Mileage: 3-4 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Sightings: Rattlesnake, Wildflowers in bloom, Butterflies, Blackflies, Rabbit
Hiking Company: Jesse
Red Mountain Open Space offers many options for hiking of varying lengths. We didn't have too much time this afternoon, so we did a short 3-4 mile hike close to home base.
Driving into the trailhead is a singular dusty road, surrounded by humble sized mountains colored burnt sienna red. I feel a freedom here in the expansive openness of the landscape around me. An appropriately named place, I think.
Along the drive in, Jesse spots some antelope. He is quite good at distinguishing their figures camouflaged against the landscape with his trained biologist's eyes. I might easily miss them if not actively searching for them. These animals blend in just as inconspicuously as Waldo in a Where's Waldo picture book. So we pull out some binoculars for a better view. If you look closely you can see the calf suckling the mama antelope.
Here we are welcomed by the Red Mountain Open Space sign.
The parking lot is sparse today. We stop and snack at the picnic tables and check out the maps on the boards.
Hmmm.... lots of possibilities...we decide on a short loop of the Sinking Sun to Big Hole to Lynn Cameron trails, with the possibilities of adding on the extra smaller loops if we feel like it. For a full day hike, the Cheyenne Rim trail looks intriguing to try on a future trip. This trail crosses from CO into WY and border crossings are always fun. Our short hike today was full of amazing scenery and animal sightings.
The trail is slightly inclined, but not difficult. When a break is needed there are plenty of wildflowers around to stop and take a view in of. Take this cactus for instance. A blooming cactus, covered in thorns to ward you off, yet a beautifully colored flower showy at it's side to wheel you in.
This bunny hopped across the trail and quickly hid away behind the brush, it's ears peeking through unbeknownst to it's visibility.
My favorite part of the western trails in summertime are the numerous wildflowers scattered all about. They are lovely to look at. A perfect place to stop and smell the flowers in a life that often times passes by without a moment's pause to stop and reflect.
This stretch is a figment of my dreams come to reality. A patch of flowers and butterflies fluttering about. Let's rest here.
An ordinary butterflies life is but a week or two long. A short lifespan lived in a beautiful freedom of flight.
I've been given the gift of wings to take flight, to go anywhere I may dream, but I could never leave you dear friend of mine.
After much time spent loitering and snapping photos of the butterflies I reluctantly conceded that we should move on with the hike. Although I could spend all day hanging with the butterflies.
This next section of the hike was termed "Heart Rock Wash" by Jesse. A fun activity on any hike is to look for rocks shaped like hearts. On this section of the trail they seem to be more populous and appear without searching for them. Edward Abbey, the famed environmental author, says it is best to let rocks remain where they are and not to detach them from the landscape they are born from. Leave the landscape untouched. Be respectful in everything you do, whether earth or human or animal, that you encounter in your life journey.
The below rock was a favorite that I found on this hike.
FYI: Water = Flies = Run
A fork in the road. We decided to do the short loop. The elevation along this area of trail was lower and felt as if walking within canyon walls. It was quite beautiful. Various shades of red and orange hues merged onto the hard rock walls encasing us. Deep thickets of green grass swayed cross the sandy red floor. An occasional light breeze freed us from the flies until we distanced ourselves from the stream.
I had to stop here to take this in. A sight I have never seen before. The patterned striations of the rock walls are beautiful to look at and walk towards.
We head towards the end of the trail and reach our starting point quickly from here. Pack our bags, dust off our shoes, gulp some warmed water and head on out. As we're driving out of the parking lot, Jesse's sharp eyes spot a reptile amongst us. Near the grassy edge of the parking lot lies a rattlesnake. This is the first full view of one I've seen out hiking. The other one mentioned in a previous post was heard and seen through hidden grass in upstate NY. It is unprovoked and thus lies outstretched in it's full length.
As we inch closer to get a better look (don't worry, not too close, we are equipped with a zoom lens), it notices our presence and strikes a warning pose letting out a hiss and a rattle of it's tail. It is a beauty adorned with venom quite like the cactus with it's thorns. Look but don't touch. Leave me in peace. This seems to be a common denominator in the natural world. We mean no harm and leave peaceably.
We see the Rattlesnake Nesting Area sign on our way out.
Goodbye Red Mountain. I will think of you in daydreams of wildflower strewn pathways trafficked by floating butterflies and a limitless sky.
A side note: After the hike, I stop in to use the portable toilets. There are enclosed walls, but there is a small sliver of space beneath the entrance door. I hear a thrashing noise and see a scuttle from the corner of my eye catching a glimpse of a furry body contorting itself under the space of the door. I yelp an automatic shriek. Heart pounding, a minute or two later, dear Jesse comes over and says "Everything alright?" I finish up and exit guessing he surmised it was only a silly over reactionary yelp...true, but nevertheless..."Dearie, don't you think you can respond a bit faster to a signal of distress next time?" hahaha Humpf.
Music for this drive:
Dave Rawlings - To Be Young
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