When we started the hike this morning at the base of the Flatiron Mountains, we didn’t see the sign warning us that part of Saddle Rock trail was damaged in last fall’s floods AND that a ladder was necessary to connect the trail AND that we might want to consider this as we chose a trail to hike. No matter, the criss-cross trails up and around Chatauqua Park and the Flatirons are always rocky and steep, flush with ferns in a few crevices, covered with almost-over alpine flowers, unexpected heart-catching views of the Rockies just around the bends in the trail, friendly hikers along the way (one woman commented that my “color palette” was her favorite! Yes, who knew?), lots of new, deep gullies from the floods. The mid-morning hike with Doug was a wonderful start to our day. Tonight, the Colorado Rocky Mountain Music Festival is putting together one of their “mash-ups,” combining Beethoven’s “Eroica” with music from Coldplay.