13 minute read
Winter activities that thrill and chill
Red Rock Canyon, a quick drive from Manitou Springs, is geologically related to Garden of the Gods.
Photo by Rhonda Van Pelt
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By Bridgett Harris
Just because winter has arrived doesn’t mean everyone has to hunker down indoors and hibernate until spring. One of the key benefits to living in Colorado is the many surprisingly mild days available for getting outside and enjoying all the Pikes Peak region has to offer.
Getting a daily dose of fresh air, exercise and vitamin D can help beat back the winter blues and create a little respite from the busy holiday season. Fortunately, the Westside provides plenty of options for banishing cabin fever.
One of the most convenient and affordable options (free) for exploring the great outdoors this winter is right in Manitou’s backyard — the Paul Intemann Memorial Nature Trail.
Running from Section 16 in Colorado Springs all the way to Barr Trail and the Manitou Incline, the Intemann Trail unlocks access to several of the region’s most popular hiking routes as it weaves through the hills on the west side.
The Manitou portion of the trail offers a pretty easy hike with multiple places to head quickly and easily into civilization if the weather goes from mild to wild. Hikers can also travel down the leg that leads to Crystal Valley Cemetery and explore a piece of Manitou’s history, or head up the steep and strenuous Red Mountain Trail above the city for more views.
Hikers should bring adequate water, dress in layers and have a plan for inclement weather, especially if they plan a longer journey out toward Section 16 or up Barr Trail. Just east of Manitou Springs near U.S. Highway 24 and Ridge Road, Red Rock Canyon Open Space offers multiple trails that range from easy to moderate, and many are suitable for cross-country skiing. The park also features two off-leash areas for your four-legged friends, picnic tables, an open-air pavilion and a bicycle freeride area.
Watch for wildlife around the ponds that remain from a thriving, historic quarry that furnished beautiful red stone for buildings throughout Colorado. Information: redrockcanyonopenspace.org.
For folks who like their outdoor experiences a little more on the chill side, the Garden of the Gods Visitor Center (1805
N. 30th St., gardenofthegods.com) hosts multiple winter events that allow participants to immerse themselves in nature and get re-centered amidst the chaos of the holiday hustle. Hiking and mindful meditations aren’t the only ways to enjoy time outside in the winter. Cycling is another great option for Outdoor adventure doesn’t have to warm winter days and even cold ones — if riders know how to bundle up. There’s no need to actually own a bike to enjoy riding, either. Snag a PikeRide in Hiawatha Gardens stop when (10 Old Man’s Trail) or from the rack outthe temps side the Manitou Pool (202 Manitou Ave.) drop. and cruise around town or take it all the way to Old Colorado City or downtown Colorado Springs via the Midland Trail. Information: www.pikeride.org. Check www.pikeride.org/faqs for pricing and other important details. Outdoor adventure doesn’t have to stop when the temps drop. Be opportunistic and take advantage of every warm day. Bundle up on colder days and find new ways to connect with nature and find a little peace. These outstanding options provide opportunities to get out and play in a variety of ways all winter long.
Places of worship
(cont.)
words, actions and spirit, walking in the way of love, we provide authentic opportunities for people to seek meaning in life and become spiritually active.
We follow a Christian tradition that takes the Bible seriously in reasonable encounter, incorporates tradition and the contemporary in worship, respects the dignity of every person, embracing diversity and invites “you” to the challenge of engaging actively in the world’s needs today, especially with our neighbors struggling with life’s issues.
You are invited!
Sacred Heart Parish
www.sacredheartcos.org or 719-633-8711
Originally, Sacred Heart was a mission of the oldest church in the diocese, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Manitou Springs. Founded in 1888 in Colorado City, it was originally called St. Mary’s. In 1922, architect Thomas MacLaren built a new church in the Spanish Mission style at 2030 W. Colorado Ave., and it was renamed Sacred Heart.
In 1926, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate were invited to assume pastoral duties of Sacred Heart Church and OLPH as a mission. In 1931, Holy Rosary Chapel in Cascade (4435 Holiday Trail) was added to the parish. In 1984, the Congregation of Holy Cross assumed pastoral duties and has served the parish ever since.
The parish’s mission is “to make God known, loved and served.”
OLPH was founded in 1860 and dedicated at its current location, 218 Ruxton Ave., in 1889. The little church burned down and was rebuilt in 1903. A Lourdes Grotto was added a year later.
