In the month of July for a Hike for Discovery group hike we headed to Elk Meadow Park which is one of the many Open Space Parks in Jefferson County, Colorado .  Connected to Elk Meadow Open Space is Bergen Peak which is part of the Denver Mountain Parks and this was also part of our hike.

We started off from the parking lot off of Stagecoach Blvd. and spent a good amount of time on the trails within Elk Meadow prior to it getting warm.  It was obvious at that time it was going to be a warm hazy day, but we were hoping that it would not get too warm as it had been in Denver, and that the near 8,000 foot elevation would help with the weather.  While on the Painters Pause trail, you could understand why it was called this with the long grasses growing in a scene which could remind you of a painting scene especially in the right light.  Moving onward around the edge of Elk Meadow we added an out and back on the trail to add another 1.4 miles to the hike to get us well over the 12 mile mark for the final tally on the day.  Heading back on this additional trail we could see Bergen Peak ahead which would consume the next three plus miles of hiking as we made our way to the top.

After hiking the Too Long Trail we made it to the junction of the Bergen Peak trail which would take us to the top of the peak.  Prior to making the final mile to the peak we stopped for some lunch and to refuel ourselves after a warm climb to the junction.

At the top we were just shy of 10,000 feet and looking out in some hazy skies.  It was uncertain if some of the haze was due to the wildfires in California at the time, however from past hikes to the top of Bergen Peak I knew the view was quite limited.  After a short break we headed back down the Bergen Peak trail all the way which was rocky at spots and was worse on the body then heading to the top.

Hike for Discovery is the endurance hiking fundraising program for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society . If you would like to donate as I raise money for the LLS visit the Neil Corman Hike for Discovery Donation page . I thank you for supporting my hiking this summer and more so the LLS.