Since my move, I have really missed my awesome and inspiring running buddies, Becky and Elida. They are rock solid, fun, distracting, motivating and we have the most hilarious conversations while running. I’m serious. No topic is off limits with your running buddies during a 10 mile training run. I’ve accomplished things with those two gals that I never thought I could have, always capped with a laugh and a round of high-fives. Sadly, now that I’ve relocated to the…
Two weeks ago, I got to take my first vacation since I started my new job (which I love, by the way). IT. WAS. EPIC. I didn’t realize how bad I needed a few days off! Brian and I just celebrated our 9th anniversary. Rather than getting stuff for each other, we try to go and DO something together. Our relationship is rooted in the old adage, “The couple that plays together, stays together,” so it’s important to us to…
Our second day, we attempted to ride Long Canyon to Gemini Bridge, which is northeast of town. We headed out on Hwy 279, which takes off southwest along the Colorado River. The side of the highway is littered with rock climbers, as this is one of the best climbing hubs in town. It’s pretty amazing to watch them! Unfortunately, my carburetor plugged up right as we were passing the Poison Spider Mesa trailhead. I’m on a KLX250, which is turns…
I haven’t posted in a while… we bought a house! And moved! And I started a new job!! Holy Crap! It’s been bananas, but we are finally starting to get settled in. 🙂 Thanks for bearing with me. Now that we are past the move, we find the seasons changing. Just like in my favorite show, Game of Thrones, “Winter is Coming” in the high country!! I’m excited because winter is one of my favorite seasons. We’ve already had 3 days…
Brian and I just bought a beautiful home in the country, north of Silverthorne, CO. We are next door (literally) to a trailhead, a creek and have a mountain range in our front yard. It’s an older home, but we are all set to turn it into the ski lodge of our dreams. Truly, we bought the place for the stunning views of the Gore Range and the Williams Fork Range. It’s an amazing place, both inside and out. With…
In 2013, Brian and I were visiting friends and family in Montana. One of my all-time bucket list climbs for Montana is a burly mountain called Great Northern. It stands just beyond the southern edge of Glacier National Park rises to 8,705 ft. It’s the tallest peak in the Great Bear Wilderness, so the views into Glacier from the peak are fantastic. The trail isn’t maintained, or even marked. It’s kind of a local’s secret, so is more of a…
We have been living in Summit County, CO for the last 10 months. It’s been fantastic on a lot of different levels. It truly is our Mountain Happy Place. The big downer, however, has been finding a place to live. I read somewhere that only 30% of the actual population of Summit County actually lives here full-time. The rest are second homeowners and vacation rentals (mostly from Texas). When we sold our house in Portland, it went blessedly quick. Because…
This past weekend, I finally got back outside for a little overnight backpacking trip with Brian and Scotty dog. The last year was a little crazy for us with work, travel and moving to CO, so we haven’t been backpacking since an amazing long weekend trip in 2013. That year, we spent 4 days backpacking the southern and western slopes of Mt Adams in Washington. We didn’t see a single soul the entire trip, until the last 1/4 mile of…
I’m usually one of those people who turns up their nose at the thought of just DRIVING through a National Park. I love hiking. I love camping. I love to smell the air and feel the breeze. I want to really experience what makes an area special and DO something. I want a spectacular view and the chirping of birds and the light scent of wildflowers in the air. Mostly, I love to get away from the crowds and enjoy…
According to the all-knowing Urban Dictionary (which I never in a million years thought I would be citing), a “Jackwad” is defined as follows: ” A person containing the attributes of both a “Jack ass” and a “Dick wad”. Having a inept attitude or ignorance.” ” The term Jack Wad is used to describe an uneducated, moronic, ******, with absolutely no regard for any other person. This term is mostly used to describe a law breaker or other low life…