Scotts Bluff National Monument: Hike to the Old Picnic Area

With Sierra in school, Noelle and I have started to make Fridays our date days. Today our date would include a hike in a seldom traveled section of Scotts Bluff National Monument, the old picnic area on the west side of Mitchell Pass. We parked the car along side the road, and hit the trail, actually the old road with a chain across its entrance.

We hiked the old road to the point where it seemed to peter out.

It was a wide flat spot that I assume was the old picnic area. There wasn't much left of it. It was very scenic though,

with lots of ponderosa pines

and some ravines.

After exploring the area for a little while, we retraced our steps on the old road,

headed back to the car.

Scotts Bluff National Monument: Saddle Rock Trail

I was so excited this morning to take Noelle and Sierra over to Scotts Bluff National Monument to hike the Saddle Rock Trail. After breakfast, we packed a day pack and made the short drive to the monument. We parked the car and hit the trail, excited to see some of the best scenery of Nebraska's Panhandle.

A sign near the trailhead warns of rattlesnakes,

but being January, we have little risk of seeing the venomous serpents. Sierra was excited to be out exploring and ran ahead on the trail.

It was a chilly morning, but at least it wasn't windy (at least not yet).

We passed Scott's Spring and rested at a bench

before the trail started to climb in earnest.

Soon we were approaching the tunnel through Saddle Rock.

We went through the tunnel

and enjoyed the view from the other side.

If we were quiet, we could even hear prairie dogs in the meadow far down below.

Soon we started switchbacking steeply up the bluff.Then we found ourselves at Saddle Rock.

Sierra rested on a rock there,

before we followed a section of trail that traversed a narrow ledge.

Sierra thought the "pipy concretions" of limestone were interesting.

As we approached the summit of the bluff, pondersosa pines became more numerous.

There were lots of views out across the prairie to Dome Rock

and other points of interest.

We enjoyed the views from the different overlooks and then stated to descend back towards the trailhead.

It was a fast hike as we made a our way down.

 By the time we were back at the car, the wind had picked up quite a bit. We were glad to have finished the hike when we did. Still, I would say this has to be one of the most interesting hikes in Nebraska!

Rocky Mountain National Park: Sledding Hidden Valley

Last night Noelle, Sierra and I drove to Loveland, Colorado where we spent the night in a hotel. This morning after breakfast, we hit the road headed west and up into the mountains. It was a beautiful drive along the Big Thompson River, but unfortunately, with all the curves on the road, Sierra got car sick as we approached Estes Park. After a break from the car for a bit, we headed into the national park. It was a bit windy, but still, we were determined to do a little sledding. I drove up to Hidden Valley, we got the sleds out of the car and we walked up to the top of the hill

(part of the former ski resort that once operated here) for our first runs.

After sledding for a bit,

we decided to go for a hike in the snow in a more sheltered area of the park. We ended up on the Deer Mountain Trail. Sierra wasn't feeling too great at this point, the aftereffects of her car sickness. Still, we managed to do a short hike through the snow

up to a lovely viewpoint.

From the overlook, it was a quick hike back to the car

and then a drive into Estes Park for lunch at Penelope's and a walk along the river.