Monday, September 27, 2010

Mesa - Bear Canyon - Green Mountain Loop

Time: 1:43
Distance: 8.23 miles
Effort: Moderate
Body: Average
Weather: Sunny & Hot



Morning run from Chautauqua up to the Mesa Trail, over to Bear Canyon, up to the Green Bear Trail, over to the four-way and up to the summit of Green. Ran steady the whole way to the summit of Green. The cruise up Bear Canyon was a highlight. Just felt solid the whole way up. No fatigue in the climbing legs. Slowed a bit heading over to the four-way and up the Green's summit. 


Green Mountain from Chautauqua
View from the Mesa Trail just before descending to Bear Canyon
Looking east back down Bear Canyon, about 2/3 of the way up.
Looking west from the summit of Green Mountain
Took it way easy descending down the front side of Green. Note to self:  You do not like that trail. Do not descend that way. 


Got it.


This stretch of record-breaking warm fall temps has been great. I know it can't keep going this way, but I sure am loving it for now.



7 comments:

  1. >the front side of Green

    Greenman to Saddle Rock? I only ask because I keep hearing of an eastern trail on Green. But that would basically be climbing trails and gullies.

    I need to get some AM pictures of those hills some time, because I'm almost always there in the afternoon. Better on a hot day anyway.

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  2. Going down the frontside, it's Greenman, Saddle, Amphitheater. There's another way up/down via one of the Flatirons, but I've not gone that way. JV does from time to time, according to his write-ups.

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  3. Ah. I usually go Saddle all the way because Amphitheater is a lot of pounding, and some of the logs are slippery. Lower Saddle is just switchbacks. I think it's 0.2 farther.

    I like to stick to official trails (especially in Boulder where there is so much short-cutting already), but the mystery trail does pique my idle curiosity.

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  4. If you don't like going down that way, you ain't going to like the other way that has been mentioned either.

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  5. I did that route in reverse basically last weekend. It's a great loop. But I went up gregory/ranger/greenman instead of the front side. I imagine that's a better decent than the front side also.

    Let me know if y'all are running bergen or any other cool runs this weekend...I"m looking to get a nice run in this weekend before the weather turns and it would be great to have some company

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  6. Aaron - A couple of folks and I are going to hit Bergen Peak on Sunday. Drop me a line at jim.petterson (that symbol) gmail.com and I'll keep you posted on the plans (not firmed up yet). We also should hook up in Boulder now and then.

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  7. Cool Jim. I'm unavailable Sunday, but any other day (for future reference) works for me. my email is aaronkennard at gmail....definitely drop me a line if you're going to run in Boulder any time and we'll try to connect.

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