Handstands Around the World

In 2019, for the first time ever, I participated in the 52 Hike Challenge.

This is exactly what it sounds like: the challenge of completing 52 hikes in 52 weeks. The only guidelines are that the hike should be at least 1 mile (1.6 km) long, you can complete a maximum of 1 hike per day (on the few days I did multiple hikes, I lumped the mileage together and counted it as 1 hike), and repeat hikes are acceptable.

I ended the year with 63 hikes totaling 304.9 miles (491 km) and 61,312 feet (18,688 m) elevation gain, marking a successful completion of the challenge. So, as a summary of 2019, I’ve decided to post 1 photo from each hike. A handful of these hikes were completed twice, which is why the numbering on the list below doesn’t match the total number of hikes listed above.

NOTE: I don’t live track my hikes, so distances and elevation gains are from trail signs, maps, or AllTrails, and may not be exact.

1. Palisade Falls + Grotto Falls, Hyalite Canyon, Montana | 5 miles (8 km) | 515 feet (160 m) elevation gain
   
   

   

2. Tower/Castle/Walkers Dream Loop, Mount Falcon Park, Colorado | 3.5 miles (5.6 km) | 640 feet (195 m) elevation gain
   
   

   

3. Golden Cliffs Loop, North Table Mountain Park, Colorado | 2.5 miles (4 km) | 600 feet (185 m) elevation gain
   
   

   

4. Snowshoe Trail, Brainard Lake Recreation Area, Colorado | 6 miles (9.6 km) | 500 feet (150 m) elevation gain
   
   

   

5. Mayflower Gulch, White River National Forest, Colorado | 5 miles (8 km) | 1000 feet (305 m) elevation gain
   
   

   

6. Mills Lake/Loch Vale, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado | 4.8-6.8 miles (7.7-10.9 km) depending on route | 1250 feet (380 m) elevation gain | completed twice
   
   

   

7. Nymph/Dream/Emerald Lakes, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado | 3.6 miles (5.8 km) | 705 feet (215 m) elevation gain | completed twice
   
   

   

8. Lake Haiyaha, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado | 4.4 miles (7.1 km) | 840 feet (255 m) elevation gain | completed twice
   
   

   

9. Sand Canyon Trail, Red Rock Canyon Open Space, Colorado | 2 miles (3.2 km) | 420 feet (130 m) elevation gain
   
   

   

10. Evergreen Mountain Loop, Alderfer/Three Sisters Park, Colorado | 6.8 miles (10.9 km) | 1070 feet (325 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

11. Mountain Lion Trail, Golden Gate Canyon State Park, Colorado | 6.8 miles (10.9 km) | 1585 feet (485 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

12. Eldorado Canyon Trail, Eldorado Canyon State Park, Colorado | 6.5 miles (10.5 km) | 1945 feet (595 m) elevation gain | completed twice
    
    

    

13. Wetlands Trail, Clear Creek Natural Area, Texas | 3 miles (4.8 km) | 60 feet (18 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

14. Maxwell Falls Trail, Arapaho National Forest, Colorado | 3 miles (4.8 km) | 515 feet (155 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

15. Chief Mountain, Arapaho National Forest, Colorado | 4 miles (6.4 km) | 985 feet (300 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

16. Pope Trail, Cherry Creek State Park, Colorado | 1.9 miles (3.1 km) | 50 feet (15 m) elevation gain | completed twice
    
    

    

17. Sykes Mountain + Sullivan’s Knob, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Wyoming/Montana | 6 miles (9.7 km) | 990 feet (300 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

18. Bergen Peak, Elk Meadow Park, Colorado | 10 miles (16 km) | 2280 feet (695 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

19. Royal Arch, Chautauqua Park, Colorado | 3.4 miles (5.5 km) | 1490 feet (455 m) | completed twice
    
    

    

20. Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colorado | hiked 2 different sections on 2 different days for a total of 6.5 miles (10.5 km) | 450 feet (135 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

21. Crater Rim + Crater Vent + Lava Flow Trails, Capulin Volcano National Monument, New Mexico | 2.4 miles (3.9 km) | 465 feet (140 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

22. Forsythe Canyon Trail, Arapaho National Forest, Colorado | 3 miles (4.8 km) | 480 feet (145 m) elevation gain
    
    
23. Mount Sanitas, Boulder, Colorado | 3.2 miles (5.1 km) | 1255 feet (380 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

