Some thoughts and discussions from me.
Fall in Colorado + Pressure to Do
This weekend could be summed up in three little words with a whole bunch of meaning: Fall in Colorado
I took that picture during a hike with Shane at Chautauqua yesterday. The abundance of color in the trees on the ground with the back drop of the mountains took my breath away, and then required a picture.
When I first moved here, I often heard how Colorado weather is great, except for one thing: we don’t get much of a fall. However, I really don’t understand why I’ve been told that. Fall here is ridiculously pretty. Aside from the aspens changing over to red, making the mountains look as if their on fire, the trees at the base of the mountains turn all sorts of colors!
Another something special about this particular hike was that it was Niko’s first time hiking at Chautauqua!
We didn’t ascend too high, and just stuck to the lower loops, but she still did a great job 
On Saturday I embraced the warm fall days we’re having by making several stops around the area, the first being at the Colorado Horse Rescue Center, where my friend Susie volunteers.
She wanted to show my friend, Katie, and me all of the horses, which were just the most adorable and beautiful creatures I’ve ever seen. They even had a handful of miniature horses (Lil Sebastion, anyone?)
And from there, we visited a pumpkin patch down the street!
You know, I don’t think I’ve ever been to a pumpkin patch before this weekend. I’ve been to an apple orchard a number of times, which is always a lot of fun, but somehow never to pick pumpkins. Eh, it was kind of overrated anyway 
It was mostly families with children, and the pumpkin patch was just a big field with a bunch of pumpkins lying on the ground. Is that how they all are?
However, since we were there, we partook in the activities, and even proved to be the only adults cool enough to go through the hay maze.
We’re stuck in here!!
success 
And unfortunately, I’d be lying if I told you that we found our way through on the first (or second, or third) try – HA!
Yesterday after our hike, I was thinking how very low key this weekend was for me. Not in the sense that I was laying around all weekend (in addition to the above activities, Friday night was a late night out with friends!) but in the physical activity-sense. I normally reserve Saturday or Sunday for a pretty long, intense hike. However, Saturday I didn’t break a sweat, and Sunday was a more leisurely hike. I got to thinking about how the nice weather is winding down, and I have to get out there and embrace every single hike I can possibly manage! But then I kind of gave myself a reality check. Actually, Katie checked my reality the other day at REI when we were talking about snow shoeing.
Along with the change of seasons here, comes the change of physical activities. As October fades away and the winter rolls in, what also rolls in is skiing and snow shoeing! I’ve only snow shoed once (and man it’s a workout – and SOMUCHFUN) and Shane and I have plans of taking skiing lessons in December. Plus, I have to remind myself that I live here now. If I do ALL OF THE THINGS in one season, then next year will just be a bunch of repeaters, not that that would be bad in itself. Anyway, I’m rambling. My point is that I need to put less pressure on myself to do all the things, all the time.
Thoughts?
What fall activities have you partaken in this year?
Colorado is just gorgeous!! You are so fortunate to have such fun activities available to you–and with amazing views! I’m excited for sledding down the big hill next to my house 😉
Alison @ Daily Moves and Grooves recently posted…Girls’ Nights {MIMM #9}
I definitely feel this pressure! Living in Vancouver, BC our sunny days can be limited – so when it is sunny outside I feel the need to go out there and spend the day doing outdoor things! With the mountains and hiking so close by it’s hard not to feel the temptation. Not to get all spiritual… but there’s a mantra I’ve heard before that basically says right now we are where we are meant to be. That helps me feel less ‘pressure’ if I all I want to do is relax on a sunny day!
Danielle @ Labelsarefortincans recently posted…Highlights of the Week
Utah is the same way with fall – just beautiful! I think when people say there isn’t much of a fall, I’m assuming they just mean it isn’t a super long season. That’s how it is here in UT… We typically only get about a month of gorgeous fall weather, and then winter quickly comes. Of course it depends on the year, but that seems to be what normally happens.
My thoughts are, yes, you need to put less pressure on yourself. The whole point of most of those activities are to enjoy yourself and embrace nature! That being said-I totally get the feeling. When we’re out there on vacation, I always feel like I need to go, go, go because it will be months for I can come back. There’s just so much to see!
Natalie @ Free Range Human recently posted…Racing Fool!
You’re so right. I just want to embrace nature as much as I can!! hehe
I love trail running in the fall. All the leaves make it so beautiful!
Liana@RunToMunch recently posted…Ghost Train Trail Race Recap
That pictures is gorgeous! It looks so pretty out there. Maybe I finally need to stop making excuses to visit my friend in Denver.
The only fall-ish things we’ve done is a corn maze and fall yard work (seeding the lawn, trimming stuff down, etc), which isn’t very “fun”.
Courtney @ Don’t Blink. Just Run. recently posted…Face The Music Friday #6
Ohhh man that photo from Chautauqua is beautiful!!
Is that pumpkin patch the one off Arapahoe and 75th? If so, it’s one that Greg and I went to and we were NOT impressed. Pumpkin Patch visits in MD were AWESOME and WAYYYYYY better. I was definitely disappointed this year.
YES for snowshoeing!!
Lauren @ Me and the Mountains recently posted…A Totally RAD Weekend
As someone who lives in a very similar climate to you, I totally second your thoughts – you can’t do it all! This is one of the shoulder seasons (the other being spring) when it’s getting too cold or snowy too high up to hike much but there’s not enough snow to ski (although it still looks warm where you are!). I like the shoulder season times because they are transitional times, and a few things I’ve learned is to take the pressure off myself when it comes to doing it all outdoors right now. We’re big back country skiiers so we’re out a lot when the snow gets deep and stable, and in the meantime I work it hard in the gym and have learned to embrace winter running. If I didn’t, I’d NEVER go outside in the winter, so learning to like running in chilly temps and getting out into the snow helps me enjoy winters here in Calgary. Soak it all up – even the leisurely hikes and times spent in homes with good friends. 😀
Bonnie recently posted…Stop the Snowball Before It Starts
I always see you hiking and need to do more of that!
such pretty pics and i love your plaid buttonup. xoxo
janetha recently posted…small batch banana protein muffins.
you definitely picked the right year to move for fall weather – this has been the longest, mildest and most pretty falls in the (almost) 5 years that i’ve lived here! usually, we get early october snow and enjoy only a week or two of fall..not the months we’ve had!
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