Tax Yourself on Mt. Morrison After Work Hike & Dinner

STRONG HIKERS ONLY! We'll celebrate tax day (taxes are actually due on the 18th this year (http://money.cnn.com/2011/01/04/pf/taxes/tax_deadline_extended/index.htm)) by taxing ourselves on the iconic Mt. Morrison under a nearly full moon starting from Gate #4 of Red Rocks Park. This is a serious hike: 1950' of elevation gain over 1.8 miles each way (3.6 miles total). This hike is steep, strenuous, parts of it are Class II (you have to use your hands to climb over boulders, but nothing serious), and an excellent training hike for more serious climbs on the weekend. If you can't keep up on this hike, you're on your own--DON'T COME ON THIS HIKE IF YOU ARE NOT A STRONG AND REASONABLY FAST HIKER. This hike takes between 2-1/4 to 2-1/2 hours (for strong hikers). After the hike, we'll try out a new restaurant for this group, Jus Cookin's Restaurant (http://www.juscookins.com/index.html).

This hike will be led by Cecilia La France, as Ed White will be recovering from foot surgery. Ed plans to be at the dinner afterward.

Please note the details about bringing appropriate gear and in case of bad weather in this Meetup Group's Welcome! description. In particular, be sure to bring rain gear and a headlamp (we will be hiking down after sunset at 7:39pm, although we'll still be in twilight). Hiking poles are especially helpful on this steep climb. Dogs are welcome on the hike, but you must pick up after your dog and it must be on a leash. If you come on this hike, you are agreeing to this waiver (http://files.meetup.com/1509766/Release%20of%20Liability%20generally.pdf).

Directions: We'll be meeting just inside entrance Gate #4 to Red Rocks Park off of C74 about 1/2 mile outside of downtown Morrison. To get there, exit Morrison Rd. from C470 and turn west, go west/north on Morrison Rd through downtown Morrison, and at the stoplight at the end of the street go straight onto C74 towards Evergreen. You'll pass Gate #3 on the right first, then you'll see Gate #4 on the right. The trailhead is just inside the gate, and you can park on the street near it. If the gate is closed, park outside of the gate or on the street, but do not block the gate as it is used for emergency egress. Click here for a map with directions. (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=&daddr=39.653747,-105.201945&hl=en&geocode=&mra=mi&mrsp=0&sz=16&sll=39.653003,-105.201774&sspn=0.012192,0.027788&ie=UTF8&z=16)