The Boulder Flatirons - Chautauqua Hiking

I almost labeled this for Fence Friday, but the snow capped mountains command this scene - at least they do for me.

 

 
I took the opportunity to travel to Colorado with a local running friend whose daughter lives in Boulder. While the temperatures only hovered in the single digits (Fahrenheit!), the sun reflecting off the powery snow kept us warm while hiking the trails. My friend appologized for the non-ideal conditions, but I would rather hike in the beauty of a snowy forest than a more typical green one. Another upside - not many hikers on the trail, perfect in this time of social distancing; I find solitude adds to the magic of the crystalline snow globe. We accessed the trails from Chautauqua Park, hiking the Chautauqua and Flat Irons trails, crossing back along the Bluebird Mesa Trail as seen on this trail map.

 

 
Maybe I'll get to experience these trails again during the warmer months. Even so, I'm glad we got out despite the bitter cold.