The snow began falling early Sunday, with thick, gray clouds moving down from the Flatirons just as our group started up the Bluestem Trail in south Boulder. Soon, the mountains disappeared into the clouds, and we were left with only the soft gravel in front of us, punctuated by a few pine trees and lichen rocks on the side.

With the deadline to mail in ballots for the Nov. 3 election nearing, it seems appropriate to pause and give a shout out to those far-sighted folks who got Boulder started on its open space acquisition.

“Every time I get stale, I realize there is something new, even for people like you and me. All of a sudden, a new trail will appear out of nowhere.” – Brendan Reilly

Read the full article at the Daily Camera
http://www.dailycamera.com/recreation-columnists/ci_13646062

Chautauqua Park

More about Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks
http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/

Boulder Weekly’s opinion on 2009 Boulder County County Ballot Issue 1A
http://www.boulderweekly.com/article-12-boulder-county-ballot-issues.html

While Boulder Weekly acknowledges that the purchase of open space has had some unintended negative consequences, especially on the availability of affordable housing in Boulder, those are outweighed by the high priority that county residents have placed on preserving natural lands in an era of sprawl and communities that run together without a clear boundary.

Vote YES on Boulder County Ballot Issue 1A.

My wife often runs with a great group of friends on Saturday mornings. Some are from immediate circles, some from extended networks. They meet at various trail heads within the city, early in the morning, ready to start the weekend usually with a lung and quad burning climb up any of the various trials around the front range.

Fall morning along the Mesa Trail

I don’t often have the luxury of running with a group. So when she informed me that she wasn’t going to join them,  I was excited about the opportunity to get out and expand my circles. Solepepper Sports does a fun run on Saturdays, or perhaps I would go join a local training group for some hill repeats.

But my wife challenged me to go with her group. Each week they challenge her. I wasn’t sure how I would be received being the only male amongst such a tight group. Luckily, I knew a few moms from school, and they graciously introduced me to the group.

We started at Bear Creek Elementary, ran up Table Mesa to Skunk Canyon, down to the connection to Kohler Mesa, climbed up to Mesa Trail, behind NCAR, to the top of Bear Creek to the radio tower, then back down Bear Creek. This is a great loop with a fair amount of variety in terrain and challenges while offering up spectacular vistas and scenery.

Over the course of those 7 miles, through the climbs, the fall colors, I knew at least a little about each one person there that day. I appreciated that opportunity to run with a group again, and was glad I was able to grow my circle a small bit.

More photos on Flickr »

New trail and bridge at Dowdy Draw

New additions to the Dowdy Draw Trail included a larger parking area, handicap accessible trails revisions to the Dowdy Draw trail and most notably the additions of the Springbrook Loop and Gawshawk trail providing superb views of the Boulder Valley and a peek into Eldorado Canyon.

Prairie and Flatirons from Springbrook Trail

MapMyRun Tags: offroad,trail,scenic,hilly,rolling hills,long climb