AUG 11, 2024 SUN 11:28 am

24c/75f | Partly cloudy | 40% humidity | 6,333 ft highest point

Branch and I decided to go for a hike together this Sunday. This post will feature some of his photos and commentary at the bottom.

We were originally planning on going to Doudy Draw, one of our favourites, but the parking lot was full, and so was South Mesa‘s across the road. We went to Fowler instead, which is a bit further down Eldorado Springs Drive – this ended up being a very good choice.

Parking lot experience rating

There was no lot, just street parking on a narrow road, with cars lining the left side and people walking and other cars trying to leave on the right side. This was annoying. Parallel parking was required, so I made Branch do it.

Click/tap on photos to enlarge! Use the 🗩 icon in the bottom right to add a comment. On mobile, tap ⓘ to show the caption.

We’ve been having a strange few days of overcast and cool weather, which is unusual for here (and a nice break from the 35c/95f+ days). It was a weird and exciting atmosphere.

We looked across the valley to the left and happened to spot some elk!

This is what is called a “bachelor herd” – similar aged bulls (males) will hang out together in the high country over summer.

I was very pleased to see this, since North American elk are one of my favourite animals, but this is also my first time seeing any with fully grown antlers in the wild.

We saw a very striking blue bird we’ve never seen before, that we later determined to be a Lazuli Bunting.

The trail cuts through a cliffside with parts of the rock having pretty insane colors and textures.

Just past the cliffs, there is a very nice lookout point that presents a view of the small town of Eldorado Springs below.

Continuing on, there are some interesting sights on the opposing mountainside.

← New personal landmark name:

Mickey Mouse Rock

To the left of the trail here is a weird rainbow of colors in the sediment. Dark purple, blue, green, orange, and yellow. This is caused by different kinds of iron.

We came across a group of other hikers stopped at the side of the trail, and they told us that we were in the presence of some wild turkeys. I remember them from the Midwest, but I didn’t think we’d see any around here.

We climbed up this sort of scary hill. It suddenly became windy at this point.

I like this sort of dark/moody appearance of the rocky hill and forest up to the left.

This last part of the trail (that we saw today) has probably the best views I’ve ever come across so far on a trail near home. Thanks, people who filled the parking lots at the first two trails we tried to go to!

This is 15 minutes away from home!! I wish would’ve known about this earlier.

As much as we would’ve liked to continue to the end of the trail, we decided to turn back early since I had forgotten to wake Kiwi up before we left.

Branch’s Bit at the Bottom

Viewing Fowler Trailhead’s mountain edifice produces a sensation not unlike a “Magic Eye” photo. Attempting to focus on the massive rock face in front of you, the mind struggles to understand that it is not something inches away, and is in fact on the other side of a canyon.

The sensation does not translate well to a photo. Imagine holding your hand out in front of your face, and not being sure why you can’t touch something that is seemingly right in front of you. Yes, just like that. Now, imagine you have a talking dog. That would be weird, wouldn’t it?

The views were not the only thing to stagger the senses. Below in the canyon a river raged creating a harsh noise even from a hundred feet away. I can’t even imagine the sound at ground level, rocketing off the rocky cliff sides.

Thank you for reading!