Saturday morning, March 9th, was cloudy and cool, as hikers met at the Garden of Gods camping parking area. The leader, Chris Drone, led 12 other hikers, with 1 new hiker. We consolidated vehicles, and moved over to the Backpackers parking lot, then headed NW out onto the trails. The 1st stop was “The Big H”, a rock formation about 30-40 ft. above the floor of the main trail. Several hikers had never been there before. Some took the opportunity to climb up to the formation, and ‘into” it.  We then continued down the stream, crossing it back and forth several times, then turned and went up a long hill. We walked thru the woods, until we got closer to some sandstone rock outcrops, where we ate lunch and took the group picture. We then continued, and, with the help & guidance of Sam Morales & Steve Melville, found formations such as Noah’s Ark, Starry Rock, Anvil rock, and, one rock that didn’t have a name for but, it was by Unanimous consent vote Not to name it after the hike leader. We met several hikers & couples during the day. We then turned, and mainly took a ‘walk thru the woods’ for a mile or so, and, we did something that Rarely happens…we “Gained” a hiker. He was out on the trail, and decided to follow us back. We had enough rain over the preceding 36 hours to make streams flow a bit, and to make some small waterfalls. We finished the day seeing the “Arch of the Gods. and then walked across the road to the Backpackers parking lot.. We hiked a bit over 5.5 miles, depending on whose app was checked. 

Next weeks hike will be led by Steve Melville meeting at 10 am at the Rim Rock parking lot. We will be “spotting” vehicles, because it will be a “one-way” hike. Steve has said the hike will be less than 5 miles.