These Are A Few of My Favorite Things

What is your favorite place to go in your city?

My favorite spot to take newcomers when they visit my home in Cuchara, CO in the Sangre de Cristo mountains is the drive and hike to Blue and Bear Lake.

Surprisingly, it’s not on the All Trails app, but it is one of my favorite hikes in the valley. It is a 5 miles drive up the mountain to Blue Lake, which is in the shadow of Trinchera Peak. Trinchera is covered in snow most of the year, and the rule of thumb is you can’t climb it or even take an ATV up there until after July 4th, when the snow is finally gone.

Blue and Bear Lake were devastated 3 years ago with hurricane force winds. High winds are typical in winter here but these were 125 mph winds that toppled most everything in it’s path. It has taken the US Forest Service 3 years to mitigate and clear away the damage. Still it is one of my favorite hikes in the area.

Also, unique to this area are several geological formations that set the valley apart from other spots in the US. Such as Goemmer’s Butte, seen below. It is rumored it was the top of a volcano that blew into our valley millions of years ago. But, some say it perches about the ground like a gorilla on a throne, overlooking and protecting the valley.

There is also Profile Rock were some have found the profile of George Washington and Abe Lincoln in the rocks. I also see a leaping deer in the far left of this photo. If you soon in, can you see them as well?

There is also the abandoned ski area at the Cuchara Mountain Park. Owned by the county, but managed by the nonprofit, Panadero Ski Corp, they are bringing back skiing in this area. They have been working on restoring one of the lifts for a while now, unsuccessfully, and are now taking skiers up the mountain on a snowcat, during the winter, to hike and ski. Lift tix are $40 a day or $200 for the entire season. A real steal compared to other ski areas.

My other favorite hike is West Spanish Peak. Beginning at the trailhead at 10,400 feet you can summit the almost 14 er if you are in good enough shape. It is consider a difficult hike according to All Trails, so come prepared. And if hiking it in the summer, the rule of thumb is you should be off the mountain by noon when the afternoon storms roll in.