The latest weather reports indicate a good chance for snow over the Palmer Divide on Saturday. If that happens the proposed hike up past Woodland Park and Rampart Range Road may not be a good option for now. Another possible hike is going to Red Rocks and explore some areas that are off the main area. I recently started a Red Rocks hike off 31st street a bit south of highway 24. I propose that we meet at the parking lot decribed below and decide where to hike on Sunday morning. Therefore we have two options:

Hike 1) Red Rocks OR

Hike 2) Weather permitting, hike a portion of the Monument Creek headwaters area. If you go to google earth and home in on 39° 4'35.33"N and 104°59'17.35"W you are right at the junction of Balanced rock road (reached via Rampart range Rd up from Woodland Park) and a spur that leads down into one of the headwaters tributaries. The plan is to walk along the pretty valley to the large rock formation about 2 miles to the NE and then return to our cars by a slightly different route, using the google earth image to navigate.

The details of hike: 4 miles round trip. 500 ft elevation change. Rating: moderate (by our standards).

In either case, we will be meeting at a park-n-ride parking lot near highway 24 and 21st street and carpool to the trailhead(s) (either Red Rocks, Monument Creek headwaters, or both). To get there, from highway 24 and 21st street, go north east on 21st street, turn left at the first intersection and then take the first right into the parking lot. We will be leaving the parking lot at 9:30 AM Sunday, April 5th to head to Red Rocks and/or Woodland Park and then the trailhead.

This hike (or hikes) will be lead by myself and/or Alan Read who was the person who planned the Monument Creek headwaters hike. His phone: 637-8421. Georgianne and I plan on being one the hikes.

Due to the number of people on the hike, it is extremely useful to me if I know who plans on attending the hike(s). In the event that it is necessary to cancel the hike(s), I need the phone numbers of all hikers to call. Also, there is a chance that there will be snow and ice on the trail (especially the Monument Creek headwaters hike). Please bring snacks and water on the hike. We may stop on the trail(s) for lunch. (For those who go on the Monument Creek headwaters hike, if any, I highly recomment hiking boots and gaters - to keep snow from getting in your boots.)

Rich (594-4506)