May 16, Pinewood Reservoir

© 2010 Susannah Storch

Today I had myself a Sunday. One part involved heading north to check out a new hiking location--the Pinewood Reservoir just north of Carter Lake. We hiked 3-5 easy miles with the dogs under Colorado blue skies. I played with wide open apertures 1.4-1.8, and I think this photo will look better if you click on it to make it bigger.

(Okay, it only looks slightly better bigger. I uploaded it in low res, so I am not all that happy with the bigger version. But I am done with this blog post.)

April 14, Trail

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© 2010 Susannah Storch

So many photos to choose from today, and this one isn't even my favorite! But it does help explain what's on my mind. Some of my biggest accomplishments since moving to Colorado are hiking Mt. Sanitas, the Royal Arch, parts of the Mesa Trail ALONE. This is because I am very scared of, and yet obsessed with, mountain lions.

Today was an absolutely beautiful day here, with Colorado blue skies and sunshine. When I got home, I just had to grab my best girl and take her for a hike. Which pretty much means Rabbit Mountain. Hiking Rabbit Mountain alone was like a sick lesson in torture--once I got off the front side of the mountain, all I could picture was a cougar's face with its ears pinned back and its big teeth glistening under the sun growling at me. I only had to call three people and send two texts, but I got to the top and back without any maiming or sightings. I am so proud!

I like the idea of nature, but ever since I read an article in the Sierra Club magazine about mountain lions just one month before I moved out here, I've been scarred (and scared). I want my nature with a dose of cell reception and fellow hikers. I wish I had never read that article. The one time that I think I actually saw a mountain lion, I wasn't even afraid, which makes all of this even more silly.

April 10, White Ranch Park

© 2010 Susannah Storch

© 2010 Susannah Storch

It's like I live in the west or something: barbed wire fences, brown landscape, bones, horses, cowboy hats, and mountain bikers. I went hiking at White Hall Ranch in Golden today after years of wanting to get out there. It was a nice loop, although the hairy bone made me a little nervous. Was it left over from a mountain lion kill?!