About: Come join UpaDowna for a FREE (donations always welcome!) family friendly SPUR hike on February 22nd.  Led by our Family Activities Director Sarah DiPasquale, this will be a great opportunity for families with babies to elementary age children to connect with local families, discover a new trail, and enjoy getting outside.

We will meet in front of the Starsmore Discovery Center at 10am.  Here we will give our little hikers a “Bird Spy Bingo” sheet and go on a 1.5 mile hike, letting everyone explore along the way. After our hike we will gather to make sunbutter pinecone bird feeders that everyone can take home.  Please note that Starsmore Discovery Center is not open, so there are no bathrooms or water available.

Please bring water and be prepared for cooler temperatures. This is a great hike for families and dogs on leashes. Should we have snow or ice be prepared with traction devices or trekking poles to help with stability (we will have some on hand to borrow).

Remember in most types of weather, we will hike. There is no such thing as poor weather, only poor clothing choices. Suggestions of items to wear/bring are: hat, gloves, sturdy hiking shoes, warm socks, face cover, layers of clothing, water, snacks.

Trail Name/Park: Lower Columbine Trail, North Cheyenne Canyon

Location: Starsmore Discovery Center, 2120 S Cheyenne Cañon Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80906

Length: 1.5 miles

Elevation Gain: 300ft

Trail Type: Out-and-back, NOT stroller friendly

Skill Level: Beginner

Topic/Activity Covered: “Bird Spy Bingo” & Sunbutter Pinecone Bird Feeders

Dogs?: Yes, allowed on leash. Please bring doggy doo bags and water for them.

Trail Map: Click this link to view Map

DIRECTIONS TO TRAILHEAD:

From I-25 take the Tejon/Nevada Exit (Exit 140)

• Head south on Nevada Ave (away from downtown Colorado Springs)
• Turn right at Cheyenne Road (there’s a McDonalds and a Safeway on the corner)
• Proceed several miles to Starsmore Discovery Center, at the entrance to Cheyenne Canyon.

Meetup Location: Starsmore Discovery Center

Waiver: click here to sign the hiking waiver ahead of time

About SPUR:

Whether you are an experienced outdoors person, or just nature-curious, nature can help you stay active and social. Learn about ways to pack for day trips, where to find easy and fun hikes nearby, or how you can explore the Pikes Peak region by provided transportation through UpaDowna, where many of the adventures are free or with a donation. Thur. Feb. 27th, 10:15am-12:15pm $25 non-member, $10 member

For more info or to register: https://www.pillarinstitute.org/

Thank you to Red Leg Brewing Company for hosting us again this month for our Adventure on Tap! Be sure to arrive early to grab a beer, as well as some food from the amazing food truck that will be there! Servers will be on hand during the event to help keep your cup full. Red Leg is also donating $1/pint sold back to UpaDowna, so huge thanks to them!

About February’s Speaker: Sonia Meeter has been married to her husband Kevin for 23 years. They are the adoptive parents to two daughters who are currently 19 & 20 and “Lolli” & “Pop” to their first
granddaughter. Sonia serves as the Area Director for Business Networking International for the Southern Colorado region and is a Group Leader for Touchstone Crystal, Swarovski’s direct sales division for fashion
jewelry.

Sonia has always loved connecting with nature to be restored emotionally, mentally and physically. She grew up loving to hike through the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and surrounding
areas. Her favorite place she’d love to revisit is Muir Woods just north of San Francisco. Sonia will share with us how she has used camping for recovery from emotional trauma and her favorite tips to make camping fun and restorative. You may even get copies of some of her favorite camping recipes!

About Adventure on Tap: UpaDowna’s Speaker Series is a featured activity in our “Community Campfire” program. This activity features a new discussion each month. Keeping on theme with our mission, we want to inspire individuals to pursue outdoor endeavors and this is one of the ways we hope to bring new and exciting opportunities to you! Want to be a speaker? Sign up here: https://www.upadowna.org/programs/adventure-on-tap/

The Incline Happy Hour is back! What is the IHH? Well, a group of us make the trek up from the bottom of the incline then run down Barr Trail and usually end up at a local Manitou Springs watering hole afterward (this month: Manitou Brewing Company!). Start whenever you need to, this is self paced, not a race and is not a guided group activity. Friendly and welcoming to all, but be sure you are physically (and mentally) in shape for this extreme hike.

Come out, make some friends, and most importantly have fun! We look forward to seeing you!

How to participate:
1) Join our UpaDowna group on Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/566191
2) RSVP to the Incline Happy Hour of the month event
3) Sign the waiver: https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/w/5e12796086eeb/web/
3) Complete the Incline sometime that day (think about joining us at 2:30 pm!)
4) Optional: meet up afterward (at 6:30 pm) at the watering hole of the month (this month: Manitou Brewing Company!)

****Being a part of the UpaDowna Incline Happy Hour means that you will obey all rules and regulations of the Incline and Barr Trail (https://manitousprings.org/where-to-play/manitou-incline/). We DO NOT associate ourselves with people that cut switchbacks, litter, or display other disrespectful uses of the trial. The Incline has it’s own set of “guidelines” that you may or may not choose to follow. Ages 21+ only for this event. Dogs are NOT recommended for this trail.*****