Context - Everybody’s Friend

(3 minute read, 655 words)

Over the weekend, my husband suggested we take a walk. When I think about spending time in nature, my mind conjures up a canopy of filtered sun rays lighting a well-worn dirt path. Perhaps the sound of a babbling brook and some unseen woodland animals playing in the groundcover that flanks the trail. Me and nature, that’s it—a time to amble and bask in the wonder of things greater than myself. I love being outdoors.

Not a Colorado walk - Image by - BEO Nature, Forest Sounds screenshot.

But this type of walk is hard to find in Colorado.

Denver was developed on the plainlands at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, typically not known for having lots of trees. And it’s really sunny here, over 300 days per year. Not to mention, the high-altitude sickness* is a real thing. Denver is 5280 ft above sea level, and every place west is higher. We are relatively new to the state, and I have never been an athlete, so we rely on an app called Alltrails to pick paths to explore because… it’s never just a walk in the woods in Colorado.

We usually always pick an easy-rated route because we have chosen unwisely before. But I felt a bit adventurous this weekend, so we decided on a “generally considered moderate” trail (not my words). The difference between easy and moderate for me is some elevation change and maybe some rocks and tree trunks to climb over.

Moderate, my ass.

The lovely walk in the woods I hoped for morphed into a 30-minute, one-mile hike straight up on a rocky 21% incline with the noonday sun beating down on us. And the only animal noises that could be heard came from me as I gasped for air. In the distance, dark stormy clouds taunted us as they rolled in from the west while Patagonia-clad twenty-somethings were jogging by us with big smiling faces.

35% at the most! Image by - Alltrails, screenshot

I curbed the urge to poke them with my walking stick. Who the hell is rating these trails?

I am not a complete couch potato, but I’m stubborn. I wasn’t in competition with the people zipping by. At my age, I gave up on that long ago. The only person I was trying to beat was myself or my former sea-level fat self. I was going to make it up to the top, damn it! So, I put one foot in front of another, took many resting breaks, and reached the top. Yeah me! We walked around a little, did the “Griswolds taking in the Grand Canyon” stance, and headed back down the “hill.”

Leading with stubbornness isn’t always the best decision.

It didn’t rain while we were at the top or when we descended, but it would have been dangerous if it had because the trail would have turned into a river of slippery mud. And there was no place to seek shelter. I know the local weather conditions, but my brain jumps to what happens to people who innocently use this app, pick a “moderate” route, and then get into trouble.

Flash floods, wild animals (big and small), a bodily injury….good lord, the list is endless!

Maybe Alltrails should develop a sister app for the rest of us, “Stubborn but not Colorado Fit.” Or at least have this option as a filter when searching their site. In the meantime, I must accept that I can’t rely on their ratings. I have to be responsible and reasonable about my walking decisions beforehand. I need to decide how much of a challenge I am prepared to tackle and note important things like the feet gain to the length of the trail ratio. It is also wise to look at the photos. But it is paramount to know there is no shame in turning back if it becomes unmanageable or not fun anymore. I mean, the most important part of a walk for me is being outside and enjoying myself. Oh, and the beer afterward.

Gluten-free beer at Holidaily Brewing Co.

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*Source from the Mayo Clinic – Altitude Sickness Symptoms

(Whole body) inability to exercise, fatigue, loss of appetite, or low oxygen in the body.

(Sleep) sleepiness or sleeping difficulty.

(Gastrointestinal) nausea or vomiting.

(Respiratory) rapid breathing or shortness of breath.

(Also, common) fast heart rate, headache, insufficient urine production, or respiratory distress syndrome.