Located halfway up the Ute Pass, Holy Rosary Chapel was built in memory of Thomas and Mary Green Cusack and dedicated in 1931. The chapel is in a Romanesque style using local red rock.
Holy Rosary Chapel
EVENT CALENDAR
Saturday, Dec. 24: • 4 p.m. Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, with caroling beginning at 3:30 p.m. • 4:30 and 7 p.m. Mass at Sacred Heart Church • 8 p.m. Mass at Holy Rosary Chapel, with caroling beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 25: • 7:30, 9 and 11:30 a.m. Mass at Sacred Heart Church
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Souls Church
soulschurch.com
Souls Church believes that God is the Master Artist, the Local Church is His Studio and our Collective Lives are His Mosaic. Souls Church is committed to being that mosaic, a unified collective of fragmented people brought together to form a beautiful work of art, shaped continuously by the Master Artist.
We are a Bible-believing church in the Evangelical Baptist tradition. We meet at 10 a.m. Sundays at the Manitou Art Center, 513 Manitou Ave. You can learn more about all of our gatherings by visiting our website.
ALSO
New Life Church, Manitou Springs: 455 El Paso Blvd., manitousprings.new lifechurch.org or 719-594-6602. Christmas Eve service 2-4 p.m.
Timberline Baptist: 512 Cañon Ave., 719-685-4121.
Deer crossing
Even wild animals love to hang out in Manitou Springs in the winter.
Photo by Rhonda Van Pelt
Books
help make long winter nights better
Courtesy of your PPLD/ Manitou Springs Library Staff
No matter what building we’re in, Manitou Springs Library’s staff remains dedicated to helping you find the perfect materials to entertain you and help you grow.
This winter, we’re happy to share recommendations for newer releases to help you explore your inner landscape, tickle your funny bone or transport you to a fantasy land.
They’ll make great gifts for loved ones — or for yourself, when you need to curl up with a cup of tea and get lost in a book.
Here are suggestions from our staff members:
Robin Laborde, associate
“Our Kind of People” by Carol Wallace
An intriguing tale of life in the Gilded Age. When entrepreneur Joshua Wilcox gambles his fortune on a scheme to build an elevated railroad line, he jeopardizes everything he has worked for — just as his two daughters are set to debut in New York society. As the family confronts their changed status, they find new resources and unexpected friends.
Alexis Nelsen, senior associate
“We Ride Upon Sticks” by Quan Barry
Salem, Massachusetts, 1989: The ladies of the Danvers High field hockey team take it upon themselves to end their years-long losing streak by any means necessary, which may include some semi-dark rituals and witch-adjacent methodologies. A story about friendship, femininity and sentient coiffures.
Taryn Malila, manager
“Summer Sons” by Lee Mandelo
After his best friend Eddie dies, Andrew moves to Nashville to start his graduate program at Vanderbilt and uncover the truth behind Eddie’s death. In Nashville, Andrew discovers that Eddie left him more of an inheritance than he bargained for. “Summer Sons” is a modern Southern Gothic that combines Appalachian folklore, ghost stories, friendship, love, class issues and street racing.
Ashley Cialone, assistant
“An Elephant in the Garden” by Michael Morpurgo
Set in 1940s Germany, a mother and her two children must escape the bombings in Dresden, Germany, as their home is destroyed. Morpurgo dives into a unique story, inspired by true events, in which the family travels across the country with their friend and elephant, Marlene, whom they saved from Dresden Zoo before the bombings began. This is the perfect young-adult fiction book to curl up and read this winter as you follow this family’s journey and meet an unexpected ally along the way.
Karin Swengel, senior associate
“Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow” by Gabrielle Zevin
New York Times bestselling author Gabrielle Zevin weaves a bright, compelling and romantic tale about Mazer and Sadie, two video game designers who have known each other for almost a lifetime. They navigate a relationship that starts with a bond over mazes, become wildly successful game developers and feel an unspoken love that could make or break them.
Emily Baker, senior associate
“Small Spaces” by Katherine Arden
Sixth-grader Olivia Adler loves reading, so when she sees someone throwing away a book, she won’t stand for it. Then, when her class takes a field trip to Misty Valley Farms where the smiling man and his scarecrow servants lurk, she realizes this book could have the clues she needs to outwit them. “Small Spaces” is a spooky middle-grade read that’s sure to give everyone chills.
