5-22-2012 Matthews/Winters Park Trail
MisterDubs303
Posts: 1,216 Member
My dog, Buster, and I hiked the Matthews/Winters Trail near Morrison, CO for the first time yesterday. It starts along Hwy. 93 near I-70 and goes to the Red Rocks Amphitheater. It winds through beautiful red rock formations. If you go on up to the top of the amphitheater, the trail is just under 8.5 miles round trip.
By mile 7, Buster was totally wiped out. There were hikers coming from behind us and from in front of us, all three parties meeting at a curve in the trail. As Buster and I were stepping to the side of the trail to allow one set of hikers to pass, the other Asian hikers yelled, " Asnaka! Asnaka! Danger! Danger!" I looked down and there was a 2.5 foot long rattle snake. We would have stopped with Buster literally right on top of the rattler. I was so thankful for that 3rd pair of hikers and their observation. It looks obvious in this pic, but even after they yelled, it took me a few seconds to spot it.
This is what Buster does when he's had enough... only 100 yards from the Jeep.
Then just as I got to the parking lot, I heard a bunch of screaming back down by the creek. I put Buster in the Jeep and went back down there to find this. A bull snake over 5 feet long.
By mile 7, Buster was totally wiped out. There were hikers coming from behind us and from in front of us, all three parties meeting at a curve in the trail. As Buster and I were stepping to the side of the trail to allow one set of hikers to pass, the other Asian hikers yelled, " Asnaka! Asnaka! Danger! Danger!" I looked down and there was a 2.5 foot long rattle snake. We would have stopped with Buster literally right on top of the rattler. I was so thankful for that 3rd pair of hikers and their observation. It looks obvious in this pic, but even after they yelled, it took me a few seconds to spot it.
This is what Buster does when he's had enough... only 100 yards from the Jeep.
Then just as I got to the parking lot, I heard a bunch of screaming back down by the creek. I put Buster in the Jeep and went back down there to find this. A bull snake over 5 feet long.
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Replies
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Looks like a great hike and you and Buster enjoyed it. Glad everyone came off the trail safe.0
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Didn't realize that trail was 8.5mi long round trip. I thought it was a bit shorter. Beautiful pics. Buster sure is a cutie!0
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That was according to the MapMyRun gps app on my iPhone. I think the trail itself is shorter, but then when you walk over to the amphitheater and up, it adds probably another 1/2 each way. There's another loop which would make it a little longer, but we took the Red Rocks trail that was a little lower and shorter.0
