Green Mountain - Ups

Time: 1:06
Distance: 5.75
Effort: Moderate
Body: Average
Weather: Partly cloudy & cool


Hit Green Mountain before work this a.m., arriving at the trailhead around 7:30 a.m. Looking up towards the summit from the approach on Baseline Road, it looked like the apex would be in a cloud. The sky far to the east, though, was still clear with the rising sun still low in the sky. Fortunately, the temps were good, somewhere in the mid-30s.


Dressed in shorts and a light long-sleeve shirt, I set out from the mouth of Gregory Canyon. I ran the Gregory-Ranger-Summit route. Splits:  Ranger Cottage - 17:55; 4-way: 36:30; Summit - 41:02. Despite the "moderate" effort and a bit of speed hiking some of the steep upper switchbacks and approach to the 4-way, I knocked 36 seconds of my summit PR. Still chasing sub-40 on this route, though.


Surprisingly, the views from the summit to the west were gorgeous. Beautiful blue sky. To the east, all clouds. Socked in. The clouds, the foot soldiers for today's snowstorm, were piled up against the Flatirons. The mountains bought me one more gorgeous summit view before today's spring snow onslaught.  One more reason to pay homage to the wonder that is the Rocky Mountains.


Returned back to the car via the same route. Passed Tony as he was ascending just past the Ranger cottage - what must be his 87th run up Green this year. I was so focused on foot placement, I was almost on top of him before his presence registered. 


Perfect way to start the day.