Mount Vernon Village - Red Rocks Hike - 7/12/09

Funny hat and camelpaks -- do we look like tourists or what!







We went on a hike yesterday that was the Mount Vernon Village Walk and Red Rocks Trail. Mt Vernon Village was established by Dr. Joseph Casto a lay minister from Illionois. The town was established at a stragetic location between Denver and a canyon leading to the mountain mining camps. It prospered for a while and boasted of 44 residents, two hotels, a blacksmith shop, a grocery store, a saloon, a feed and livery stable and resident's homes. When a new road was built to get to the mines and also trains, the town declined into obsquerity.



Off we go, Wendy taking the lead






All that's left of Mt. Vernon Village is a small cemetery that we passed on our hike.

We started climbing at 6,300 feet, enjoying the views.

Mid-point applying of lip gloss -- sure is hot and dry out there.

We took a side hike to Red Rock Ampitheater -- where John Tesh held a couple of his concerts. Look at all these healthy people walking, jogging up and down the steps. We sat on the side and enjoyed the sandwiches and chips we had packed and m&m's for energy

Rock formation in Red Rock Canyon. Our highest point today was about 6,800 feet (Rene has a hand-held gps that gave us our elevation, mileage & more. We hiked 8 miles that day. We were all a bit sore and tired.




Besides the beautiful views, the best part of the hike was seeing all the beautiful wildflowers along the way.

I might add that we also saw numerous mountain bikers -- crazy going down those narrow rocky paths. Colorado has the distinction of being the healthiest State -- we saw that today.