Course Description:

This Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, join us for a Shared Path hike dedicated to honoring both extraordinary and everyday individuals who have marched together to change the world and strive for equity. As we walk together, step by step, we’ll reflect on our common values, share stories of those who inspire us to work toward a more just and equitable world, and explore ways to heal collectively from the impacts of racism. This hike also commemorates the National Day of Racial Healing on January 21, offering a meaningful opportunity for connection, reflection, and growth.

We will put one foot in front of another in Matthews/Winters Park, a Jefferson County Open Space park. Bordered by I-70 to the north, Hwy 93 to the south, and Denver’s Red Rocks Park to the south, the trails in this 2,461 acre park traverse land that was once known as the very short-lived town of Mount Vernon. We will enjoy a 5-mile lollipop hike that takes us through open meadow tall grasses, and eventually red sandstone rock formations that make Red Rocks Park so famous, with sloping foothills to the west and the Dakota Hogback to the east.

Details:

Date: Monday, January 20, 2025

Time: 9am-1pm

Price: $25/35/45

Location: Matthews/Winters Park (near Red Rocks)

Included in fee: guided hiking and conversations, snacks, gear rental (winter clothing, trekking poles, traction spikes)

What to Wear & Bring:

BYOL (Bring Your Own Lunch)

Wear layers (Upper Body: wool or synthetic base layer, midlayer, and a top layer jacket; Lower Body: base layer and a top layer, unless temperatures are warm)

(If temps are cold) Lightweight or midweight gloves, winter hat (fleece or wool)

Baseball cap or wide-brim sun hat

Hiking shoes/trail running shoes/boots; wool/synthetic socks

If there is some snow/ice on trails – gaiters, traction for shoes (Women’s Wilderness has traction you can borrow)

Sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm

Daypack (between 22L and 30L) – enough to hold water, snacks, lunch, and layers

Notepad and pencil/pen (if you’d like to take notes or record observations)

Water bottle (s) or hydration bladder. Please bring at least 2 liters of water (0.5L for each hour we are hiking).

Hiking poles (optional)

Women’s Wilderness has most of this gear you may use for free, as well!

For any questions email info@womenswilderness.org.

Your Instructors:

Kriste (she/her) is a passionate outdoor enthusiast who loves being in community while in nature. She’s all about bringing mindfulness and storytelling into the mix in ways that heighten the inner and outer adventure by teaching us more about ourselves and our surroundings. She’s also a trail runner, writer, and Wilderness First Responder.

Marley (she/her) has spent over 25 years engaging communities in wildlife conservation education, as well as evaluating environmental education programs and measuring impact. Working for Women’s Wilderness is a meaningful intersection of Marley’s passion for outdoor recreation and her commitment to equity, access, and inclusion for individuals and communities historically excluded from experiences in and with the natural world.