Otowi: April 2014

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Curiosity Satisfied - N Cheyenne Canyon/Gold Camp 4/26/14

We found the mysterious structures we'd had far-off peeks of from Mt. Buckhorn and High Drive. We were surprised to find apparently someone had been building some very crazy looking biking ramps and jumps hidden in the forest. It appears abandoned now. There were several prospect mines in the area. We also came across a very well-made lean-to camp. I found a newspaper inside almost exactly 1-year old. We're speculating last year's floods may have pushed the resident out - his structure is fine, but there was quite the spontaneous river right next to it late last summer. But newspaper inside dated a year ago suggests maybe it was abandoned around then, for whatever reason. This hike was more exploration than anything, and we added on a trip along the road to Captain Jack's and back for some distance and trail prospecting for a total of about 5 miles (runtotal 54 miles).

"Secret" trail where the structures were located.

Bicycle sideways ramp thingy - not that old, little used, and by trail litter, etc., apparently abandoned now.

Bike jump after that ramp.

Bike jump view from other side.

Starting platform, apparently.

Another bike jump, larger.

View from the other side.

Awesome lean-to, with stone stoop, steps, and everything. Newspaper inside indicates last occupation may have been a year ago.

Ladder at the lean-to site. To hang food, maybe.

Apparently a hunting spear?

The lean-to.

Broadmoor from Gold Camp

Mt. Muscoco and the road up N. Cheyenne Canon

The road (some flood damage still apparent) and the creek next to it.

Geodetic survey marker at Tunnel 1.

The Cheyenne Lodge the Broadmoor is rebuilding.

Tree flowers

Looks like an old tire chain buried in the Gold Camp tunnel? Or could it be older and associated with the railroad?

Silver Cascade Falls

Down in the valley

Tunnel 2

Apparently a sardine can for shooting

Mine shaft, hidden behind a berm. Looks like two levels of tunnel. And I think I see a Coke bottle?

The cool flying centipede looking thing - I've seen shows trying to claim it is some alternate dimensional form of life, but really it is just fast bug and slow camera.

On the road.

One of the first photos of the day.

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Oil Well Flats 4-12-14

Hiked 8 miles in the Oil Well Flats north of Canyon City, mostly up Ms. Spike but also in several other areas. Added another 1.5 or so looking for a dropped phone and wallet. That puts group runtotal up to about 49 miles. Trails are all easy/moderate and include many old roads. Good area for biking and horseback riding in addition to hiking. This area would probably be scorching hot in the dog days of summer. Got blisters on my arches on the soles of my feet - my hiking shoes have an arch that just seems to be too high; I might need to invest in a different pair. Stopped at the Gooseberry Patch in Penrose for lunch - I like the Gooseberry Pie. :)