From Snow to Sand to Ice

By Nate Van Noord (RO Staff)

Since moving to The Springs from Detroit last summer, I have been so enamored with all the trails around town to ride, run, and hike, that I have barely ventured out to the rest of CO. However, a few buddies recently invited me to go skiing, my first time since 9th grade. Back then, I did a few bunny hills at Mount Holly in Michigan - a former trash dump. 

So, a few weeks ago, we ventured to Keystone. On my first ride ever on a ski lift (the bunny hills at Mt. Holly had tow ropes) I fell down getting off and couldn’t get up. The lift operator rushed over to stand me back up.

After dusting off the snow, I made it down the bunny hill without falling. My buddies said I was ready for a green.

On the green, all these little 7 year olds whizzed by me without poles. Some were even tethered to their parents.

When it was time for lunch, I got down to the bottom of the run and my buddies were nowhere in sight. Left hanging, I had to ask a group of strangers to help me out of my skis.

All those 7 year olds and strangers on the mountain had me hyped though. Their enthusiasm for being outside and enjoying the mountain and snow was contagious. On my last couple runs, I took in the views and felt super grateful to be out there. 

I decided it was time to start exploring the rest of Colorado. 

…

On the drive back from Keystone, one of my skiing buddies, Joel, told me about The Great Sand Dunes National Park and said it was super beautiful. My other two skiing buddies in the car agreed - even though they had never been.

Wait, you fellas grew up in Colorado Springs, I thought. 800-foot sand dunes sandwiched between prairie and 13,000 peeks, only 3 hours away, and y’all never been!

Right before I was about to say something, though, I remembered there are big sand dunes on Lake Michigan, 3 hours from Detroit. I had never been either.

Joel agreed to go with me the next weekend. On the way to the dunes, we drove past the snowcapped Spanish peaks and through little towns like Walsenburg and Ft. Garland.

When we arrived, we picked up a map at the visitor center, and parked in the half full lot. 

We followed a small stream of folks heading up to Star Dune, the highest dune in North America. The recent snow, now only in sporadic patches, compacted the sand. We walked barefoot and the sand was cool, not blazing like in the summer. We passed a few kids trying to sandboard or sandsled. After an hour of hiking, we summited Star Dune and had our lunch. We debated if there were any other places like this in the world. Maybe in the Himalayas, the Andes, or in the Southern California desert. Or maybe just in Star Wars. 

We kept walking, away from the crowd, trudging up steeper inclines and running down the declines. The dunes stretched for miles in every direction. After spending a few hours on the dunes, Joel and I agreed we needed to camp in the Park someday to do some star gazing. 

…

On the way back home we stopped at Zapata Falls, just a few miles outside the park. We hiked the half mile to see and touch the falls. They were frozen, but with a steady stream of water still rushing behind the ice. 

As we drove home, past the Spanish peaks, a deep sense of gratitude settled in. Gazing out the window and thinking about the dunes and falls, I thanked God for hooking His creation up and making it so phenomenal. As Joel told me about other spots around Colorado, I started daydreaming of all the new landscapes to explore next.

…

From Burnt Out To Trailblazing in Colorado Springs

By Nate Van Noord (RO Staff)

After living and teaching in inner-city Detroit for the last 14 years, I needed a break. I was burnt out and needed rest. I needed some extended time away to reflect on my years there and discern what was next.

My sister lived in The Springs, and when I would visit her in the summers, she would take me for a run through Garden of the Gods, do “The Incline” with me, or show me the trails around Cheyenne Canon. After each time visiting her, I always felt refreshed. 

Moving to The Springs seemed like a great spot to find some rejuvenation. 

So in the summer of 2021, I moved out to Colorado Springs, and realized that the city has A LOT of easily accessible trails. I bought a bike and explored Ute Valley. I ran up Stratton Open Space to Gold Camp Road. My sister bought me a pass to explore Cheyenne Mountain State Park. I had to pinch myself that I was living in Colorado - the mountain views, the little scrub trees and yucca plants, and ALL the sunny days. 

I moved to Colorado to explore its beautiful landscape, but I didn’t want to do it alone (after two knee surgeries, my sister plays pickleball now instead of running and biking). I wanted to be a part of the outdoor culture and meet like minded folks. 

After Googling ‘trail running groups’ in the area, I found Trailblazers at Trails End Taproom. The website said it was for bikers, runners, and hikers. On a Wednesday night, I showed up to the Old Colorado City location with my running shoes. After walking past about fifty mountain bikers, I saw a dozen other folks stretching, checking their watches, and chit chatting. The group’s run leader, Sarah, introduced herself and a few others in the circle. After a few minutes, we jogged from the Taproom over to the trailhead at Red Rocks Open Space. Since the group ran the same basic 4-5 mile route each week, some folks sped ahead, and after a mile or so, waited for the rest of the group to catch up. I met another guy from Michigan, a lady who ran ultramarathons, and a couple who play pickle ball.  

Trailblazers is a welcome group for many levels of running. No one gets left behind. Getting out on the trails is what matters most. Doing it together makes it that much more fun.

After the run, folks stuck around, had a drink, and ordered a pizza. I learned about other local trails to run, races people were training for, and what the Tuesday Trailblazers in Monument was like. After coming for a couple weeks, I exchanged numbers with the couple who play pickleball and we played doubles with my sister. Now we run together outside of Wednesday nights, explore local restaurants, and still get the occasional game of pickleball in. 

With the help of Trailblazers, I have found people to explore all the beauty of Colorado and to find rest and rejuvenation with a community of others.