A run-in with Ma Nature

I know Colorado weather is capricious. I know this. 

But after a 10-mile hike yesterday, I have come to finally understand why more experienced hikers say you always take your wet weather gear on the trail.

 

Soaked to the bone in front ...

Let me explain: At 11 a.m. Wednesday, I took off for a 5.1 mile jaunt to the Pikes Peak Library. My plan was to get in a good 10 miler round-trip and get back in time to take the dog out for a few miles before making dinner. I had everything that I was sure I would need: Extra socks, two bottles of sunscreen, First Aid kit, ID and debit card, hand sanitizer, gallon of Gatorade. The sun was shining and it was 95 degrees with just a few puffy clouds in the sky. Those conditions prevailed the entire 90 minute walk to the library. 

I spent about 1 1/2 hours at the library, getting my card, perusing the aisles and making sure that I would like the books that I was checking out.

 

... and dry in the back!

It was a different day when I left. Thunderheads stretched over the Front Range and threatened the Springs, a strong wind kicked up and thunder rumbled from both the east and west. Actually, it made for quite pleasant hiking conditions for the first four miles. The rain held off until I was about a mile away from home. Then all hell broke loose. 

Rain pelted down, hurricane-gale winds swept the area and overflow areas that previously held nothing but the sweat of the Earth flash-flooded. I went from wearing sunglasses to protect my eyes from the glare to wearing them to protect my eyes from the pea-sized hail. The temperature dropped about 20 degrees in less than 20 minutes, the fronts of my clothes were soaked and I was pretty chilled by the time I made it home. 

It's safe to say I learned my lesson about being properly prepared. From here on out, I will make sure I always have my poncho and warm-up jacket in the backpack with me - I just shudder to think what I would have done if the clouds had opened up earlier on the trail. 

Evidence that I didn't toss my clothes in the drier between taking those previous pictures. This was just weird!

Anyone else had a run-in with sudden bad weather while out on the trail? What do you keep in your hiking pack?