Devil's Backbone with friends

Devil's Backbone is this really great hogback ridge near Loveland, CO.  There's a nice down and back trail that runs the length of the ridge and this is also the area that Em and I did some volunteer rattlesnake research this fall.  So when our dear friends Kristy and Ashley came to town, we couldn't think of a better place close by to go for a stroll.

We loaded up the dogs and headed to Devil's Backbone.  It was a gorgeous winter day and the trail was in good condition despite the melting snow. Our friends also seemed to enjoy getting out on the hike.

The trail provided us with a great lookout spot of the sun setting over the Rocky mountains. We watched the last sun drop over the mountain horizon and then we headed back to town.  Our final stop was the Big Beaver Brewery and Blown Spoke Cidery for some tasty spirits.  It was the perfect end to a wonderful visit from our friends.

Rattlesnake Research

Devil's Backbone Open Space is a beautiful park outside of Loveland, CO.  This past weekend Em and I did some rattlesnake research on a restricted area of the park.  There is some proposals of putting in a new trail system so we were sent out there as volunteers to see if rattlesnake hibernaculum were present.

The whole project started when a rattlesnake gave a rattle behind the metal bunker doors seen below as park managers were scoping out the area.

We hit the area over the course of two days with almost 6 hours of monitoring.  We were looking for rattlesnakes and possible dens.

We didn't find any rattlesnakes but we found plenty of potential hibernacula spots between rocks and boulders like the ones seen below.

Even though we were a little disappointed in the lack of snake sightings, it was a great way to see some uncharted territory at one of our nearby parks.  

Plus, who doesn't love bushwhacking through waist high scrub hills looking for snakes? The best part, they gave us some nice snake guards that not only protected us from the spines of all the plants but they were pretty comfortable as well.

Devil's Backbone is considered a hogback geologic formation.  It is seen throughout Colorado but each one is unique and different in shape and size.  Prehistoric fossils have been found in this area including an elephant with 5 foot long tusks.

If you're ever in the Fort Collins/Loveland, CO area you should definitely give this park a try.  It's multi-use and allows dogs.  Who knows, if you come in a couple of years you may hike the new trails that we helped research.

Thanks Emily for being a great rattlesnake research partner.  Next time, I hope we see at least one snake!