“There’s nothing like a nice run up the rock when it’s 35 degrees outside,” said the priest. “Why do I have the feeling it’s not going to slow you down?” Father Jon quickly went through his warm-up routine. He was younger and in better shape than Keller. The priest routinely beat Jack up the trail and never let him forget it. Despite the friendly competition, their runs were mostly for fellowship. As Pastor of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Castle Springs, Father Jon first met Jack Keller when he moved to Colorado to join the RCSO. The pair had become fast friends and would often take runs together or take in a Rockies or Nuggets game in Denver. The young priest was also a great sounding board when Jack faced struggles. It was less than a mile to the top, but the climb was steep, with an ascent of nearly four hundred feet. At the peak, the trail offered magnificent views of Castle Springs and on a clear day Pikes Peak was visible some fifty miles to the southwest.
