Don't Call Me Ishmael: Quixotic beer runs

Pikes Peak from overlooks in Teller Countty

No sooner had shelter-in-place reached Colorado then I actively looked for ways to use my much-reduced trips outside to continue to explore the state. With winter over and the virus hitting, I had spring fever.

Paradox Brewing helped me through the shelter-at-home phase. By only opening Saturdays for beer pickups, I had an excuse to venture into Teller County for glimpses of the mountains and possible wildlife.

Taking a weekend off from beer pickups meant sticking to lower elevations and crowded parks. Fortunately the brewery continued to delivery repertory beers, digging deep into its cellar for a few bottles of beers three to six years old. With their expertise in barrel aging and sour beers, there wasn't any fears about getting past-prime beer.

I found new trails hidden deep on a dead-end road in Teller County. No one was hiking that day, with the trail coated in dense snow. The other times I tried to hike, snow still stuck to the trail but cars now filled the trailhead. On one trip, I spotted a fox galloping through the roadside snow .

I turned north from Lake George and found the quiet splendor of the Tarryall Valley. Parking lots at closed trailheads were clogged with cars. The Forest Service could not easily block off these gravel lots on the edge of the road. Just a few minutes of standing there, observing the broad Tarryall Valley was enough to calm any virus concerns.

At the Tarryall dam, groups of fisherstepped into the creek waters. The road was active even as people were encouraged to roam no more than 10 miles from home. I didn't want to go anywhere crowded with people, I just wanted to go somewhere other than my house.

I always brought a bandanna, I stayed in the car except to gas up and limited human contact. Police presence along the route was relatively heavy. Lighter traffic helps speeders to stand out.

For March, April and May, the beer runs provided a regular Saturday outlet. I expect they will lead to new travels as summer moves on. Tarryall is no longer unknown to me, and the hidden trail in Teller County demands a visit.