It warmed up so quickly this week that when spring runoff began the Arkansas River went the river's version of zero-to-sixty in about 3 days.
Yesterday morning the DM and I wandered down to the river before heading over the Continental Divide to Gunnison and Crested Butte for the day. It turns out we must have been there for the peak runoff moment.. At about 8:15 yesterday morning the flow was 3500 cfs (cubic feet per second).
This chart (from the Colorado Division of Water Resources) is interesting, but I think a photo tells a good story, too, don't you?
Yes, there's usually a paved trail under the bridge.
We shot a little video... let's see if I can figure out how to put it up here.... (Where have my Blogger video upload controls gone? The "new, improved" post editor doesn't seem to have them anymore. Sigh.)
Okay, here it is! The view upriver from on top of the F Street Bridge. (Looking the opposite direction from the photo above.)
Today, the unofficial first day of summer, we left the river and went instead up the mountain... a goodly hike up a portion of the Colorado Trail from the Angel of Shavano trailhead. I love this portion of trail... once you make the initial climb it undulates easily through mixed coniferous stands, broad aspen groves, and open, damp meadows. Perfection!
We ended up being out longer than expected, so tonight we've headed to our respective corners to catch up with online tasks and prepare for another busy week ahead. Between my schedule and David's I'm fairly certain we do not have a free weekend now until some time in mid-September! The calendar looks ominous, but I'm clinging to the belief that we'll find at least a day or two in there to run away from home again.
thanks for the video and pictures of your hike. such a treat for a stuck-in-urbania kid
ReplyDeleteSherrie, thanks for posting your hike and photos along The Colorado Trail. GREAT PHOTOS. The CTF and our volunteers love it when you enjoy the Trail, makes all our Trail care worthwhile. Thanks again,
ReplyDeleteBill Manning, Mg Dir
The Colorado Trail Foundation
www.ColoradoTrail.org
A full calendar is good!
ReplyDeleteWhat a clear, blue sky. Haven't seen one like that here for a while. May have to head west for a few days, but until then, I'll enjoy your gorgeous pics.
Come and play with us, all of you!
ReplyDeleteBill, welcome and thanks for commenting. Had I known you were watching, I'd have put up more pics. I have hundreds from this section of the CT! You should see it in the autumn...
Oh my! What gorgeous pics. The video of the Ark is terrific. Thanks for thinking of me :-D
ReplyDeleteI sometimes wonder if we made the right choice in buying land in northern MI. What a dilemma (in this case an argument between 2 highly and equally favorable alternatives). However, Salida has become increasingly, and for us prohibitively, expensive and that was the final tipping point.
Part of my heart will always be right there in Salida and the Arkansas River. Thank you for these magnificent pics.
Lindy