• Empty Chair

    Empty Chair. Copyright © 2026 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    I’d planned to take a picture of Ginger sitting, enjoying the view, which would have been a great silhouette. But Ginger got up as I grabbed my phone. So instead, we have an empty chair. Hilton President Hotel, Kansas City, Missouri.

  • Ginger’s Flowers

    Ginger’s Flowers. Copyright © 2026 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    Ginger loves to sit here in the sun in the winter. I liked the light on flowers and thought I’d try to capture it. Unfortunately, the battery was dead on my camera, so, I used my cell phone instead. The odd colored highlights are caused by the crystals we hang in the Sparkle Zone’s windows.

    Ginger’s Flowers. Copyright © 2026 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
  • The Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs

    The Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs. Day 9 – Road Trip October 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    I arrived in Colorado Springs on time, and we packed Ginger’s stuff into the car. Now what? We’d booked a hotel in Colorado Springs so that Ginger could take a rest, and I could get cleaned up ready for the next part of our trip, a visit to Ginger’s childhood town and haunts. Our hotel room wasn’t ready, so we went for a drive around, and quick a walk around some of the more popular parts of the Garden of the Gods. For a Friday afternoon in October the place was packed, so I gave up trying to get pictures there were just too many people getting in the way. This picture originally had four people in it.

  • The sudden shock of being confronted with the expanse of the plains

    The sudden shock of being confronted with the expanse of the plains. Day 9 – Road Trip, October 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    I saw this picture — well, one like it — while driving north on Day 3 and made a note to take a picture on the return trip, except I couldn’t find the exact viewpoint I’d found, which is a shame because it was a much better composition. Oh well, this photograph will have to do.

  • Plains and mountains

    Plains and mountains — Seen from Hwy 24, Colorado. The Rocky Mountains are striking, but the unexpected plains between them took my breath away. Driving across the plains for miles and miles was humbling. Day 9 – Road Trip, October 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
  • Leaving Chalk Creek Canyon

    Leaving Chalk Creek Canyon — I hadn’t gone far before the scenery in the rearview mirror begged me to stop and take a picture. Day 9 – Road Trip, October 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
  • Sunshine on the cliff tops

    Sunshine on the cliff tops — Just after seven the sunlight caught the tops of the cliff behind the campground. Time for a quick picture, finish packing everything away in the car, and get on my way. Day 9 – Road Trip, October 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
  • Day 9. Pre-dawn light

    Up before dawn. Day 9 – Road Trip, October 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    It’s six-thirty, and I have to be in Colorado Springs shortly after ten. I allowed plenty of time to wake up and get ready to go. I packed away most of my stuff before bed, and set my alarm, and this was the view that greeted me when I got out of the tent.

  • Well staked out

    Well staked out. Day 8 – Road Trip October, 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    It’s been very windy, so I used all the tie out points on Ginger’s Zpacks Duplex tent. I also used the freestanding kit so I didn’t have to collapse the tent to use my hiking poles for hiking. Though, had I thought of it, I think Ginger has some carbon fiber tent poles I could have brought along.

    I do like this tent, though I’ve never used it for backpacking. It would certainly be lighter than my hammock set up. But sleeping on the ground, even with Ginger’s four-inch thick sleeping pad, is not as comfortable as sleeping in my hammock. As to having to get down on my hands and knees to get in and out… I think it’s the hammock life for me.

  • Entrance to the Cascade Campground

    Entrance to the Cascade Campground — Looking out towards the road. Day 8 – Road Trip, October 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
  • Back to the start and some trailside pumpkins

    Back to the start and some trailside pumpkins — I saw these near the start of the trail. Hike totals: 6.5 miles and 1,300 ft. of elevation gain/loss. Day 8 – Road Trip, October 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
  • Nearly down

    Nearly down — it took me around fifty minutes to get here from the top of the ridge. Day 8 – Road Trip, October 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
  • Trailside deer

    Trailside deer — the deer here are not timid, there were three in this group, but the others were enjoying an afternoon snack behind the cover of some bushes, so I could only get a picture of this one. Day 8 – Road Trip October 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
  • A brief respite

    A brief respite — The trail levels out briefly in places. Day 8 – Road Trip, October 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
  • Looking up the trail

    Looking up the trail — Going up was much easier than coming down. I have just noticed that I can see my footprints going up the trail in this picture. Day 8 – Road Trip, October 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
  • The views continue to impress me

    The views continue to impress me. Day 8 – Road Trip, October 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    I didn’t take a compass bearing, so if my interpretation of the map is correct we are looking at (nearest to furthest), first, an unnamed peak with the Mt. Princeton Chalet and Lucky Mine out of view on the top, then Tigger Peak (I misread that name earlier and called it Tiger Peak), and finally Mt. Princeton.

  • Descending

    Descending — Day 8 – Road Trip, October 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    The long trudge down the ridge has begun. The trail is steep and sandy at the top, making for a very loose footing. I’m always surprised to find sand in high places. Of course, it makes perfect sense when you consider the entire area was buried under an alluvial plain at one point.

    It’s a tad steep in places — Day 8 – Road Trip, October 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    Yes, it really is that steep. This descent is not for sissies, or the wrong footwear! I was fine with my Bedrock Sandals and hiking poles.

  • A last look to the southeast

    A last look to the southeast — before dropping back down into Chalk Creek Canyon, I popped over to the other side of the ridge for one last look at the view across the plains to the southeast. Day 8 – Road Trip, October 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved
  • The endless play of light

    The endless play of light — I stayed here for several minutes watching the ever-changing light move across Chalk Creek Canyon. Day 8 – Road Trip, October, 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved
    Long way down — about 900 ft. and I’m parked in the bottom of the valley. This viewpoint shows how massive piles of scree have spread out across the canyon’s floor. Day 8 – Road Trip, October 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
  • Chalk Creek Canyon

    Chalk Creek Canyon — I couldn’t resist taking a picture of Chalk Creek Canyon framed by this tree and bush. It was windy and the light was changing rapidly as the clouds moved across the sky. Day 8 – Road Trip October 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
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