Our leaf-peeping search for gold took us to Pancake Rocks, a favorite hiking trail near Cripple Creek. Unfortunately, we didn’t strike it rich with eye-popping vistas of golden, quaking aspen leaves.

But we did explore a back way to our destination, discover a new side trip with long sight-lines, and clamber around icy waterfalls – transforming our outing into an adventure!

A highlight was being entertained by friendly gray jays (aka camp robbers), who swoop and land on your hand for a morsel of trail mix.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All photos by Patrice Rhoades-Baum.