Cherry Creek Take Two: Cooler Temps, Happier Cat

The last time Maple and I ventured into Cherry Creek State Park, we had to call it quits almost immediately. The sun was relentless, pounding down on us like a hammer on an anvil. The heat was so intense that even I didn’t want to be out in it, let alone put Maple through the ordeal. It was one of those days where the outdoors felt more like a punishment than a peaceful escape.

But this time, we were determined to make it work. So after work, Maple and I set out again, but with a better plan—an evening hike, when the sun wouldn’t be as unforgiving. To top it off, we had two new members from our Meetup group joining us.

Maple started the hike inside her bag, content at first. I think she was enjoying the cooler evening air as much as I was. The sun was setting, casting everything in that beautiful golden light, and our brisk pace kept us cool. There was no escape from the city though, with cars driving along the top of the dam, to the distant roar of traffic from the freeway on the other side. The sound did not deter us from enjoying our time.

But Maple being Maple, she quickly grew moody. Before long, she was fidgeting in her bag, clearly wanting to be on top where she could observe everything. I held off as long as I could, but when her little “pleas” started to break my heart, I gave in and let her up. I had hoped to avoid the usual bribery with lickable treats, especially in front of people I’d just met—gotta look like I know what I’m doing, right? But ultimately, my soft spot for Maple won, and I caved.

We covered over 6 miles in about 2 hours. While there was no elevation gain to speak of, it still felt like an accomplishment to finally complete a hike that had previously bested us. Technically, I guess it wasn’t much of a “hike” since we were still in the city, but hey, I’m counting it! Maple handled the distance surprisingly well, though by the end she was clearly ready for a rest (and maybe a little more bribery).

It felt good to get back out there and finish what we started. Redemption complete!

Would you still consider this a hike? Let us know in the comments!