Double Dating in the Wilderness

By Jake Timmons and Juli Williams, friends of Routes, and part of the local Trailblazers hiking group.

Our June (2022) trip around the Buffalo Peaks Wilderness Loop outside of Fairplay - about 2 hours west of Colorado Springs - started as a surreptitious call from our friend Sarah. She asked Juli if we’d would be interested in a “double date overnight” backpacking trip. Juli quickly agreed and she and Sarah started planning before clueing in the husbands. Eventually, the heads up was pretty much - “Hey, we’re going backpacking this weekend”.

Since Juli loves both backpacking and date night…and Jake also loves date night (but loves golf), this seemed like a reasonable compromise for us. 

Juli and Jake filtering water…or at least one filtering water and one watching gleefully.

Juli met Sarah first at a networking event for her job in software and then again four days later at a Saturday run club. Two encounters that quickly meant they should probably just be friends…and the rest is history - including being a part of each other’s weddings. 

The Buffalo Peaks Loop is just under twelve miles and makes for a nice intro or weekend backpack loop. Since we were dispersed camping, no permit was required. The four of us met at the trailhead and set off around 10 am. Sarah brought quick reference cards of Colorado Flowers so several conversations focused on the diversity of the wilderness that is Colorado.

We ended up hiking 6.5 miles the first day. Taking our time, it took just over three hours to reach our campsite. We saw several other folks camping but the trail wasn’t crowded. 

Day 2: Camp all packed up and ready to head home.

We set up camp in a stand of trees overlooking a meadow with a creek for filtering water. After a fancy dinner of Tasty Bites Madras Lentils and Veggie Tikka Masala, courtesy of Juli and her jet boil stove, we enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate (and maybe a splash of whiskey).

After dinner, we spotted deer in the meadow and heard coyotes nearby. We were told elk or moose could be sighted - if you were lucky. We were not lucky.

No campfire that evening due to a fire ban but the cool night was made comfortable in a cozy two-person tent.

The next morning, we enjoyed a relaxing breakfast at camp of oatmeal and instant coffee from Trader Joe’s - accompanied by a gorgeous sunrise over the meadow and creek.

On the 5.3 mile hike back to the trailhead, Juli and Sarah both mentioned how much they loved the trip. Jake admitted he actually loved it too - being with his wife and good friends in the outdoors was a great and meaningful time…

…even if it wasn’t golf.

How to Deal with an IT Band Issue

By Dr. Scott Runyon (owner of Backcountry Therapy and part of Trailblazers Running Group)

Dr. Scott enjoys running, climbing, and fishing and is willing to try most any mountain activity. He also likes playing and watching most any team sport.

Time and time again it happens. A few miles into your run and an ache starts around the hip. This is accompanied by a sharp pain on the outside of your knee. Sometimes it’s better, other times it’s worse, but it is consistently limiting how much you run. You’ve stretched. You’ve iced. You’ve put creams on it. Nothing seems to be helping much. It’s incredibly frustrating, and you can’t find an answer.

This scenario describes a condition called Iliotibial (IT) Band Syndrome. The IT band is a thick, dense tissue on the outer part of the thigh between the hip and the knee. Many are familiar with the term, but few know what it actually means! However, “stretching” the IT band isn’t an option. It is way too sturdy and dense to be stretched.

The 1st remedy in helping with IT Band Syndrome is to target the Tensor Fascia Latae (TFL). It is the muscle connected to the IT band and can be pretty sore and tight as well. Find the TFL on the side/front of the hip and roll it out with a tennis or lacrosse ball.

Dr. Scott and his wife, Heather, pictured near Aspen, enjoy hiking, skiing, and whitewater sports together.

The 2nd remedy is to take a look at your running mechanics, which can lead to irritation and inflammation of the IT Band. See how your knees are when you squat, especially on one leg. If your knees dip in toward the middle, then work on your glutes, especially a muscle on the side called the gluteus medius. This will help strengthen the hips!

