Tue 4/16 - AM 130 minutes

Roundabout route to St. Mary's Falls, followed by a much more direct way back. Took a while to get going this morning after another day waking up to snow. My original plan was to head up the Columbine Trail to Gold Camp and then on to the 624 trail to the falls, instead I turned off onto Spring Creek Trail part way up. From looking at the map I'm thinking this added something to the length of the run although the upper Columbine trail has lots of turns and switchbacks as well. Quite steep at times to reach the road, then more gradual thankfully on the road itself. 

 in the tunnel

along the road

closed/collapsed tunnel

The 624 was also surprisingly mellow at first, but it became ever more steep towards the top until I finally had to say uncle and start walking. The final 2/10 of a mile were fairly interminable and quite frustrating until reaching the falls, but it was worth it for the view and for standing on a frozen waterfall:

 upstream

downstream

below the falls along the trail and much more modest in size

For the trip back down I knew I wouldn't be able to handle the ins and outs and more importantly short climbs of the Columbine trail so it was straight back down the road express elevator style. Somewhat jarring at times and calves started to tire near the very bottom but a no-brainer. Stopped at Helen Hunt Falls on the way down for a photo op:

Finished feeling pretty wiped out, but feeling better once I had lunch immediately afterward.