Green Mountain/Bear Canyon Run

Saturday's run was at Boulder Mountain Parks, over the top of Green Mountain and then around the back through Bear Canyon, which I'd never been through before:


Run length was 8.6 miles, the maximum elevation was 8,100 feet and the total gain/loss (including ups and downs) was 2,700 feet.

Although 9 miles is not an insignificant distance, it doesn't quite convey the difficulty of the trail. The ascent is like a long, shallow set of stairs that only affords a few breaks during the 3 miles to the top. Those who run this trail 132 days in a row might dance up on winged feet, but I find "trail" sections like this put a faint burn in the quads a couple of miles into the run:


There are a few short stretches like that, as well as plenty of rock or log steps that require a bit of extra effort. However, a lot of the trail surface consists of runner-friendly dirt and pine needles, even if it is hilly. This is a view back down a typical section:


I was feeling good at the summit, and I had extra time, so I decided to explore a bit and lengthen the run by trying to run around the whole mountain. I wasn't exactly sure how to get to Bear Canyon, but the park has trail maps at many junctions, and I quickly found my way.

The downhill was a blast, consisting of rugged, rocky trail and great views west over the foothills. Below is a view from a clearing on the way down, during a section where the trail traveled along a ridge before descending again:


Going downhill always makes me a bit apprehensive, since it often means another uphill grind to get back out of a valley, but this time the descent continued all the way back to the front of the park. The trail exits the canyon on the left side of the GPS track above.

The Bear Canyon trail was a beautiful winding track through pine forest and rocky canyon. Below are some cottonwoods reaching like curling, ghostly white blood vessels over the green conifers behind them:


I realize now that one of the reasons I had never gone up Bear Canyon (from the low end) was the presence of electric infrastructure at the beginning of the trail, and the huge power lines strung all the way up the valley. It just seemed out of place and like it would detract from the beauty of the trail. However, I should have known better in this park. The canyon skirts the south end of the Flatirons, and is lined with dramatic slabs of red sandstone and granite, which is streaked with bright lichens:


My photos don't really convey the full effect of being surrounded by these monumental rock formations sweeping up the canyon side, with the trail, forest and Bear Canyon Creek all winding their way through below:


The photo seems so flat, whereas the actual experience was sensory overload from all directions, with scent and sound thrown in for good measure. I'm glad I decided to come down the back side of Green this time, and explore a new trail!