24. Browns Creek Falls + Colorado Trail, San Isabel National Forest, Colorado | 8 miles (12.9 km) | 1020 feet (310 m) elevation gain | completed as a 2 day backpacking trip, which counts as 2 separate hikes
    
    

    

25. Mills/Jewel/Black Lakes, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado | 11 miles (17.7 km) | 1640 feet (500 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

26. Gem Lake + Sprague Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado | 4.1 miles (6.6 km) | 1020 feet (310 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

27. Chasm Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado | 8.4 miles (13.5 km) | 2600 feet (790 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

28. Mount Sniktau, Arapaho National Forest, Colorado | 3.5 miles (5.6 km) | 1530 feet (465 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

29. Soda Creek Trail, Keystone, Colorado | 2 miles (3.2 km) | 100 feet (30 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

30. Cliff Palace + Balcony House + Soda Canyon + Petroglyph Point, Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado | 4.7 miles (7.6 km) | 685 feet (210 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

31. Long House Loop + Step House + Cedar Farm Loop + Far View Sites, Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado | 6.5 miles (10.5 km) | 595 feet (180 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

32. Bridal Veil Falls, Telluride, Colorado | 2.4 miles (3.9 km) | 850 feet (260 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

33. Ouray Perimeter Trail, Ouray, Colorado | 5.8 miles (9.3 km) | 1510 feet (460 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

34. Sprague Lake + Adams Falls + Alberta Falls, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado | 2.9 miles (4.7 km) | 330 feet (100 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

35. Turret Arch/The Windows + Double Arch, Arches National Park, Utah | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) | 200 feet (60 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

36. Fiery Furnace + Landscape Arch + Sand Dune/Tapestry/Broken Arches, Arches National Park, Utah | 5.7 miles (9.2 km) | 995 feet (305 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

37. Crater Lake, Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, Colorado | 3.6 miles (5.8 km) | 690 feet (210 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

38. Exclamation Point, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado | 3 miles (4.8 km) | 365 feet (110 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

39. Warner Point, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) | 405 feet (125 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

40. Pine Creek Trail + Dillon Pinnacles, Curecanti National Recreation Area, Colorado | 5.5 miles (8.9 km) | 770 feet (235 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

41. North Tenmile Creek Trail, White River National Forest, Colorado | 6.8 miles (10.9 km) | 890 feet (270 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

42. Mount Chapin, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado | 3.9 miles (6.3 km) | 1465 feet (445 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

43. Thunder Lake/Lake of Many Winds/Boulder Grand Pass, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado | 16.6 miles (26.7 km) | 3750 feet (1145 m) elevation gain | completed as a 2 day backpacking trip, which counts as 2 separate hikes
    
    

    

44. Medicine Bow Peak, Snowy Range Scenic Byway, Wyoming | 7 miles (11.3 km) | 1710 feet (520 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

45. Square Top Lakes, Guanella Pass, Colorado | 4.3 miles (6.9 km) | 920 feet (280 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

46. Helms Lake, Guanella Pass, Colorado | 12 miles (19.3 km) | 2405 feet (735 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

47. Eccles Pass, Eagles Nest Wilderness, Colorado | 10.2 miles (16.4 km) | 2960 feet (900 m) elevation gain
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48. Upslope Backcountry Taproom, Winter Park, Colorado | 5 miles (8 km) | 500 feet (150 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

49. Wild Loop + Blue Sky Loop, Devil’s Backbone Open Space, Colorado | 7.3 miles (11.7 km) | 715 feet (220 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

50. Bierstadt Lake + Sprague Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado | 4 miles (6.4 km) | 655 feet (200 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

51. Spruce Mountain Loop, Spruce Mountain Open Space, Colorado | 5.5 miles (8.9 km) | 565 feet (170 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

52. Panorama Point + Independence Mountain, Evergreen, Colorado | 4.3 miles (6.9 km) | 1410 feet (430 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

53. Eagle’s View Loop Trail, Reynolds Ranch Park, Colorado | 5.6 miles (9 km) | 1100 feet (335 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

54. Cedar Gulch Trail to Galbraith Loop, Mount Galbraith Park, Colorado | 4.1 miles (6.6 km) | 930 feet (285 m) elevation gain
    
    

    

55. Petrified Forest Loop, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Colorado | 1 mile (1.6 km) | 80 feet (25 m) elevation gain