trail is a smidge short since I can only go a bit farther than the seventh bridge before the trail turns into a boulder field…not good for a baby. So, my hiking partner and I decided what the heck — we’d try the cutoff that *appeared* that it would edge Gold Camp Road until we were closer to the parking area. Ha.

The cutoff trail was great — quiet, more uphill, and just the added distance that Lizann and I wanted. The problem came when we arrived at the turn to head toward the parking area. Um…yeah. All of that uphill that the cutoff gave us? We had to head back down. Fast. Our return followed what seemed to be some combination of drainage/steep hiking trail/double black diamond mountain bike trail. It would have been challenging enough to head down this scree-ladden path on my own, so doing so with 35 pounds on my back was fun. We made it and managed to do so sans injury…then celebrated with Margaritas and Mexican at the Loop. Mmmmmm.