Sanitas Smoke

Wednesday, August 11, 2021

“The air, as it seemed to them, grew harsh, and filled with a bitter reek that caught their breath and parched their mouths.”
— J.R.R. Tolkien

Phase 1: Sanitas Valley

The legacy crew (S and D) set out on a hot, smoky evening, to reacquaint themselves with the welcoming shade of Mt. Sanitas. A dusky haze hung in the air, masking the view to the east. D reported that Denver has recently had the highest air pollution of any city in the world [1], and this was certainly evident again tonight.

The pair trundled up the trail, accompanied by numerous dog walkers [2], and a few joggers here and there. The air seemed breathable, with no particular odor, but evident more in stinging, watering, and burning eyes.

Phase 2,3: Foothills Community Park

S had scoured the web in search of a less-populated park near the Sanitas Valley trail. A new venue, Foothills Community Park, seemed promising, a 10-minute drive from the trailhead.

The park was quite large, with a community farm area, several soccer fields, a few playgrounds, two roller-hockey rinks, and a landing area for paragliders. It’s expansive enough for a BNO itself, with its various trails and amenities.

Questions of the Night

  1. When was Foothills Parkway constructed?

Notes

  1. https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/08/weather/us-western-wildfires-sunday/index.html

  2. Despite all the canines, I saw zero discarded dog-waste bags—maybe the educational signage at the trailhead, along with a certain level of peer pressure, might be having a positive effect. Here’s an interesting study of that behavior:
    https://lnt.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2_2_18_OSMP_Pet_Waste_Final_Report-1-201802051053.pdf

Addenda

BNOSRSanitas Valley