The 3rd remedy in helping with IT Band Syndrome is to add stability work to your routine. Working on pistol squats, one-legged balance, and single leg bridges (just to name a few familiar options) will greatly increase the muscles around the IT Band and keep it from being pulled and over stressed.

Watch out for the symptoms we talked about and feel free to use these techniques to help keep yourself healthy and running at your best!

SANTE FE OPEN SPACE

On Thursday, April 7th, El Paso County had its grand opening and ribbon cutting of Sante Fe Open Space in Palmer Lake - located on the east side of the New Santa Fe Regional Trail. It is a 60-acre site of rolling and moderate terrain with 1.75 miles of singletrack trail for hikers, bikers, and horseback riders. The open space consists of thick stands of scrub oak, mature Ponderosa pines, grassy meadows, and the remnants of an old ranch. The county purchased this beautiful piece of land that boasts views of Mt. Herman and the Front Range in May of 2017. The west entrance is ½ mile SE of Palmer Lake Recreation Area, which offers both parking and a restroom, and the east entrance is 2.5 miles NW of the Hwy 105 Trailhead parking area. Both entrances are along the New Sante Fe Regional Trail. The county has built maps at each trailhead and signage at each trail intersection. The open space is open daily from dawn to dusk.

This trail system is simple, well thought out, and beautiful. Whether you’re headed out for a leisurely stroll, a long gravel bike ride from Baptist Rd. to Greenland Open Space, or a run from the front door of Routes Outfitter and back to Trails End Taproom…you are guaranteed to enjoy this new addition to our delightful trail systems in the Tri-Lakes areas.

It’s exciting to continue to see our area grow its offerings like this. The northern El Paso County area on the Colorado Springs front range is simply amazing.

A beautiful landscape surrounds the newest Santa Fe Open Space trail system built by El Paso County Parks and Rec.

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.

…

Ready? Set? Hike!

Guest Authored By: Becky Giovagnoni

Despite the atypical gloomy, wet weather over Memorial Day, summer is indeed upon us. (And actually, given our history of summertime wildfires, we say, bring on the rain. We’ll take as much moisture as we can get, right Colorado?)

With the advent of summer and the easing of COVID restrictions finally, hiking is bound to be a popular pastime for Coloradans in 2021. In fact, a recent post in the Colorado Springs Indy by Bob Falcone, a.k.a. Hiking Bob, highlights 10 Essentials for Hiking. We’d like you to take a second, jump over to the post, and give a quick read. (Don’t worry … we’ll wait.)

Done?

Okay, cool. Now that local expert Hiking Bob has educated you on what you’ll need for a successful hiking experience, we want you to know ... we’ve got you covered. Routes Outfitter can set you up with all the things! 

Hiking Footwear

Whether you’re brand new to hiking or on a quest to bag all 54 fourteeners, we have the shoes you need. You’ll find a wide variety of styles and colors to choose from, everything from heavy duty hiking boots to lightweight trail running shoes. Brands include Altra, Lems, and Salomon. 

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate 

Not only is the Colorado air dry, it’s also high (as you may have heard.) At high altitudes, hydration is absolutely critical to keeping your physical performance at its peak and keeping altitude sickness at bay. From our Routes Outfitter branded stainless steel water bottle to a variety of hydration packs, we’ve got all your hydration needs covered.

Stay Dry

There’s a saying around here … If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes and it will change. This is not actually a joke. Whether it’s the cold, freezing rain found at the top of a fourteener or the warmer rain of the Colorado ritual of late summer afternoon thunderstorms, we have the perfect jacket for every hike. 

Protect Your Skin

At 6,000 feet, the air here is thin which means the sun is more intense. And with 300 days of sunshine, you’re pretty much guaranteed to get sun. Protect your skin from sun damage with our sun care products.

At Routes Outfitter, we are all about equipping you for the adventure. Visit one of our two stores in person to see all of our gear and prepare yourself for a summer full of outdoor fun.

Happy hiking!