Makayla Polunci, senior associate
“Among the Beasts and Briars” by Ashley Poston
This is an atmospheric and dark fairy tale-inspired YA Fantasy Novel. The Kingdom of Aloriya has experienced peace for the past hundred years, but when a new queen is crowned, the cursed woods start to close in. Cerys, a gardener’s daughter, sets out with two strange animal companions, searching for the lady of the wood — Aloriya’s last hope. But the woods are twisted and savage, and it’s going to take all Cerys has just to survive.
Celia Egghart, senior associate
“Crocodile Hungry” by Eija Sumner, illustrated by John Martz
A hungry crocodile is on a search for the perfect snack. When canned ham proves too hard to open and beef jerky gets stuck in his teeth, Crocodile searches for food in some unlikely places. Crocodile’s voice and the zany illustrations leave lots of room for laughs. A perfect read aloud and a story time favorite.
CHECK IT OUT
The Manitou Springs Library is temporarily co-locating with the Manitou Art Center, 513 and 515 Manitou Ave. Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays. Information: ppld.org/manitou-springs-library or 719-531-6333, ext. 7004.
The pawfect holiday season for your pets
By Laura Ettinger-Harwell
Our pets are family, and we include them in all aspects of our lives. The holidays are certainly no exception.
If you hand-sewed that Santa Claus costume for your dog or cat or taught your cockatiel to whistle “Silver Bells,” this information is for you. If your beloved pets are on the family holiday card every year, you are in the right place!
But, as any experienced and committed pet “parent” knows, with great love and companionship comes great responsibility. That means keeping your furry and feathered friends safe and healthy.
The fast-paced holiday season that begins with Thanksgiving and wraps up sometime around New Year’s Day can be especially trying, and the potential for injury and harm to your pet increases. Fear not — we’ve got you covered!
With a little planning ahead and a bit of education, you can set up your family and your pets for holiday success. Won’t it be nice to have one less stressor this time of year?
The holidays often center around food. We’ve all slipped our dog a little tidbit under the table, but keep in mind that fatty foods are hard for them to digest.
According to the American Veterinary Medicine Association, turkey has been known to cause pancreatitis in dogs. And, it may sound like common sense, but no bones!
That dessert table over there, laden with all the sweetness? Nope. If you want to give your pets a treat, purchase something made just for them.
If you have a feathered friend, one of the biggest dangers is toxic fumes. This can be anything from fumes emitted by modern cookware to cigarette smoke or perfume.
If you have guests over for the holidays, keep your bird safe. Also, ’tis the season for those fragrant, holiday-scented candles — keep that bird away from flame and fragrance. And, if a guest brings their dog with them when they visit, house your bird safely in its cage.
You may be considering giving a kitten or puppy as a Christmas gift. There’s a lot to consider. If you plan to travel during the
holidays, you may need to wait before adopting, according to feline behaviorist Carole Galloway. “Kittens are pretty dependent on their caregivers for the first year of life. You cannot leave them home alone even with a friend or pet sitter that comes by every day,” she says. “They are extremely curious and too many dangers lurk around the corner, including toys that aren’t really toys; i.e., tree ornaments, ribbons, even the Christmas tree itself!” Ditto for Christmas puppies. If you won’t be around to begin training the little one, perhaps wait until after the holidays. Christmas trees, ornaments, etc., pose the same threat for dogs (young or old) as for cats. Leaving an adult cat or dog to their own devices, even for a short weekend away, is a bad idea. Holiday plants such as poinsettias, mistletoe and holly can be toxic to cats Courtesy of Laura Ettinger-Harwell and dogs. Although they would have
Angus the orange tabby loves to curl up under the Christmas tree. to ingest quite a bit of the poinsettia to become ill, no one wants to see their pet in that condition. Make sure they have plenty of other things — enrichment/project toys, treats or safe chew toys — to gnaw on. Lastly, whether your cat or dog is a social party animal or likes the quiet life, holiday parties can be very stressful. Animals in stress are more apt to escape and become lost. “We can take steps to help them recover quickly and reduce the lasting effects of the experience,” behaviorist Melissa Shandley says. “When people come, I put my cats in their safe room with calming music, toys and treats. “If friends or family want to visit, I introduce them quietly and not in a big group. I offer toys to make it fun for everyone. They are less stressed Courtesy of Laura Ettinger-Harwell YsaBeaux loves Christmastime with his family. and so am I, knowing they won’t be so scared they may try to escape outside.” If your dog is crate-trained, keeping them in their safe place in a room away from the party means worry-free festivities for you and a calm environment for him or her. Keeping your beloved furry and feathered family members safe will ensure that the holiday season truly is the most wonderful time of the year!
