Course Description:

This is the fourth hike through the 2024 Peak Ready Series (click here to read more), a partnership between Women’s Wilderness and Life’s 2 Short Fitness. These hikes are intended for women and gender expansive people that are new to hiking, are wanting to explore the beauty of Colorado in a supportive community of like-minded women, or are training for the Life’s 2 Short Fitness trek to Kilimanjaro this summer.

This Saturday, June 22 hike is scheduled to take place on the beautiful trails of Staunton State Park, located 55 minutes southwest of central Denver (near Conifer). Staunton has it all! Gorgeous meadows, wondrous rock outcroppings and granite cliffs, and a stellar waterfall are just some of the highlights of this relatively new state park (opened in 2013).

Our planned route is a 10.5 mile loop that starts in the Lazy V lot, going counterclockwise combining a variety of trails that will give us ample opportunities to practice navigation skills in the backcountry. We will reward ourselves with a visit to the beautiful Elk Falls. The starting elevation of our hike is 8600’ and we’ll max out at approximately 9400’.

This hike will provide a challenge as we work up our physical and mental endurance, but the beautiful scenery and camaraderie will keep us moving and enjoying each step. During this hike, we will learn ways we can use various navigation tools in the backcountry to support our route finding, especially analog tools. As with all Peak Ready Series hikes, we will take rests to interpret the cultural and ecological history of the land, explore hiking skills, hydrate, snack, and enjoy one another’s company!

*If trail conditions do not allow for safe hiking in Staunton State Park, or the park closes the trailhead/trails for any reason, we will determine a new trail system and communicate that update to participants before the program date.

Hike Statistics:

10-mile loop

~2,400 ft elevation gain

Details:

Date: Saturday, June 22nd 2024

Time: 7am-4pm

Location: Staunton State Park, CO. Meet at the Wooly Mammoth Parking Lot off I-70 and Hwy 93 (Morrison exit). Women’s Wilderness will drive all participants into the state park with our van. (Specific meeting area will be provided in pre-hike communication). Participants with a Colorado State Parks Pass that need to drive themselves may meet us in Staunton State Park.

Price: $35/45/55 sliding scale

Included: transportation, light breakfast + lunch + snacks, park entrance fee, guided hiking

What to Wear & Bring:

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)

Lightweight or midweight gloves, winter hat (fleece or wool)

Baseball camp or wide-brim sun hat

Insulated/waterproof hiking shoes/boots (trail running shoes ok if its dry out); wool socks, gaiters if there is snow

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 (we recommend bringing 100 ounces, or 3L of water; e.g. 1L of water for every 2 hours of hiking

Women’s Wilderness has daypacks, hiking boots, and warm clothing you may use for free, as well! We will send you a Gear Checkout form prior to the hike.

For any questions email info@womenswilderness.org.

Your Instructors:

Lisa (she/her) retired from the male-dominated fire service, Lisa found strength and support throughout her career by networking with other women firefighters, and wishes to do the same type of women networking in the outdoor industry. Her goal is to welcome and introduce women of all colors to the beauty and benefits of the outdoors, and she occasionally nerds out on wildlife, plants, rocks, stars, and weather, taking those around her along for the ride with nature apps and reference books. She also actually loves the solace of tinkering in the gear room, where she organizes and repairs program equipment. Free time will find Lisa enjoying hiking, backpacking, snowshoeing, all season camping (say yes to winter!), and playing ice hockey. A lifelong learner, she holds degrees in zoology, healthcare science, outdoor education, and park ranger technology. Lisa is also an instructor for the WW Trailblazers affinity group.

Megan (she/her) has spent her life exploring nature in and outside of the US. Initially seeking a degree in Outdoor Education, she worked for Washington State Parks for 4 years, completed three long-distance hikes, and volunteered with various outdoor programs. Ultimately, her lifelong interest in food, nutrition, and health promotion led her to obtain a BS in Human Nutrition-Dietetics and her Registered Dietitian Certification. When not geeking out on food, Megan can be found romping in the mountains or desert, sun bathing with a good book, digging in the dirt, or playing music with her family.

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.