Walk With Me Colorado Springs - Part Two

It's been ridiculously nice for winter in Colorado. A bit milder than usual, but warmer than usual. I didn't give in to temptation yesterday to spend time outside, decided to focus instead on writing. But today, after working the opening shift at work, I could no longer resist. So I rushed home to change into my favorite hiking/adventuring clothes, and went for a walk around Cottonwood Creek Park.

View of Pikes Peak. It's been cloudy all day, feels more like late summer/fall than winter.

The trail actually extends from somewhere around a busy street called Academy, a few miles away, passes under a road, and then goes up to another major road, Austin Bluffs. Going east, you have to go through a tunnel like the creek.

I'm honestly not sure why it's iced over. It's not really been that cold. We've been in the high 40's, upper 50's for the last few weeks, and I don't think nights have dropped past the high 30's. But this creek usually runs really low, so maybe it's not a surprise.

There's a sidewalk path the whole way, but short section drop down the hill a bit for dirt trails. I really like going on the dirt trail, especially when it's been a while since I've been hiking. This is looking West, towards the Rockies.

Bird nests! I've been slacking, shame on me, but I usually participate as a citizen scientist for this park, keeping track of the birds I see and hear. I didn't get good pictures today, but there were about 15 crows all flying together, and a little plover of some sort pecking around by the ice.

I love water, in all its forms.

One of the things that makes Cottonwood Creek park really nice is the disc golf course. Don't get to play as often as I would really like, but it's a great way to spend an afternoon with friends. The trees in this one little area change so much, it's fantastic.

I turn off the trail at the bridge to circle back around the disc golf course. This will lead you down the creek, past neighborhoods, til hitting a super busy street.

The soccer/football field. The building to the right is a YMCA. There's also three small baseball fields, and a playground set for children.

I'm still getting used to having an inhaler, so I totally spaced on bringing it with me today. Thankfully I realized that before pushing myself hard, and somehow actually managed to avoid an asthma attack after climbing back up the hill to go home.

I will probably do a few more posts on this park as the seasons change, and I definitely will do one on the disc golf course once I go play, probably after everything blooms. I prefer playing in the summer and fall. I thrive off the life of the trees.

Hopefully the next #walkwithme post will also have an installment for #ophumanangels. Gotta go get some chalk, though.