Birthday 14er hikes

Redcloud, Sunshine, and Handies

Such an amazing weekend. Friends and family joined me for camping, a birthday BBQ, cheesecake, and three fourteeners. I had the most wonderful time and I am so grateful for all the awesome people I know. Year 29 is off to a great start!

Only 7 fourteeners to go!

Capitol peak

Number fifty one: the big one.

Considered to be the most difficult Colorado fourteener for one reason; the knife edge. 100ft of exposed ridge line where shear rock faces abut each other forming a 90 degree angle with 1000 ft drops to either side. But first, you have to get there. 7 mile backpack in, camp at the lake, wake up at 2:30am, scale the saddle and rock gully in the dark, summit a 13er; then it's the knife edge between you and the summit. And once you finally reach your goal, there's nothing for it but to go back across the knife to come down again! It was a long, exhausting, and completely amazing day.

Garden journal

How does your garden grow?

Mine grows with weeds. Admittedly, I didn't have time to plant this spring because of when we moved in. However we do have an abundance of mint, oregano, basil, and green and yellow onions thanks to the previous owners. I am hoping to plant for the fall season soon... What should I try? Any tips?

Happy growing!

Dog days

This week has been dragging on hasn't it? We are entering the dog days of summer which are good only for sitting on the patio with drinks, and yet we still have so much that needs doing. Soça at least loves these days, perhaps that's why they're hers.

~ Have a wonderful summer weekend friends ~

coxcomb

high peak. the final climb for our basic mountaineering class.

dear friends, this was a serious climb.  we started with a 4 mile backpack over a stormy saddle, and camped in a beautiful sun set lit basin.  early early in the morning, before the sun, found us route-finding a steep couloir of loose talus rock. by the time the sunrise found us, we were at the base our goal; coxcomb. between us and the summit: class 4 scrambles, class 5 chimneys, 2 rappels, and a sidewalk wide path with steep deadly drops to either side.  at the very start of this trecherous path I thought I would have to turn back when another student shifted a 200lb rock toward my head as I was scrambling over a bouldering problem.  fortunately I got my head out of the way and it only grazed my hand. after some 1st aid I was ready to move on.  we made it all the way past the chimney and could see our goal of the summit... and also the large thunder clouds forming above.  we made the call to turn back and did a quick rapel down to the base, and were glad we did when it started hailing on us.  it was quite an adventure and I'm really proud of all we've learned in this class.  cheers to all our brilliant instructors including Mark to whom the credit of this picture is due.

hops for habitat

most awesome beer fest of the year set on the sloping hills of the prairie with views of the sunset and pronghorn grazing in the distance. good beers to support the good cause of maintaining this wonderful natural habitat. thanks to my DB's gf for the awesome picture.

~ Happy Summer! 

I don't want a pickle

I just want to ride my motor-cicle...

It's good to try new things and learn new skills, right? DH thought to would be fun for us to take a motorcycle class together. I wasn't so sure. But... 

It was awesome! We had an amazing time. And not only did I not fall over and impale myself, I was actually pretty good at it. And now... We kind of want to buy a motorcycle. Bad idea? Probably.